Page 72 of Claimed By my Frenemy

“Clearly, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need it.”

As soon as I’ve left Steve’s office, I realize I can’t get the money together on my own. I’m going to need help from my financial advisor.

It only takes a phone call for him to get started on the process of liquidating assets and securing loans. It’s going to take a couple of weeks for the buyout to be finalized, then I’m going to get Steve the money in the next couple of months, but I finally feel confident that I’ve made the right decision.

The resort is mine and only mine, and my first order of business is to correct the plans filed with the county.

35

MIA

Even a weekafter everything happened with Theo, I can still feel the tension in my muscles from our confrontation. I replay our conversation, wondering if I was too harsh. But the truth is that I had to be honest. I couldn’t pretend that I wasn’t upset, that I didn’t feel betrayed.

We are sitting at what is quickly becoming our usual table at Leo’s Tiki Bar. Audrey, our cocktail waitress, approaches us with a tray of delicious-looking drinks.

Once Aurora has taken hers from the tray, she lifts it up in a salute. “I say we need to cheers to something.”

“Geez, our lives suck right now. What can we even cheers to?” Stella asks. She inspects her drink carefully like even her drink isn’t up to par.

“We can always find something positive,” Zoey decides.

“I’ve got some good news,” Aurora says. “I’ve been doing a little spying, and it looks like the altered plans have been filed with the county and approved.”

We all look up, and her announcement hits me hardest of all, like a little jolt. “What? Say that again, Aurora.”

“Isaidit looks like something you yelled at him must have worked because Theo refiled the adjusted plans.”

“Yelled? I wasn’t yelling.”

Madison laughs. “Mia, we could hear you from your house. There was definitely some yelling going on.”

I feel my cheeks flushing and decide to drink up to avoid more attention on myself. I raise my glass toward Aurora’s. “Cheers to that then.”

Everyone else joins in, and we take sips of our drinks. After my sip, I scan the bar area. Ever since we came here and Theo was here too, I keep thinking he might decide to show up. It’s clearly a popular place because every seat on the pier is taken. People are taking to-go cups and leaning against the railings of the pier.

“So, let’s talk about what this means,” Zoey suggests.

“It means he likes getting laid by Mia, so he did—” Stella starts before Madison smacks her arm. “Ow!”

“Stop that! Mia is really going through this. You can’t just make jokes,” Madison scolds.

I feel everyone’s attention turn back to me. “I feel bad for yelling at him.”

“I thought you just said you didn’t yell,” Stella points out.

“Okay, I raised my voice. But the truth is that I believe everything I said. I don’t feel like I can trust him. Sure, he refiled the revised plans, but does that really mean anything? He didn’t tell me Steve was pressuring him. And that’s not going to stop. If his partner wants something badly enough, then why would he just give up.”

“Let’s give Theo some grace. Maybe he wanted to tell you but just didn’t know how,” Zoey’s voice of reason cuts in again.

“Words are usually a good start,” Stella interjects.

We all give her disapproving looks, but she’s giggling at her own sarcasm.

“What? It’s true. I mean. People make such a big deal out of nothing. If he had just told you that Steve was being pushy, would you have trusted him?”

Everyone swivels back to me. “I can’t say 100% but more, yes.”

“I bet he’s learned his lesson,” Madison adds.

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