“My bad,” the distracted guy said, spotting someone he knew. “Darling.”
“These people have an air about them, don’t they?” Simon tsked, trying to avoid watching Dahlia blot her chest.
“A little.” Dahlia chuckled. This wouldn’t happen on the North Fork. Maybe home wasn’t so bad after all. “What? People in the U.K. don’t have airs? I’ve only been once to London for work.”
“No, they do.” He laughed. “But they’re much more polite, at least to your face. Want to take a walk? Get out of the congestion?”
“Sure.” She smiled wistfully. She missed Noah. No matter who was walking beside her, she knew she would always choose Noah. Her hand tightened its grip on her purse as she realized how royally she’d messed everything up. Not only by keeping Daisy from him but also by omitting the truth about this job she was taking. But she hadn’t wanted the decision to be influenced by anyone but herself. She felt like she’d earned that since she’d given up so much in the past for others. As unfair as that was to Noah, it was the only way she knew to protect this second season of hers. Until she heard the words “I love you” from a man, she’d never fully let her shield down. But even then, could she trust it?
“I’m glad you came,” Simon said, his hazel eyes bright and wide.
“Yeah, me too.” That wasn’t exactly the truth, but it was better than staying home eating ice cream and watching a Charles Halston movie, which she still hadn’t done. She just hoped she wasn’t sending mixed signals. “Look at this view. I bet they have incredible sunsets over the water,” Dahlia said, changing the subject.
He continued talking with his glued-on smile and endearing accent, but all she could think about washim, the hunk who’d wormed his way into her barn and heart. She wondered what he was up to, if he missed her, and if he would ever return to Meadow Lane. Dahlia made a pathetic attempt to smile back at him through the ache that settled in her heart.
Simon sipped his drink, and his speckled eyes locked with hers. If it hadn’t been for Noah, she would have been swept away. Maybe pushed him against a tree and kissed him boldly; he was, as Lil would describe, a “dreamboat.”
They talked for a while by the water and walked back up to the party. She hung out with Tony and Kara. They insisted on shots, and Dahlia discreetly threw hers in the bushes. All she wanted was to sleep in her own bed tonight. The sunset faded over the hedge of privet as Dahlia danced with Kara. Considering everything thrown at her this week, she was actually starting to enjoy herself.
That was, until someone blew her cover. “Hey, aren’t you the girl dating Noah Sterling?” the inebriated girl with long dark brown hair and blinding veneers asked. “I mean woman.”
“What?” Dahlia was startled. She stared at the girl in the skin-tight pink dress.
“Wait, what?” Kara asked, pushing in front of Dahlia.
“Yeah, it was all over Page Six yesterday. Pictures of you two out in the Hamptons. They called you a divorced recluse from the North Fork,” the girl said, looking Kara up and down.
Dahlia felt her shoulders drop and her ears turn red. It took her back to the day a wave crashed her to shore—without her bikini top—and her entire class saw.
“Don’t sweat it, hon.” Kara offered an understanding nod as she walked her away from the crowd.
“I bet Josie called the gossip rag from the club the other night.” Dahlia shook her head, feeling the steam levitate above her head. She wanted to use expletives, but God knew who was hiding in the bushes, waiting for a video response.
It was just another reminder that she still didn’t know where she belonged. Was it Connecticut, Southold, Charleston, or somewhere else she had yet to discover?
“I’m going to go to the bathroom,” she told Kara.
“Want me to come with you?”
“No, I’m good. You stay.” Dahlia’s breath quickened at the thought of Daisy reading about her relationship with Noah. But she was in France. There was no way. A slight wave of relief hit her as she kept walking.
Dahlia opened the pool house door and rushed into the bathroom. The wall held her tense body. She squeezed her eyes shut, mustering the courage to look it up on her phone. After typingNoah Sterling’s new girlfriend Page Six, she let out a long exhale and hit search. There were already too many links to count.
Dahlia gasped. She didn’t like the feeling of being outed and seen, especially when it wasn’t her choice and on her terms. She skimmed through the article, seeing highlights such as “much older, married with a daughter.” Dahlia felt dizzy scanning the images, as if she’d willingly sipped a witches’ brew. But what she was most heartbroken about was that a person would use her child as a pawn in a petty revenge scheme.
The air suddenly felt thick and heavy. It was hard to breathe. She wanted to go home. She couldn’t stay another minute with these people. Dahlia slipped out the back door and bolted to her car. She stood under the lamplight. Her hand shook as she tried her best to text Kara.I’m sorry. I need to go home.
“Dahlia!” Kara yelled. “Were you going to pull an Irish goodbye?” Kara caught up to her. “Listen, no one cares here. Heck, their faces have probably been plastered on that page more than once.”
“It’s not just that.” Dahlia folded her arms, feeling her eyes burn. “The write-up mentions Daisy and my marriage. It’s uncalled for—I didn’t sign up for this.” No one messed with her kid.
“No, you didn’t. It’s rotten.”
“And Simon seems like a great guy, but he’s just a distraction. I need to make things right with Noah before I can think about anything or anyone else.”
“Whatever you need him to be is fine. I just wanted you to see your options.” Kara held her hand. “What I care about is us. We were having so much fun. You can make it right tomorrow. Just stay.”
“Kara, you don’t get it.” Dahlia punctuated with her other hand. “You and I live in two different worlds.”
