Page 73 of Claimed By my Frenemy

“Hold on. Just let Mia speak,” Aurora demands. “You clearly aren’t over this. The plans have been refiled,but…”

I shake my head, still feeling the sting of betrayal. “He should have trusted me. We’re supposed to be a team. I mean, I thought we were building a real relationship.”

Aurora sets her brandy down and looks at me intently. “Mia, you have every right to be upset. But maybe there’s more to this. Have you considered that he might have been trying to protect you?”

Madison nods vigorously. “Yeah, like a misguided knight in shining armor. He probably thought he was doing the right thing.”

I sigh, rubbing my temples. “But why couldn’t he just be honest with me? Why all the secrets? I mean, I’ve been honest from the get-go.”

Aurora smiles. “But we’re women, and even though men disagree, we’re easy to understand. They aren’t.”

There are hearty “amens” from all around the table.

“Have you and Theo talked this week?” Zoey asks.

I shake my head, and giving the answer pains me. I thought nothing would be able to break us apart, but here we are…fractured beyond repair. “Nothing. No messages. No calls. No…nothing. Sure, he’s refiled the plans, but that’s nothing. Maybe he did it because he knew I wouldn’t sell, not because he wants to try to fix anything with me. After all, he knows my phone number, and he hasn’t made use of it.”

“Have you seen him working on the property?” Madison asks.

“A couple of times. But…it was like he didn’t see me.”

Zoey rubs my arm. “That hurts. I’m sorry. You may just have to accept that he wasn’t mature enough for a relationship with you.”

Aurora stands up, leaning over our table. “I did some digging, Mia, and I have something else to tell you. Theo made a new deal with his business partner, Steve. He bought out Steve’s share of the project. The property is under his name only now.”

I blink in surprise. “What? When did this happen?”

“Geez, if I ever need a private investigator, I’m hiring you,” Stella comments.

“Recently. And I don’t know how he did it because the price tag on the property alone is more than our places all put together are probably worth.”

“He bought him out,” I echo.

Zoey’s eyes widen. “Wow, that’s...that’s huge.”

Madison whistles low. “Talk about putting your money where your mouth is.”

I feel a wave of guilt wash over me. Theo did all of this. I want to think it’s for me. I want to think it’s because he’s as tired of his business partner harassing me as I am of him talking about me selling my property. There’s just one question that is still weighing on me. “Why didn’t he tell me?”

“Maybe he was scared of losing you. Maybe he thought you’d be safer if you didn’t know the details,” Zoey suggests.

Aurora nods. “It’s possible. He might have thought he was sparing you the stress. But he should have said something. Ignoring you all week isn’t acceptable.”

“I don’t know about you guys, but it sounds like he’s been pretty busy. He hasn’t had the chance to emotionally face havinga conversation with you if he’s been busy putting the property in his name,” Madison suggests.

I look around at my friends, their supportive faces, and I feel a pang of regret. I’m over here wallowing in my own pain, and I haven’t even thought about how Theo feels. Maybe he feels really guilty, so guilty that he doesn’t even want to face me. Maybe I made him feel like he doesn’t even stand a chance with me so what’s the point of even trying.

“You were hurt. You’ve had a chance to process it, though. What do you do now?”

“Now you know the bigger picture. You know more about what’s going on. Are you open to a conversation with him?” Zoey prompts.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions. “I need to talk to him. I need to understand his perspective. You are alright. I have to stop hating him and see what he’s been doing. I want to hear it from him.”

Aurora gives me a reassuring smile. “That sounds like a good plan. Communication is key.”

Zoey grins. “And who knows? Maybe you’ll come out of this even stronger.”

“Well, I can’t come out of it any weaker. I’ve already hit rock bottom…several times.” I attempt some humor even though I’m not feeling it.

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