Chapter 15 #2
Actually, she’d been thinking about her Sweetheart storyline in general, brainstorming ways to move forward. All that did was give her a headache and make her sympathize with a teenager who’d sooner spit on her than accept her.
“I know you weren’t a part of the show, but you have this…in-depth insider perspective. Did you use to watch it?”
She felt him nod. “When I missed them.”
Which must’ve been all the time. They filmed eleven months per year, not to mention all the behind-the-scenes shoots for various projects and appearances. His family had a close bond, but there was this strange energy coursing through the house, like they were all eternally on edge.
And now Lulie…she was being manipulated into going head-to-head with Zinnia to force Jordan in the middle because Amber was moving ahead with her Thou Art a Villain storyline.
Zinnia came up with the name, but then Grace had been the one to zoom out. The bigger picture was worse.
GRACE: It seems to me…
GRACE: In my professional opinion…
GRACE: The show ended the second Sadie decided to leave. They’re all in denial about it.
GRACE: Maybe not Damon. I don’t think he cares either way.
GRACE: Amber is 100% gonna make this your problem. As far as she’s concerned, you’re the farmer taking her sickly cash cow out back.
ZINNIA: Not the cash cow!
Jordan began massaging Zinnia’s spine the way she liked. She chewed on her lip, uncomfortable with making an on-camera confession but it had to be done.
“I think I kind of represent all the things your family missed out on in your life. They can’t understand how you could get married without telling them first. Damon is nice.
I like him a lot. But I think Wylie gets upset when you choose to pay attention to me over him.
Lulie too, except she’s—I don’t know what’s going on there, but she’s decided it’s my fault. And Amber straight-up hates me.”
She looked up at him in just enough time to catch his lips quirk—his tell that he’d picked up on what she wanted to do.
“My mom doesn’t hate you.” He laughed as if that was impossible. “I know things are still rocky, but it won’t be this way forever. They’ll get used to you and us and everything will be exactly as it should be.”
“I love how optimistic you are, but I’m gonna need you to take those rose-colored glasses off. We’re in a hell dimension.”
“I’d say we’re in a liminal space. Transitioning between dimensions. Already on our way out.” He grinned. “My dad wants to take you golfing. I gave Wylie a list of your favorite books and he’s read two of them already. I think he’s working up the nerve to talk to you about them.”
“Okay, wait. Golfing I believe. You all hate sports, and I’m a try-hard so of course I’m going. But books? Really?”
“It’s true. You also have a secret present from him hiding somewhere on the estate. I can’t tell you what it is, but I can give you a hint: it’s staring you in the face every morning.”
“And it’s from Wylie?”
Jordan didn’t miss the way her camera pod panned to said gift, but she did. “It was his idea and everything. They want you here. Even Sadie has been shifting things around in her schedule to find some time for a surprise visit.”
“What about Lulie?”
His smile grew tight, pained. “She wants to take you shopping.”
“Why?” she asked, instantly suspicious.
“She’s really into fashion and thinks your wardrobe could use a little upgrade.”
“Oh, so she hates my mom’s handmade cardigans. Got it. Great.”
“For the record, I love how colorful you are.” He rubbed her lapel—it was pale blue and dotted with white clovers. “I really do think about your first-date dress daily. Sometimes hourly. How radiant you looked as you breezed into my store and headed straight for the mystery section.”
“Radiant.” She bit the inside of her cheek. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Only for you.” He kissed the same cheek as if he knew what she’d done, and she had to squeeze her eyes shut.
Zinnia needed a reality check. Quickly. He was using what really happened and exaggerating it for the show.
It didn’t matter how dreamy and nostalgic he sounded.
How easy he made it to believe that moment happened twenty years ago and was now his most treasured memory.
She loved the necklace, but she’d be naive to ignore that giving it to her was a part of this too.
It wasn’t real. Not entirely and that was what mattered. Not how he made her feel.
“Are you going to stay with me?” she whispered. “For the rest of the day?”
“If you want me. I want to.”
She’d never get used to how willing he was to match her. “I usually spend my last hour of work at the gym. Let’s do something else.”
“Name it. I’ll follow you anywhere.”
Could they leave? She really wanted to go berry picking at the local farm not too far away. Actually, doing anything away from the estate would make her happy at this point. She was so desperate she’d settle for going to a drive-through and eating french fries in a parking lot.
But Jordan was already breaking schedule. Fleeing the premises might push Amber over the edge and into something even more drastic than villainy.
Her job was to be his Sweetheart. That meant keeping the peace by following the rules.
“Do you have a favorite room or place on the estate?” she asked.
“The bungalow.”
“Something from before I got here, please.”
“Oh.” He kissed her knuckles. “The library. It’s where—”
“No, wait, don’t tell me yet!” She hopped to her feet and held her hand out. “Let’s just go.”
He slid his fingers in between hers, linking them together like a perfect lock and key.
Jordan
Zinnia walked with an actual bounce in her step. If they weren’t holding hands, she’d probably be skipping. His face hurt from trying not to smile at her. If he’d known “coworking” would make her this happy, he would’ve started weeks ago.
“So, overall,” he began, “how do you feel about your schedule?”
She kissed him on the cheek. “It’s fine.”
“Do you want to change it? We can.”
“AND YOU CAN FUCK RIGHT OFF WITH THAT BULLSHIT!”
Zinnia and Jordan both stopped short and turned toward the house. On the other side of beatific French doors in one of the many entertaining rooms, Wylie and Lulie were viciously arguing, hurling insults back and forth at the top of their lungs.
“Should we do something about that?” Zinnia asked. “And by we, I mean you. I’m not going in there.”
“Not necessarily.” Jordan grimaced. Sometimes, the best course of action was to just let the twins have at it.
They’d get it out of their system and go back to being inseparable before the day was over.
“We’re not even supposed to be here right now.
They might be setting something up. It’s better if we just go. ”
And then Lulie picked up an antique vase.
Jordan flung the door open, sprinting through the room as she pulled back and threw it at Wylie’s head. His brother ducked and it shattered against the wall. Still in a crouch, he paused only for a second before launching himself forward to tackle her.
“No! Not doing that— No!” Jordan pushed him back.
“Did you see what she did?” Wylie seethed with anger, face turning splotchy red.
“I know! I’ll handle it! Walk it off.”
Lulie spat a chain of insults and curse words so intricate Jordan did a double take. She might need to go back to writing poetry because god almighty. He stared at her wide-eyed, jaw almost on the floor.
“What the hell is going on in here?” His dad appeared in the interior doorway.
Wylie pointed at Lulie. “She’s always fucking running her mouth about shit she doesn’t know anything about.”
“Oh, like you do? He’s been lying since he got here, but you’re too stupid to figure it out!”
“Who’s lying?” Damon asked.
“Alfie!”
“Me?! How am I in it?”
“Eric can’t visit because no one can know about Zinnia! Alfie paid her to marry him to get back at Bea for breaking up with him!”
Jordan’s jaw dropped again. “The fuck are you talking about? That doesn’t even make sense!”
“You two don’t even sleep in the same bed! She doesn’t even like you!” Lulie glared at a flighty-looking Zinnia, who was still standing outside, before turning her wrath back on Jordan. “You should’ve just fucking married Bea and none of this would’ve happened! You ruined everything!”
Jordan flinched as if she’d tried to hit him too. His ears rang, jaw aching and chest collapsing like a sinkhole ready to swallow his heart whole.
It didn’t matter how old Lulie got. He’d always see her as his baby sister with a gap-toothed smile and hair in two French braids.
She used to beg him for tea parties and piggyback rides.
Every Christmas in January, she demanded he open her presents first because there was no point in saving the best for last—and they were.
When did she grow up to be so venomous and volatile? How?
“Hey.” Zinnia slid in between him and Lulie. “I don’t know who you think you’re talking to, but it sure as hell ain’t him.”
He’d only heard her sound so cold and self-assured one time before. He touched her arm. “Zin—”
She shrugged him off. “You don’t need to worry about what’s going on between me and mine. I’m sorry Eric can’t visit and I’m sorry they made you believe that’s our fault. We didn’t make that decision.”
“You—”
“Aht. I don’t wanna hear it.” Zinnia stepped forward.
Lulie, incredibly, stepped back.
“Please understand that the only reason I tolerate you is because Jordan asked me to give you a chance. But if this is how you treat people you love, throwing vases and being wildly disrespectful? I don’t want to know you and you don’t want to know what happens when I stop trying.
Don’t ever talk to him like that again.” She spun around and faced Jordan. “And you are coming with me. Now.”