Page 30 of What Is Love
“It was up in my closet. I was trying to get it down and it fell.” Lying was souring the moment for me. It made me feel shitty and pulled my mind back to things I was hoping that spending time with Roe would help distract me from. Mentally, I shook my head, trying not to be dragged down. “I’m all right,” I lied again and got back into position to strike the ball.
I pushed through for the rest of the game. Every time I went to strike, I could feel them watching me, especially Roe. When the game was over, I told them I needed to go. I had homework and if I stayed out any later, Mother might notice.
Roe walked me to my car. “You had fun.” He sounded a little proud of himself.
“You sound so sure,” I said as I came to stand by my car door.
“You did,” he insisted.
I had. “Wyatt is an unapologetic flirt, and Reid was not happy you invited me.”
He stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Yeah.”
“Why did you invite me?” That question had been on my mind since I’d decided to follow him here.
He didn’t immediately respond. Instead, he stared at me as if taking in all of my face. “I forget about what I should and shouldn’t do when I’m around you.”
“Why is that?”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “I don’t know.”
I didn’t believe him. “Liar.”
He shrugged. “Go home, Lottie.”
I guessed I wasn’t going to get an answer. I lifted my hand to say goodbye and then climbed into my G-Wagon.
When I got home, Prue was waiting for me in the foyer. She didn’t say anything, but tilted her head toward the stairs before heading to them. I followed her up and all the way to my room.
“What is it?” I asked as I closed my door while she flipped on my bedside light.
“I wanted to see you before I left,” she said. “Did you open that envelope from your father’s lawyer?”
I glanced at my art desk, where I had hidden my father’s letter. “Yes and no.”
“You didn’t read the letter from your father yet?” she asked in disbelief.
I frowned. “How’d you know?—?”
“That doesn’t matter,” she cut me off. “You need to read it, Lottie.”
I sighed and nodded.
“I also wanted to warn you,” she said as she came closer. “Heisn’t flying out until a week after your mother does.”
“I know that already.” Clay didn’t want to attend Fashion Week.
“I overheard him and your mother talking. He promised to check in on you to make sure you are behaving until he leaves.”
My stomach dropped.
She put her hand on my shoulder. “I will ask the other staff to let me know when he is here. Don’t come home if he is.”
Where else was I supposed to go? I didn’t voice that question and just nodded.
“Please read the letter,” she pleaded before she left.
I showered to wash the day off me and dressed into comfy clothes. As I did my nighttime moisturizing routine, I did my best not to look in the mirror. My shirt was a tank and where I’d gotten hurt had really darkened. I didn’t want to see how ugly and horrific it was. I didn’t want the reminder.
