“You really don’t love her?” Lily blurts out.
I let out a breath. This is why I don’t tell anyone my beliefs. I have to explain myself for weeks and months just to be understood.
“It’s complicated, Lily,” I try.
She opens her mouth to refute, but her phone jingles in her pocket. I squat and turn over a log in the flames with an iron poker.
She answers her phone after checking the caller ID. “This is Lily.” She frowns and then taps my shoulder quickly. “Can you talk to my lawyer?”
I stand, and she hands me the phone, a more distressed look coating her face.
Brett’s boots thud against the floor, now changed out of his winter gear to film us from the corner.
I press Lily’s phone to my ear. “Hello?”
“Hi, this is Mark Cole from Red Hot Films. We want to make Lily Calloway an offer to star in one of our productions.”
Porn.
This isn’t the first time she’s been offered a role, but it’s the first time someone has called her personal phone. Usually they go through her father’s lawyers and managers.
“How did you get this number, Mark?”
“We had a contact,” he says, “we’re prepared to offer two million if she stars. One million if she directs, and that would be behind the scenes business. She doesn’t even have to appear on screen.” But her name would be.
“She’s not interested,” I say calmly.
Lily gives me a thumbs-up and an encouraging smile.
“She’s the daughter of a multi-billion dollar mogul. No amount of money or exposure will sway her. Stop calling.” I hang up at that.
“Thanks,” she says as I hand her the phone. “Whenever I try to saynopeople usually cut me off.”
“They shouldn’t be calling you anyway.”
She nods like she knows this too. “I think my number was leaked. I might get a new one and give it to only…” She counts in her head. “Six people.”
“Lo, your sisters, and your parents?” I ask.
She shakes her head “Not my parents. You and Ryke. If that’s okay. I just don’t really trust my parents to keep the number to themselves.”
It’s strange to be included in someone’s close personal contacts. I’m used to being on the outskirts of a network, a connection that people use if they really need one. To be so closely tied to Lily and the Calloways makes me truly realize what I’ve gained by being with Rose.
I have a family. Arealfamily. It’s not something you can win. I didn’t manipulate a soul to get here. I have it because they like me for me.
Each day, I’m more thankful for them. And I’m more aware of how much I can lose.
“Perfect,” I tell her, “so I can call and remind you to study for your tests.”
Her eyes grow big. “When is my next test?” Studying, school (even online school) seems to be last on Lily Calloway’s priority list, whereas academics have always ranked high on mine.
“Two weeks,” I say, having memorized her schedule when she showed it to me. I admit, it’s not completely selfless, even though I do care about Lily. I know the way to Rose’s heart is through her sisters.
Her shoulders slacken, probably glad it’s not in a couple of days.
“Lily!” Scott calls as he enters the living room. “I have something for you.”
Brett rotates the camera to catch Scott on film.
