Page 87 of Valentine Nook
Clemmie nods. “Yup.”
I crunch as quickly but as quietly as possible, hoping Clemmie will continue if I don’t interrupt.
“They were very badly suited.”
My shoulders slump. I was hoping for something juicier. “Why did he stay with her?”
Clemmie shrugs. “Good on paper, I guess.”
It’s morbid curiosity, but I can’t help myself. “So what was the problem?”
“Everyone hated her. And I meaneveryone.”
She’s so blunt in her delivery that I have to cough up the chip dust that was inhaled too quickly. I think about all the people I’ve met, including Clemmie, who’s so friendly toward everyone she meets that it takes her forever to get anywhere.
“Even you?”
“I didn’t hate herhate her.I mostly felt sorry for her. Being the future Duchess of Oxfordshire is not for the weak, but sheexpected to be waited on hand and foot, which is not how we do things around here. Landoworks.”
I know. I’ve seen that firsthand. I think about the ride we took with Thunder and Sunday, and how Lando’s eyes never stilled. They lasered in on broken fence posts or cows in fields where they shouldn’t have been or trees that needed trimming.
The only time he focused on me a hundred percent was when we made it to the waterfall.
I shift in my chair and recross my legs. Now is not the time to think aboutthat.
“What happened?”
“I’m not sure.” She shakes her head. “Truthfully, I thought they were heading for splitsville, but he took Caroline on holiday, and they came back engaged. I was away at uni, and Miles called me to break the news.”
“Did Miles like her?”
“Mileshatedher. So you can imagine how that went down.”
I chuckle. Of all the brothers, Miles is the one who has no fucks to give. He does what he wants when he wants. His behavior is equally outrageous and amusing, and now that he’s stopped hitting on me, I quite like him.
He’s gotten into the habit of waving and shouting, “Howdy, neighbor,” very loudly every time he sees me.
“I think Miles just hated that she treated Lando like a cash machine, and Lando gave her anything she wanted because it made his life easier. That’s what really fucked off Miles. Lando became someone we didn’t recognize.”
“And then she screwed his best friend—” My scoff drips in disdain.
Clemmie’s brows shoot up. “He told you about Jeremy?”
My cheeks burn as I nod. I’m still mortified by my reaction to him telling me when it should have been compassion, but the more I’ve thought about it—and I’ve thought about ita lot—the more I believe it was the reaction he needed.
“Wow. He doesn’t talk about it with anyone.”
“He didn’t go into detail,” I spit out.
I don’t want Clemmie to think her brother shares more with me than with his family, but from the smile on her face, I’m guessing she’s okay with it.
“So, not to be nosy or anything . . .” She reaches for a fork and casually chips away at the pastry on the pie, though her eyes keep flicking up to mine. “Are you seeing Lando again? Have you . . . you know . . . made any plans?”
Was I that obvious when I was asking about Caroline? If so, I should quit acting for good.
I laugh. “Actually, yes. He asked me to meet him for a drink later.”
“Cool. Cool,” she replies just as casually and cuts off a giant piece of pie, which she scoops into her mouth. “Omigodthisisgood.”
