Page 105 of Hawthorne

“I am not involved with the duke’s brother.” I try not to choke on my own words. “It’s unprofessional.”

“Who said anything about the brother, sweetheart? You keep lying to yourself, but you can’t lie to me.”

What?Does she know anything? Impossible.

“What do you mean?” I need to play dumb.

“Didn’t you notice how he looked at you at the after-party? I recognised him as your boss right away, and, girl...His gaze was heated, always expecting you to lock eyes with him.It was hot!”

“Oh my god, Rachel,” I panic. “It’s not like–”

“Sweetheart,I am your friend.” Her arm wraps around my shoulders, and I let myself melt into her side hug. “My mouth is a sealed and cursed tomb. Whatever the hell is going on between you two is not my business. Just know you can trust me whenever you need.”

Rachel has always been genuine to me, and these words are just one more reflection of the good person she is. A big part ofme is afraid she’ll tattle without meaning to, but the other…the part that remembers all of the years of friendship wants to trust her with my whole heart.

Should I really trust her?

We sure had some good fun these past two weeks. She’s taken me to see so many places of Livia that I hadn’t been to yet and others where we used to spend some time during college, to try and relive some of the old times. Gosh, this kind of speech makes me feel older than I am.

But the truth is that in the last couple of years, I had to tend to Vincent’s aunt, which felt much longer than it was. I feel like I aged a decade, even if the world around me or myself hasn’t changed at all.

I am so glad we rekindled this friendship. She makes me feel good, more confident about myself and less insignificant.

My phone buzzes, and when I pick it up, I see Edgar’s name lighting up the screen.

Edgar

House is free. Big bruv just kicked us out. I guess he really was at his wits end with our mum. Go get him, girly. He’s all yours.

“Ooooohhh,” Rachel mocks right next to me, and I startle, noticing her perched up on my side again, looking at my phone.

“Anyway, I have this meeting from my father’s company I have to attend. Why don’t you go get your man?”

“I’m fine,” I try assure her.Or me?It doesn’t work though.

“Pfft,” she snickers. hugging me. “Like I’m going to keep you deprived from your source of happiness. Let’s meet after the holidays, yeah?”

She hugs me, and I hug her back, seeping the love and the affection. For once, in a long time, I am not feeling alone, and it’s amazing. She might not be blood related, but it’s the closest to a family that I seem to have at the moment. Let’s just hope it doesn’t change.

“Alright, enough with being sappy!” she chirps. “I’m off. Go whenever you’re ready!”

With a smooch on my cheek, she grabs her purse and exits the apartment. For someone who is still linked to nobility, she lives what one could call a humble life. Sure, her two-bedroom apartment is spacious, sleek, and modern, but at least she is not living in a fifteen-bedroom, ten-bathroom manor, and thirty-five acres of land.

She also dresses in expensive, luxurious clothing, but she doesn’t make it obvious unless it’s for those formal events they attend. Even in college, she was the nicest, most relatable one from that big set of prissy rich students.

The taxi parks right in front of the manor’s doorway, and I have barely had time to place Primrose down on the ground and got my bag out of the boot when the doors, and the tall, broad man I was missing comes outside.

Vincent.

“For a second there, I doubted it was you,” he mumbles, rushing to me.

I step back, looking inside the manor, afraid someone could see us.

“We’re alone,” he informs me just as the taxi drives off.

Allowing myself to finally relax, I barely register as his rough hands find the back of my neck, bringing our faces close to each other. His cognac eyes lock with my russet-brown ones, thickening the tension as our bodies move on their own accord. My nostrils flare upon contact with his scent, overwhelming me.

It’s incapacitating.

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