Page 104 of From the Moment We Met

“For not judging me after what happened earlier.”

“Why in the world would we judge you in any negative light?” Edward asked, patting Lilly’s hand.

Lilly flushed, mortified at her impetuous, emotion-driven actions. “I believed he cared about me the way I care about him, and I behaved accordingly.”

Edward’s eyebrows knitted. Men could be so clueless.

“Luv, you’re not an idiot for believing him. We all believed he was falling for you. He’s a git for treating you in that manner.” Audrey clinked her glass against Lilly’s and offered a small smile.

“I’m still not understanding,” Edward interjected, his poor face so perplexed.

Lilly exchanged a glance with Audrey and Janie, a small giggle escaping the trio. Sometimes ignorance was bliss—or confusion, as was the case with Edward.

Roger returned from the other room, squatting next to Lilly. “Before you say anything, I promised I would repeat this information to you.” He cleared his throat. “Jacob knows he’s an asshole, and he knows damn well you have every right to hate him. But he also wanted you to know—and this part I didn’t understand—that he definitely doesn’t hate you.”

“Well, that’s kind of him,” Audrey gritted. “He treats her like shit, yet he doesn’t hate her? Brilliant.”

Roger placed his hand on Lilly's shoulder. “Does that make any sense to you?”

Her question from earlier—‘do you hate me or do you love me?’ bounced into her thoughts, but Lilly shook her head, biting back tears. “It doesn’t ring a bell.”

Roger nodded. He knew Lilly was lying but opted not to push the issue. “Jacob is still on the line, and he would like to speak with you.”

Lilly shook her head vigorously. “No, Roger, I can’t speak to him.”

“I told him that’s what you were going to say, but he made me promise to ask. Back in a second.” He left the room again, and Edward patted her arm.

“Men like that, they always think the grass is greener. They wind up old and alone.”

Janie stiffened at Edward’s words. “You barely know him.”

Edward snorted. “Am I wrong? You saw what happened here today.”

“You know, Edward, how did Victoria know Jacob was here? I know I didn’t tell her, and Roger didn’t tell her. That leaves you, doesn’t it?” Janie’s eyes narrowed in Edward’s direction.

“I’m not denying I told her, Janie. She texted me, and I told Victoria where I was. She asked if Jacob was here and I said yes. That doesn’t make me responsible for how either of them behaved this evening.” Edward hit the table. “I never would have told her if I knew this was going to happen and Lilly was going to get hurt.”

Lilly had heard enough. “Stop, no one in this room behaved maliciously, and it’s over now. We certainly can’t blame Edward for Victoria’s bad behavior. I can’t change what happened, I can only learn from it, and never be that foolish again.”

Janie embraced Lilly. “You’re amazing. I’m so glad you’re my friend.”

Audrey concurred, before adding, “I’m still kicking his ass.”

Lilly laughed and nodded. “You have my full consent.”

“It’s a good thing he’s leaving for Greece,” Janie mused.

Lilly’s mind agreed with Janie’s statement, her heart, not so much. It cracked a bit more at the mention of the place where Jacob planned to take her on an extended holiday. It was supposed to be their beginning, now it was relegated to the past. “He leaves in a couple days.”

Janie nodded. “He’ll be gone for the next few months. Some thriller-type script that will make a fortune at the box office with all the car chases and sex scenes.” She stopped, shooting Lilly a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry, they’re not real, the sex scenes.”

“It’s Victoria’s problem now, not mine.” And for a while, Lilly believed her words. She may not be a worldwide celebrity, but she was a decent person, and she deserved to be treated decently.

---