Part of me kept wondering if I’d dreamed up that evening high above Manhattan when Harrison had gone down on one knee in front of me. The guy was confident as fuck to have done that under the circumstances, and the fact that he had didn’t help my attraction to him at all.
The ring wasn’t on my finger anymore, though. It hadn’t been since we’d left the restaurant that night. Keeping it there would’ve been insane.
Regina would’ve spotted it in two seconds or less, but the reprieve from my mother’s scrutiny of it felt temporary. She noticed everything eventually, and when she did…
Yeah. I’m not ready for that shit storm.
The little bell over the door jingled, pulling me out of my thoughts. Megan breezed in like she was arriving at Paris Fashion Week instead of a corner café, dressed as always in designer athleisure from head to toe. My friend’s skin glowed with whatever serum she’d no doubt been paid to plug this week. Oversized sunglasses perched on her head.
I quickly tucked the chain deeper into my shirt just before she spotted me. A loud squeal tore out of her and she glided across the room to brush a kiss to each of my cheeks. “Aura! You look fabulous, baby.”
“Megan,” I said dryly, chuckling when she pulled away. “You’re as subtle as ever, aren’t you?”
“What can I say? I’m a brand these days. I can’t help it.” She waggled her eyebrows and plopped into the chair across from mine at the table. “I’ve got to admit, babe, I was surprised to get a call from you asking to meet in the morning. You’re always at work. What’s going on?”
I shrugged, faking an easy smile. “There are a lot of chapters to that story, but the highlights are that I’m my own boss now. I make my own hours and they’re pretty flexible for my friends.”
She grinned, then leaned in conspiratorially. “Seriously, you went out on your own? That’s huge news, girl. Why haven’t I heard or seen anything about it?”
“Maybe because I didn’t post it to any of my socials?” I suggested lightly, but it was also true.
Megan was a well-known wellness influencer. She knew everything about everyone who was anyone and she lived her entire life online. If it wasn’t on social media, it hadn’t happened in her world.
She laughed. “I definitely would’ve known if you’d posted it anywhere. Why the secrecy, though? Even your mother postsmore than you do. Speaking of, how was New York? I saw you went shopping at Bergdorf’s. Classic.”
I groaned. “She posted about that? God, I really need to talk to her about privacy settings.”
“Don’t worry, I’m friends with her online.” Megan smiled but glanced at her watch. “I’ve only got about thirty minutes before Pilates. Do you want to come with me? It’s a great session. You’ll love it.”
“Thanks, but I can’t.” I sipped my latte, stalling for a just few seconds to get my mental ducks in a row. “I might join you another time, though.”
“Uh-huh.” She squinted at me, clearly suspicious as her gaze swept across my face. “Seriously, what’s going on with you, babe? You sounded stressed on the phone, and don’t take this the wrong way, but you look tired. Really tired. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. You know how Regina is on shopping trips. She wiped me out.” I set my cup down slowly. “I need you to do something for me. A favor, but it has to stay between us.”
Her eyes lit up instantly. “Is this the fun kind of something you need done? Or the illegal kind? Because if it’s illegal, that’s also fun, but I’m going to need to procure a wig before we get started.”
I laughed. “It’s not illegal, but it’s probably not going to be fun either. It’s personal.”
Megan tilted her head, studying me like I was about to confess to leading a double life as an international jewel thief. “Oh, well, that’s mysterious. Okay, tell me. What’s the favor?”
I leaned in, lowering my voice just in case. “I need you to dig into my mom. I’m trying to find out why she and CC Westwood hate each other so much.”
Megan blinked, then sat back, her jaw dropping in slow motion. “Wait, Regina hates her? Oh my God, why don’t I know this already?”
“Because neither of them have ever posted about it?” I teased.
She narrowed her eyes but pulled out her phone like a knight unsheathing a sword. “Challenge accepted. Give me a week and I’ll know more about their feud than they do.”
I smiled faintly, but my stomach twisted into dozens of knots. Whatever she found, I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be good. Megan’s fingers flew across her phone, no doubt already typing her mission into her Notes app before she suddenly perked up.
“Actually, this might be easier than I thought.” She gave me a relieved smile. “I know the Westwoods. Gwen and I go way back. She did a collab with me a few years ago for her Pilates studio and I’ve been doing her classes ever since. She’s a total sweetheart, but here’s the thing. Her best friend is Laney Westwood. Laney comes to Gwen’s classes too and we’ve gotten pretty close.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Of course, you’re tight with Sterling Westwood’s wife. Why wouldn’t you be?”
She leaned across the table like she was about to discuss state secrets, her eyes wide and glittering with excitement. “Laney invited me to a little Christmas party Sterling is hosting at their place. It’s, like, super small. Only close friends. Ultra exclusive.”
I blinked at her, the gears in my head already turning. “Sterling Westwood, the heir of all heirs.”
