Page 61 of Love Arranged

Talk about a hard launch.

I let out a nervous laugh. “Hey.”

“Hey?” She stares at me like she doesn’t recognize the person standing before her. “I’ve been looking all over for you! Did you not hear the fire alarm?”

“Um…I was a bit busy.” I lean into Lorenzo’s side, and thankfully he doesn’t step away.

Dahlia focuses her attention back on me. “I can see.”

Earth, please swallow me whole.

I can’t take the awkwardness anymore, so I look around, noting the twenty people all huddled by the fire trucks. Some whisper in our direction, while a majority talk among themselves.

“Can we go home and talk?Please?” I ask while fighting the compulsion to flee in the opposite direction.

Dahlia’s eyes flick over to Lorenzo one last time before she nods. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

“Call me later.” Lorenzo gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. The comforting gesture must be part of his act. Ithasto be.

“Okay, Romeo.” Julian claps a hand around his shoulder and tugs him back. “I think I’ve seen enough.”

“Then you’re in for a rude awakening because we’re only getting started.” Lorenzo pushes him away.

The sirens pick an impeccable time to stop wailing, so everyone gets to hear Julian speak. “Never thought I’d see the day where you cared about someone other than yourself.”

“The secret’s out now.”

“I’m sure you’ll move on soon enough.”

Julian’s comment hitswaytoo close to home, and my lungs malfunction. I end up choking on dry air, making Lorenzo spin around to face me.

His stormy gaze sweeps over me before he turns to look at Julian. I can’t make out Lorenzo’s expression, but the way Julian pulls back suddenly makes me wonder how unhinged he must look.

“If you have a problem with us, you talk tome. Got it?” Lorenzo asks, too low for anyone but us three to hear.

To prevent them from throwing punches, I step in and place my hand on Lorenzo’s shoulder. “By the way, this right here”—I motion between Julian and Lorenzo—“is why I kept everything a secret. You can’t have one normal conversation, and it hurts me to see two people I care about dislike each other so strongly.”

Julian looks like I’ve slapped him. “Lily?—”

I hold up my hand. “I think you’ve saidenough tonight.”

I take a deep breath and fight through the discomfort, knowing I need to put my morals aside to save my shop, including lying to my loved ones.

“All right. I think it’s time we go home.” Dahlia grabs my hand and starts to pull me away from Julian and Lorenzo, but she only manages a step before Lorenzo speaks.

“Text me when you get there,” he says, loud enough for the crowd of people around us to hear. “I want to know that you got there safely.”

We’re doing this now? All right.“You don’t need to remind me every time, baby.”

Someone giggles, while another shouts, “She calls himbaby!”

Baby, he mouths before he subtly shakes his head.No.

I’d laugh if it weren’t for Dahlia dragging me away from the bar, reminding me how much trouble I’m in.

“I’m so upset with you right now,” Dahlia whispers as we walk down Main Street.

The ache in my stomach travels toward my heart and stays there as we head to her car. Dahlia is awfully quiet as we climb inside her fancy sedan, and I’m about to curl into a ball of anxiety when she looks over at me.