Page 97 of Cruel Dreams

“Oh, knock it off. If you would stop with the pathetic pity party, you’d see you have the answer right in front of you. We didn’t grow up with money, so it’s hard to plan with the idea you have it. Zane loves you, and he’s proven he’d do anything for you. Don’t you think he’d fly you to Florida whenever you wanted, or fly your parents to Minnesota if they wanted to visit you? Zane owns a private jet. More than one, I bet. Think for a second. There’s no choice. You can finally have it all, sweetheart. You can finally have everything you want.”

I sit on my rock, the sun beating down on me, the salty spray sticking to my skin.

Could what she said be true? I could fly here, visit whenever I want? Zane already told me I don’t have to work if I didn’t want to. There would be no saving for years to buy a plane ticket. Zane can fly me anywhere, anytime I want.

My parents did well on their own—they could afford to fly to visit me, too. Anytime.

“Stella, your parents only moved to Florida to get away from King’s Crossing after you were kidnapped. Maybe, when you decide to go back to Minnesota, they would move back, too. Haven’t you talked to anybody? Zane? Your mom? Have you been keeping all this to yourself? Of course you have,” she says in her typical Quinn way. “Saint Stella, doesn’t want to inconvenience anyone. Doesn’t want to bother anyonewith pesky problems that aren’t really problems. Zane is a gazillionaire.What the fuck is wrong with you?”

What’s wrong with me is that growing up, I didn’t have two nickels to rub together. What’s wrong with me is that I don’t have an easy time like Quinn and Mel spending other people’s money.

“But—”

“Don’t argue with me, Stella. You know I’m right. I think as a wedding gift, Zane buying your parents a place to live so they could be nearby would be a small thing in exchange for finally being able to settle down.”

My breath hitches, and my heart thrums frantically with possibilities I didn’t know I had.

“You’ve been running, trying to find your family, your home. All you gotta do now is take it. Let Zane give you your heart’s desire. Your happiness is the only thing that matters to him. He loves you, Stella. Let him do it.”

I swallow. “Did he ask you to call me?”

She pauses. “No. Actually, I have something to tell you. I...met someone. She works in the Garment District, too. Really sweet, kind of reminds me of you. I was hoping you’d...be happy for me.”

“That’s fabulous, Quinn. That’s really great.”

“You’re not mad?”

“Why would I be mad?”

“I’ve adored you for so long.”

I laugh. “You can still adore me—”

She scoffs.

“—but you know I could never love you the way you loved me. Iamhappy for you. I mean it.”

Quinn sighs. “Good. That’s good.”

“When do I get to meet her?”

“When you and Zane finally tie the knot. I’ll bring her to your wedding.”

“That’s a deal.”

We’re silent for a moment.

“Thank you for being my friend,” I say softly.

“You’re always going to have to put up with me. I gotta get going, but, Stella,go home.Put the man out of his misery, okay?”

“I will.”

Our conversation gave me a newfound peace. I’m not the little girl who had to carry her belongings from house to house in a garbage bag. I’m not the little girl praying for a permanent family. I’m not the little girl who was abused and mistreated and only taken in for the state checks it paid.

Somehow, I managed to grow into a young woman who is kind, compassionate, and smart. Somehow, I grew into an elegant young lady who caught the eye of one of the richest men in the country who would do anything for her.

I don’t love him because he has money and I don’t want him because of the things he can do for me, but if he’s willing and able to help me so I can keep my parents close, then I’ll let him.

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