Chapter Seven Lily
CHAPTER SEVEN
Lily
T he next morning, I wake up with the worst hangover, and no amount of greasy food or pain relievers can fully cure it. I haven’t made myself sick from drinking in years, so I’m still shocked about what happened.
Part of me wishes I blacked out because I remember the conversation Lorenzo and I had right before I told him to pull over, and I’ve been suffering from an ache in my chest whenever I think of him since.
You were too much for me , Lorenzo said, driving a knife through my already-bleeding heart.
What utter bullshit.
I’ve heard a variation of those words before from past men I’ve dated, and while I wondered if Lorenzo felt similarly, it still hurts to have my worries confirmed.
I stare at the box of clothes hidden in my closet and question if I should show Lorenzo what it looks like to be too much , only for me to shake my head.
Don’t reveal how much his words got to you , I tell myself before picking a simple black dress and driving to work.
Word travels fast here, so halfway through the sluggish workday, I’ve collected ten bottles of ginger ale, four Tupperware containers of chicken noodle soup, and the largest bottle of Pepto-Bismol I’ve ever seen.
Between people passing by and my sluggishness, I don’t stop to check my phone until I lock up for the day and head to my car.
The Lopez-Munoz chat is active, but I’m more interested in a new message from Willow.
WILLOW
Whatever you did to convince Lorenzo not to fire or sue me, THANK YOU!
I blink twice at the message.
Did I say something? I don’t remember—
Oh .
ME
It’s the least I could do after risking your job to begin with.
ME
I’m SO sorry about mentioning the fiancée thing. You asked me not to say anything, and I broke my word.
WILLOW
No worries. All is forgiven!
ME
Really?
WILLOW
Yeah. I can’t completely hold your drunk actions against you when I’m the one who suggested opening another bottle.
ME
I’m old enough to cut myself off before I ever let myself get to that point.
I was too down on my luck to stop, but I’ve learned my lesson.
WILLOW
Out of curiosity, how did you convince Lorenzo to keep working with me?
It takes me a few seconds to remember, and when I do, I groan.
ME
I may have threatened to run against him.
WILLOW
I had no idea you’re interested in politics.
ME
I can get a little sassy when drunk.
Not that I think my attitude had any sway over Lorenzo’s choice to keep working with Willow.
WILLOW
I’d say!
WILLOW
Thankfully whatever you said worked because he’s pretending last night didn’t happen.
WILLOW
But don’t assume you’re off the hook because I need to know everything about you, Lorenzo, and the Eros app.
So much for my plan to put last night behind me, and it’s all thanks to my big mouth and hurt feelings.
Two days later, I’m scheduled to open the shop before our second-newest employee takes over for the afternoon. I’m not much of a morning person, so I treat myself to an iced coffee from the Angry Rooster Café.
A few people in the café stop me to chat, and I entertain their conversations before I have to drag myself back to my car and drive over to the Historic District.
My stomach sours when I find the mayor and his two sons standing in the middle of Lavender Lane, reviewing what looks to be architectural plans.
I’m tempted to keep driving around until the Ludlows leave, but I still need to wrap up the flower-wall design before we open for the day, so I park my car in an empty spot and walk over to Rose & Thorn.
My shop is in the Ludlows’ direct line of sight, so I brace myself for the inevitable.
“Lily!” the mayor calls out. I would love to ignore him, but I’d risk looking too immature in front of Richard, so I turn to face the three of them with an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Mayor Ludlow has overseen Lake Wisteria for nearly three decades after taking over from his late father, and he recently celebrated his sixty-fifth birthday last year before announcing his upcoming retirement.
“Mayor Ludlow.” I take advantage of our proximity and memorize the company logo on the corner of the plans.
The mayor keeps a smile in place while he rolls up the paper, but I don’t return it before acknowledging his other son. “Trevor.”
I ignore Richard altogether, earning a raised brow from Mayor Ludlow and a grin from Trevor.
The eldest Ludlow son is thirty-five, while Richard was born five years later.
They look similar with their matching blond hair and blue eyes, although Trevor stands out with his warm smile and friendly demeanor.
Of the two Ludlow sons, Trevor is the more approachable one, so I understand why Mayor Ludlow chose him as his predecessor over Richard, who usually looks like he is suffering from a chronic case of IBS.
Or maybe he only appears that way around me.
“Nice to see you, Lily,” Trevor says.
“What are you all doing out here?” I ask.
Mayor Ludlow’s smile returns. “We’re going over some of the architect’s plans for Lavender Lane.”
My heart stutters. “A bit premature, don’t you think?”
“I want to hit the ground running after I’m sworn in.” Trevor winks.
“Assuming that even happens.” I spare Richard a glance and wish I hadn’t.
His icy-blue eyes are laser focused on me.
“We know the letter must’ve come as quite a shock,” Mayor Ludlow speaks. “But Trevor is going to make sure everyone is taken care of and given first dibs on the new retail spaces.”
“How thoughtful of him to offer us an opportunity to buy our own properties back for quadruple the price.”
“We understand rent prices have gotten a bit out of hand…” the mayor says. “But we’re partnering with the local bank to offer small business loans to those who are misplaced.”
“You mean the bank you own?”
The mayor’s smile falters. “Yes, but our rates are competitive, I assure you.”
Richard, who probably suggested Lavender Lane for this plan to spite me, says, “For the price we’re paying for the building, you should be grateful.”
“I guess I’m too blinded by my rage to appreciate your generosity.”
Richard shrugs.
Any lingering hope of convincing the mayor to change his mind goes up in flames because there is no way Richard will let that happen. He resents me far too much.
Mayor Ludlow intervenes. “What Richard means to say is that we want to take good care of your mother and everyone else on this street. That’s why we’re giving everyone six months to get their affairs in order because we know this will be difficult on everybody—”
I interrupt, “Which I’m sure Richard loves .”
Mayor Ludlow looks at us curiously, most likely confused since no one in town knows that Richard and I had a short fling.
Whoever said the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else clearly left out a few important details, like don’t assume it’ll make you feel any better, and more importantly, do not pick a person who can make your life miserable should you break things off with them.
“A word, Lily?” The vein in Richard’s jaw jumps.
I’m about to deny his request when he grabs my elbow and steers me away. Once we round a corner, he spins around.
“Have some class and stop making a scene in front of my family before they realize my lapse of judgment.”
My mouth falls open. I don’t want anyone to know what we did either, but damn, it still stings to be spoken to like that by someone I was once intimate with.
He continues, “Whether you like it or not, this project is happening.”
“A project that is purely coincidental and has nothing to do with what happened between us a few months ago, right?” I reply sarcastically.
His smile is all types of wrong. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I take a deep breath and push my feelings aside for the greater good of Lavender Lane. “Seriously. Can you act like an adult and put an end to this vendetta? Or at the very least, keep it between us and don’t target innocent people.”
He shrugs. “My father always had these plans. I just happened to suggest Lavender Lane over his other option.”
I throw diplomacy out the window. “You’re such an asshole.”
“At least I own it. I can’t say the same about you.”
My face turns red. He might see me as one, but that doesn’t make it true.
I never led Richard on, and I was vocal about only being interested in something casual, especially after the situation with Lorenzo. When I realized I still had unresolved feelings for him, I respectfully told Richard where my mind was at and ended things like a mature adult.
Even though Lorenzo ignored my existence, my heart was still invested in him, and Richard took it more personally than I originally thought.
I can take a few guesses as to why he felt slighted, but I bet it stems from an inferiority complex that began when he was labeled the spare to his brother’s heir .
“You know how many women would have been grateful to be in your shoes?” he asks.
I’m not sure how I keep from gagging. “Sounds like you shouldn’t have a hard time finding someone else, then.”
“I liked you. I really did, to the point where I was willing to look past your particular…quirks.” His gaze is as demeaning as his words, but I act like they bounce off the white two-piece set I borrowed from my sister, even when that isn’t the case.
Judgy gazes or comments like his are why I started dressing like I do now. Because my closet and the clothes I wear reflect who I am at my core, and I’m not interested in sharing that part of my heart with people who openly judge me or use it against me.
I’m too vulnerable at the moment, but I won’t be like this forever.
Just for now .
Richard leans in, an air of vicious energy surrounding us as he whispers, “But I should’ve known you were too good to be true. That there had to be a reason most men stay away from you, including the one you still had feelings for, and it isn’t because you’re a prude like some people assume.”
I flinch and instantly hate myself for showing a reaction. He said something similar after I told him I couldn’t continue seeing him, so I should’ve been better prepared, but I’m sensitive, especially after the other night.
Instead of giving Richard an opportunity to tear me down some more, I walk away, exhibiting more maturity in ten seconds than he has in his entire life.
I was already motivated to save my business, but this conversation with Richard took the fire burning inside me and doused it with gasoline.
I don’t care what it takes, but I’m going to make sure Trevor and his entire family lose all their power over this town—even if it means putting my anger aside and teaming up with Lorenzo to make it happen.
My mom breaks down as soon as I walk inside her bedroom.
“I’m sorry, Liliana,” she cries, her anguish etched into the fine lines of her face.
“I tried to talk to the mayor, but then he showed me all the plans, and he tripled the money the city council is offering if I signed the NDA right there. I couldn’t say no.
Not when I knew there was nothing I could say or do to change his mind. ”
All my rage from earlier today is wiped away, replaced with worry.
“Mami.” I help her take a seat at her vanity. “Take a few deep breaths.”
I model a lungful, and we both breathe in and out until she is no longer hyperventilating. I’ve had lots of practice over the years, so I have a whole toolbox of techniques to help my mom through her anxiety attacks, along with a sixth sense I’ve developed to anticipate them before they happen.
Once she gains control over herself, she shows me the NDA, which requires her secrecy in exchange for a hefty sum of money. If she tells anyone about the plans, she will face a bunch of legal repercussions.
The mayor and his sons backed us into a corner because even if I wanted to tell the town about the Lavender Lane plans, I couldn’t do so without putting my mother in financial and legal jeopardy—something they know I’d never risk.
Richard successfully trapped me, but I won’t accept my fate without putting up a fight.
Un Munoz nunca se rinde I , I tell myself while accidently crumpling the pages of the NDA.
My mom’s wide-eyed gaze flickers over my face. “Please don’t be angry at me.”
I smooth the paper out and get better control over my facial expression. “I’m not angry.” Disappointed, yes, but how can I be angry when she is clearly struggling with her choice?
I reach for her hand and give it a squeeze. “I wish you had talked to me first since we’re in this together,” I say, exhaustion bleeding into every syllable. “But I understand he put you in a difficult position.”
One that I’m partially to blame for, which is why it’s up to me to find us a way out.