Page 143 of The Thing About My Rival

“Drew?” My dad’s voice comes from near the door. “I have to hit the road home too,” he says. “Got a longer drive home these days.”

I wander a little closer but remain outside hugging distance. “Now that our season’s over, Hugo and I will definitely come down to Cape Cod for a weekend.” And I totally mean it. “He’s never even seen the place, and I know he’ll love it.”

“Great.” He turns to leave, then stops and looks back over his shoulder. “You know, it would be a beautiful place for a wedding.”

I manage to suppress the gasp that rises in my chest but can’t stop my hand flying to my heart. Warm tinglesskitter through me at the knowledge that he wants to open his home to create a gorgeous wedding day for me.

The idea of my father walking me down the aisle on the lawn with the ocean lapping at the beach behind us makes me want to burst into tears right on the spot.

But I keep a grip on myself and nod. “That would be beautiful. Let’s talk about it when we visit.”

He smiles, gives me a little wave, and walks away.

Yup, baby steps.

I skirt around the back of the happy, chatting stragglers and to the front of the box. I need a moment of quiet to breathe and take all this in.

Leaning on the railing, I gaze out at the stadium. It’s empty now, apart from the staff who are clearing up and the grounds crew. I’ll take some bubbly down for them when we’re done here.

“Just the hard core left, then,” Hugo says, arriving by my side and looking over his shoulder where only the Oldies and the Fab Four remain.

“Hey, pull up a seat,” Prince Oliver calls to us while he does the rounds and tops up everyone’s glasses.

Hugo grabs the two nearest chairs for us and turns them around to join the circle with everyone else. “So, what are you guys all up to then?” His question is directed at the Fab Four.

“Just the usual,” Leo says, presumably referring to whatever it is investors do with their billions of dollars when they’re not filming wildly successful TV shows.

“Wading through molasses trying to get this movie I’m producing off the ground.” Chase sniffs his wine, like he’s not quite sure whether to take another sip. “I’ll never understand why these things have to take forever. Hollywood really is a hellhole.”

“I’ve got fun news.” Oliver fills Mona’s glass, and she dips her head in some kind of weird seated semicurtsy. “One of the big publishers wants to talk to me about writing a book.”

“Oh, that is great,” I tell him, taking the seat next to Hugo. “And the Commoners made a profit this season too,” I add, always worried that he doesn’t have enough to live on since he left the UK and severed his official royal ties.

“What about you?” Hugo asks Miller. “About to tear down some much-loved historic Boston building and replace it with forty floors of glass and concrete?”

“You’re hilarious. Actually, my first priority isn’t here. It’s in Upstate New York.”

“Oh, that’s new, for our ride-or-die Boston man,” Hugo says.

“Just a one off. And it’s…well…it’s embarrassing really.” He looks down into his drink. “Because it’s essentially a revenge deal.”

“Whoa, that doesn’t sound like you, at all,” I say. Miller might be totally business-focused, but he doesn’t have a spiteful bone in his body.

“Only applies to this one particular asshole.” When he lifts his gaze there’s a determination in his expression I’ve never seen before. “This guy ripped off my parents for our house when I was a kid.” Okay, that would do it. “Then tried to end my property development career before I’d even started.”

“Sounds like a total dick who deserves whatever you’re about to throw at him.” Hugo says. “So what’s the plan?”

“I heard he’s desperate to buy this piece of land near where a new rail line’s going to be built to Grand Central.And I’m going over there to outbid him so that, for the first time ever, I get to take something away from him that he wants. Taste of his own medicine and all that.”

“Is it just empty land, like fields or something?” I ask.

“Nope. Got a donkey sanctuary on it. But it’s owned by an old guy. So I’m hoping he’ll be happy with a nice fat check to retire with.”

“You want to build ona donkey sanctuary?” Joyce pipes up.

“You’re trying to make a bunch of cute animals homeless?” Mona looks at him like he’s suggested he might slaughter them with his bare hands.

“Locals won’t be pleased,” Winston mutters.

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