Page 86 of Love Arranged

“Pushing everyone away to keep up this false pretense. It must get pretty lonely.”

Her assessment of my life couldn’t be more wrong, but I don’t correct her. I don’t feel lonely because I prefer my company over others. It’s safer that way. Morecontrolled.

Which is exactly her point.

I’m not lonely. I may have felt that way for a short while before I joined the Eros app and met Lily, but after that situation blew up in my face, I learned to prefer isolation again.

Learned? Or tricked yourself into believing you were better off without Lily?

I tap my fingers against the wheel. “I’ll answer that question when you tell me why you really agreed to this fake relationship.”

Her mouth opens, and she looks like she’s about to speak, only to press her lips together.

I shake my head. “You expect me to trust you, but you can’t do the same?”

“I didn’t have a problem trusting youbefore.”

I realize that if I want an answer to my question, I’m going to have to give one in return. It’s not like Lily hasn’t figured me out already, so I might as well get something out of this conversation.

“I don’t get lonely.”

She rolls her eyes. “You liar.”

“Just because you don’t agree doesn’t mean it’s not true.”

“Because there’s no way that’s possible.Everyonegets lonely.”

Not when you have endless worries to keep you company.

“I’ve learned to appreciate the quiet.” If you can even call it that.

“Then why would you join a dating app because you were bored?” She smirks.

“Boredom doesn’t equate to loneliness.”

“I beg to differ.”

“Why didyoujoin the app?”

“The same reason that most people do.” She glances out the window, making it impossible to get a read on her expression without taking my eyes off the road.

“To fall in love?”

“That was the goal.” Her voice is tinged with sadness, making my chest uncomfortably burn.

“Then why waste your time on a fake relationship?”

She takes so long to answer me, I assume she won’t, but then she starts talking about the condemnation notice she received from the mayor’s office, Richard’s involvement in swaying the mayor toward Lavender Lane, and the NDA her mother signed.

By the end of her explanation, she is winded and looking over at me with eyes shiny from unshed tears. “They can’t take Rose & Thorn away. I don’t care what people say about reopening it somewhere else—nothing can replace the emotional attachment I have to the shop and the memories I shared with my dad there.”

I relate to that more than she will ever know. And while I may not have been able to save the Moirai, I can do this.

Ihaveto.

I ignore the burning sensation. “We won’t let them.”

“You promise?” She sounds surprised, hopeful, and scared all at once.