Page 19 of Love Arranged

A sharp pain shoots through my chest. “Great. Since youcleared up that misunderstanding, you’ll understand why I don’t accept rides from strangers.” I curse to myself, knowing I revealed way,waytoo much about how hurt I am.

Feeling both embarrassedandannoyed at myself, I reach inside my car and grab my purse from the passenger seat. The white envelope peeking out makes my bad mood even worse, so I need to get out of here before I say or do something I’ll regret.

“Thanks for the help.” I lock up my car without looking at him.

“You hate me that much?” he says, low enough for no one around to hear us.

I start walking in the opposite direction without replying.

I don’t look back because I’m too afraid of my eyes revealing the answer to his question.

2

LORENZO

Like clockwork, I stop by Rose & Thorn every week to pick up my two bouquets. The task has become an essential part of my routine and, frankly, something I’ve looked forward to since I moved to Lake Wisteria almost two years ago. My schedule of campaigning and never-ending meetings can be taxing at times, but something about the floral shop located in the town’s quiet Historic District and the carefree florist who runs it breaks up the monotony of my life.

The same florist who chose a grueling, thirty-minute walk in the middle of a heat wave over my offer to drive her home.

I’m reminded of Lily’s decision as I step out of Rose & Thorn with my order. Her car is still abandoned across the street—if I can even call the hunk of metal she owns acar.

Lily claims the billionaire Lopez cousins arelike family to her, but if that’s the case, why are they allowing her to drive around in a rusting metal death trap with a rear bumper held together by prayers and duct tape? Or better yet, why hasn’t her sister, who is a wildly successful interior designer, gifted her a car?

From my point of view, it seems like no one cares enough about her safety to step in and send the car straight to the junkyard.

I try to remind myself that Lily isn’t my problem—how I made sure she would never become one either—but then I remember the state of her testing dipstick, worn tires, and serpentine belt, which looks one rotation away from breaking.

Given her stubbornness and general dislike toward me, I don’t trust Lily to follow up with most of the concerns I noted, so I’ll take it upon myself to make sure her car gets the full workup. If the Lopez cousins get pissed off about it, even better.

I grab my phone and reach out to Manny, the mechanic who became my friend after I hired him to service my twenty cars. Before he inserted himself into my life, I only had two friends in town—Willow, who I pay to help me with my campaign, and Ellie, who happens to be her best friend.

Me

Will you do me a favor?

Manny

For my best friend? Of course.

I roll my eyes.

Me

What’s the going rate for a new battery, serpentine belt, and an oil change?

Manny

For you? A day driving your Ferrari.

Me

No.

Manny

Okay. I understand. What about the superbike?

Me