Page 41 of The Mistakes I've Made
“Okay, fine,” I conceded “But it doesn’t mean I have a crush on her. I’m not in the fifth grade.”
Her face scrunched up. “Of course you’re not.”
Sometimes, humor was lost on Lizzie.
“Anyway,” I went on, “I was just looking out the window because it’s my job to keep an eye out on her. The town needs to be informed of her progress, and they’ve appointed me to report on it.”
“Well, it looks like she’s planning on taking down the building. I saw the truck pulling up just as I was walking in.” Shrugging, she ripped open the candy bar she’d just maligned and promptly shoved the whole thing in her mouth as she gestured toward the window I’d just been staring out of.
“What?” My eyes went wide as I glued my face to the glass.
She followed—albeit a bit slower but followed all the same.
Sure enough, the little genius appeared to be correct. The moment I got back to my perch, the spot I’d been frequenting more than my desk lately, I found her outside, next to a truck that saidHalladay Architecture.
“Son of a bitch,” I breathed out.
“I’m going to go get ice cream now,” Lizzie said, clearly bored with me. “If you see Dean, can you tell him where I went?”
I didn’t utter a good-bye, just waved her off. I was too committed to the scene set out in front of me. It was like a knife to my gut as I watched an incredibly tall, tan, and good-looking guy step out of the truck and offer a hand to Leilani.
The smile she gave him was dazzling.
The only kind of responses I got from her were usually eye rolls and frustrated huffs as she stormed away.
Never a smile. And never one as bright and beautiful as that.
She had a giant folder with her and didn’t waste any time in opening it, planting it on the hood of his truck to show him whatever was inside—most likely her precious plans.
Plans I’d thought I’d changed.
I’d taken a risk, bringing her to the lighthouse yesterday. I’d gone into this hotel project with guns blazing, ready to fight her until the bloody end, but the moment I’d stepped into that hotel, I couldn’t help but wonder what it could be if only put into the right hands.
I hadn’t been lying. I’d done the research. I’d looked up pictures of The Cozy Hotel back in its glory days. It had been a destination, a place people would pay to stay.
A place Leilani would be proud to call her own.
Or at least, I’d thought she would have been.
When I’d walked her back to the hotel last night, I’d thought we were on the same page. I’d thought I’d finally seen what my brother was talking about.
Compromise and all that shit.
But then I saw this—a freaking architect showing up less than twenty-four hours later.
My words hadn’t meant a damn thing to her.
Just like this town.
I continued to watch as they spoke. She gestured toward the hotel, and he nodded. My jaw clenched as his hand grazed her arm. She didn’t seem to notice, but I sure as hell did. The two shared a brief laugh. His teeth were so damn white that I could see them glowing from here. He gestured toward the walkway that led to the road, and they both headed off in the same direction.
Where are they going?
Not into the hotel…
That was kind of a relief.
Too many closed doors and cramped spaces.
