Page 120 of High Roller

“Is Lili joining, or are you keeping her locked in your house?”

“I haven’t decided yet. Moving her back and forth seems dangerous, especially with the mayor’s security popping up two more times in the last week.”

Matteo nods. “Just make sure your house is secure if you leave her there.”

“It’s plenty secure. She’s not going anywhere. But if no one objects, Grace and I will bring her with us.”

“We’ll make the transition as secure as possible. Tell us how we can help.”

In my office, I make a call to inform Grace that Lili will be joining us tonight.

“Are you behaving, butterfly?”

“Yes, Sir. I got my classes switched so they are both online for the first semester. First one starts tomorrow.”

“Good girl. I’m sorry it has to be this way.”

She falls quiet and sniffs, a sure sign that something is on her mind, and she isn’t sure how to say it. “What is it, Grace?”

She clears her throat and takes a deep breath before answering. “It’s not a huge deal. But I’m conflicted about everything with you and Lili. My feelings are all jumbled up.”

“What happened to just enjoying it?”

She sighs. “I’m trying. I really am. But you know how I like to overthink everything.”

Her tone makes me chuckle. “It’s good to think things through, sweetheart. Just don’t let that ruin the enjoyment. We’ve all agreed to go with the flow here. Lili’s on board and so am I. But if you need to step back, we can talk about what that looks like.”

“No! That’s not what I mean at all. I’m just being honest about the fact that I’ve gotten a little mixed up in my head. You mean the world to me, and I’m thrilled we’re starting a relationship. But I’ve grown fond of Lili as well. And you’re attracted to Lili, too. You know how things did not go well for me the last time I fell for a couple.”

Not well is an understatement, but I keep that to myself. Grace doesn’t need my opinions here.

“First of all, I wouldn’t consider Lili and I to be a couple. Lili is gorgeous, and I find her attractive, but I’m not naive enough to think we can all make this work long-term. You’re my priority. We’ll take good care of Lili and get her through this situation. And after that, it’s going to be up to her to decide what she wants and if she wants to remain in our lives. Talk to her if you need to. But my advice is to enjoy what’s right in front of us.”

“I don’t want her to feel like we are using her.”

That worry has crossed my mind as well, but I don’t say as much. Instead, I try to soothe her.

“Butterfly, that’s not your personality. And I promise we aren’t just using her. Not to take down her husband, and not for sex. We are all adults, and we are all engaged in a mutually beneficial arrangement here.”

She clears her throat again, and I imagine she’s brushing her curls out of her face as she considers what I’ve said.

“OK. You’re right. Thank you for reassuring me. Would you be open to doing something with both of us at the club tonight since she’s joining us?”

I lean back in my office chair, surprised by the question. It’s definitely crossed my mind. But I want Grace to lead the discussion, so I shift the phone and close my eyes before I continue. “Tell me what you have in mind, Mariposa.”

Chapter 35

Lili

WalkingintoTheHighCard on my own is much different than being carried in naked save for an overcoat. Much like the first party I attended, I’m wearing a mask that covers a lot of my face, but I picked my own dress and I’m on Victor’s arm. Grace is on his other arm, and the three of us make a striking picture, in my opinion. The past few days at Victors have been strangely restful.

I’m not bombarded with the expectations of my family, and I’ve made the time to read half a dozen books from Victor’s library. Finding the library in his house was a pleasant surprise, but something tells me that Grace influenced that whether either of them will admit it or not.

Having a front row seat to the beginning of their love affair has been a treat even with the discomfort of realizing I’m falling for both of them myself.

Grace and I grow closer every day, and she’s comfortable reading to me regularly now. Her skill is incredible, and I want everyone to know her name. I’ll make sure she gets published and becomes a household name, if I make it out of this situation with any influence left.

When I made that promise a few nights ago, she went white as a ghost, though, so I haven’t brought it up since. It will take time, but she’ll gain confidence as more people read her work and are as impressed as I am.

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