Page 95 of Love Overboard
Jon faced Lacey and crossed his arms. “I didn’t think it was necessary to pull out my bank statement and wave it around.”
“It’s. Not. About. Money,” she said. “I don’t even know who you are. All those times I thought you were irresponsible and flaky because you didn’t like the job. It was the complete opposite. You were working hard, learning about the family business. No wonder I couldn’t reconcile your actions with who you seemed to be as a person.”
“Isn’t this good news?” He moved close and grasped her by the elbows. “I’m not a flake. I’m not irresponsible. And I’m in love with you.”
The words she used to treasure stabbed at her wounded heart. The warmth of his hands on her arms confined instead of comforted. She felt stupid and used and betrayed and … and stupid.
She shook his grip off. It hurt to acknowledge him, so she focused on the partyers in the background. “This is over.”
“What do you mean?” Jon bent forward and tried to capture her gaze.
Lacey looked him squarely in the eye. “I can’t be with a liar.”
He froze. “You’re giving up on us again? Without so much as a discussion? I’ve waited and watched and tried to win you over a thousand times. But you won’t even hear me out once?”
Her stomach tightened. “I spent my whole childhood listening to lame excuses. I’ve had my fill.”
She needed to get out of there. Needed to be alone. Needed somewhere to hide.
Her feet swiveled on autopilot and walked away.
Jon didn’t stop her.
Lacey cut across the dance floor and maneuvered through conversations until she pushed through the double doors and reached the elevators. She entered one and rode it down. Past the passenger floors. Past the staff cabins. Down, down, down to deck zero. The doors opened, and she walked the empty hallway to the place she’d once wanted to escape from with a passion—the lost and found. Lacey tried the door.Open. She twisted the knob to make sure it didn’t lock behind her. She flicked the switch. This time, it flooded the room with light. Once inside, she shut the door.
Lacey leaned her forehead against the wall and breathed. That’s all she could handle.
In and out.
In and out.
She lifted her face, and a flash of red-and-white-checkered cloth caught her eye. A lump the size of a sour grapefruit rose in her throat. Lacey clamped her lips shut and crumpled to the ground. The silent tears poured as her lungs heaved.
Love was no picnic.
CHAPTER 42
“THERE’S NO MORE SILVER ONES!” The woman with the broken mask wriggled her shoulders in front of the entryway table.
Emily threaded her fingers together so as not to smack the whining adult. “Choose from whatever’s left.”
“All the good ones are gone.” She held up her original mask. “I wanted one exactly like this but bigger.”
“We don’t always get what we want in life, dear.” Emily took the dangling piece of plastic and spun the lady to the table. “Pick or get over it. Those are your choices.”
The woman chose a leopard-print disguise and strapped it on. “What about this one? I love cats.”
“Perfect. Go enjoy the party.” Emily peered around the kitten.
An elevator bell dinged, and a car on the opposite wall opened. Althea’s singing filled the air. “Oh happy day.” She boogied out of the elevator.
Gerry stumbled behind her, bunching the train of her own evening dress, and Daisy floated at the end in a pantsuit trimmed in black lace.
“Where have you been?” Emily asked.
Gerry tugged at the bodice of her gown. “Sorry. I was having trouble with my zipper.”
“Normally, it’s me who can’t fit into my clothes.” Althea laughed. “It was nice to help someone else for a change.”
