35. Lily
Lily
I stand in front of the hotel and watch Gage’s car drive away.
I feel foolish for getting attached to this man.
I’m such a cliché.
So what if he’s my first and he makes me come so hard, I fear I’ll forget my name? It doesn’t mean he’s going to be the father of my children.
I need to find something to do with myself for the rest of the afternoon. Obsessing over Gage isn’t an option.
With a heavy sigh, I head towards the entrance.
As I enter through the glass doors, my phone rings.
Nadine.
Perfect timing.
I park myself to the side and accept the call. “Why aren’t we having a video call?”
“I’m having a bad hair day.”
I snort. “I’ve seen you at your worst.”
“Consider yourself lucky I’m giving you a respite.”
I frown at the phone. “So, we’re not having a video call?”
“Not today. ”
Fine.
“ ?a va, toi? ”
Translation: How are you?
“ Oui, ca va. Et toi? ”
Translation: I’m good, and you?
“ Tout baigne dans l’huile, ” she says.
Translation: All is good.
“ C’est pareil pour moi, ” I say.
Translation: Same for me.
“C’était comment le déjeuner avec ton Jules?”
Translation: How was lunch with your guy?
I could struggle on in French, but I’m not in the mood to put in that much effort. “Lunch was great,” I say. “I’m not going to complain about a picnic with a gorgeous man on a bright sunshiny day.”
She lets out a dramatic sigh. “I wouldn’t know.”
“I wish you were here.”
“Two more days and you’re going back to the concrete jungle.”
She ignored what I said?
She’s in a weird mood today. Either that, or it was an exhausting day at the flower shop.
“I wish I could extend my trip, but I’m afraid my father will flip his lid if I do,” I say. “I can’t make excuses about visiting more film schools.”
“What a pity your time in LA has to come to an end.”
“I was getting to know Gage better…”
“That sucks.”
“The man has gone through so much, Nads.”
I give my best friend the highlights of the tragic story Gage shared with me.
“It baffles me how cheaters never consider the people they’ll hurt with their selfishness.” Her indignation is audible.
“Exactly,” I say. “From the outside, Gage is a majestic oak tree, but inside, he’s a fragile orchid. He’s been hurting for so long, he needs to be loved by someone who’s dying to give love?—”
My hand flies to cover my mouth.
Fuck.
That was ridiculous and far-fetched.
What the hell is wrong with me today?
Silence greets me on the other end.
Let’s hope she didn’t hear that slip of the tongue.
“Play your father at his own game,” Nads says after several breaths.
“I don’t understand.”
“Instead of an internship at a PR agency in New York, ditch the Big Apple. California dreaming, baby. You need to make it your mission to find a publicity firm in LA.”
She heard me after all.
“Given what you’ve told me about the sisterhood, the influential people who are part of Gage’s inner circle, and the brooding billionaire himself, I’m sure it would be easy for you to land a job.”
Do I have the courage to pull the rug from under my father’s feet?
“Gage Hollingsworth is a gorgeous, strong man who desperately needs to be loved, and you, Lily Schuyler, are the perfect woman for the job.”
My heart is beating out of my chest.