Page 46 of From the Moment We Met

“I saw her at a network function. She attended with the director and droned on about their friendship, following it up with questions about you and why you weren’t there.”

“Really, where was her latest lover, one of those nameless faces she slept with while we were together?” Jacob’s blood boiled at the notion of Victoria worming her way back into his life. A few weeks ago, he would have been thrilled, now she was an unnecessary aggravation.

“They’re ‘taking a break’, whatever that means. Victoria was far more focused on you and your current status. I’m advising you once again to be careful, no role is worth reconciling with that piranha.”

“I see you love her as much as ever,” Jacob scoffed.

“I hate the bitch. I hate her for what she did to you. And I don’t want to see her screw up your life again. She’s not worth it.”

∞∞∞

A few hours later, Jacob slid his sunglasses over his eyes and unlocked the door of his Aston Martin. He texted Sabina when he arrived at the shelter twenty minutes later, per her insistence.

He was scrolling through his phone when someone tapped on his window. He looked up to see Sabina glaring at him.

“I wondered if you’d show.” Her arms crossed over her chest, making no secret of her annoyance. “Aren’t you a little overdressed?”

Jacob got out of the car, gym bag in hand. “I hoped there was a bathroom where I could change.” He shifted nervously. “Does Lilly know I’m coming?”

“Hell no, I wasn’t going to say anything when I didn’t know if you’d show up.”

“Is she angry?”

“Lilly doesn’t get angry, but you hurt her feelings. She has no clue what she did to make you behave in such a manner.”

“You didn’t tell her what we discussed?”

“It’s not my place Jacob, that's your business to tell her…and for the record, I think you should. Anyway, let's get inside.”

“Just a moment. I got Lilly something; I don’t know if she’ll like it.”

Sabina raised her eyebrows. “You got her a gift?”

“Lilly gave my sister her necklace, she called it her talisman, I wanted to replace it.” He pulled a small box out of his gym bag and thrust it at Sabina.

Sabina let out a low whistle when she opened the box. “Impressive, but Lilly’s not one to be bought.”

“I’m not trying to buy her forgiveness, I just wanted to do something nice for her.”

“Stop hurting her feelings, that’s the easiest way to be nice.” Sabina’s face softened when she caught Jacob’s crestfallen expression. “I’m sure she’ll love the necklace. She never gets gifts. It will be a treat.”

Jacob nodded and took a deep breath, trying to squelch his nerves as he followed Sabina into the animal shelter. He stopped in his tracks when he caught sight of Lilly, holding a length of fencing on the dog lot. Her arms were well defined, and her long hair was pulled back with a bandana. She looked hot, sweaty and more beautiful than ever. God, I’m in so much trouble, what if Roger is right?

He felt Sabina nudging him. “You have to actually enter the premises, you know.” She smiled. “You’ll be okay, just tell her the truth. Lilly will appreciate you being here even if she doesn’t act that way at first.”

Jacob nodded but wondered if Lilly wouldn’t rather smack him than accept his help.

∞∞∞

Lilly

Lilly’s arms burned as she held the section of fencing off the ground, Enrique was far savvier with a scalpel than a drill.

She scanned the parking lot for the local media, set to arrive at any moment. She wasn’t prepared for an interview, but she’d winged it before, and this time would be no different.

“Sorry, Lilly,” Enrique murmured as the drill slipped off the bolt for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“No problem. Thanks again for giving up your day off.”

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