“You think I’m joking. I’m not. Daisy, your messages every night are the only thing that makes me happy. You’re... my green light.”
I was his green light?
We talked until my phone began to beep, telling me the battery was going to die.
“Can we talk tomorrow?” I asked quickly, before we were cut off.
“Maybe. It depends on if my mom is home or not. If she’s home, I can’t.” He didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t push. He wouldn’t say why, but he hated his mother. Maybe in time, he’d tell me.
“Okay, well. Thank you for this. I—you’re my green light too, Gatsby,” I rushed. It was like our very own language that only he and I knew. The green light meant more to us than anything. It’s what kept us hoping, kept us alive.
“Good night, Daisy.”
“Good night, Gatsby.”
He hung up, and I looked at the clock. It was well after midnight. I had to be up early for morning practice. I snuck the phone downstairs to the charging base and then tiptoed back to my bed where, for the first time in ages, I slept well.
Gatsby’s name rested on my lips, and the green light that was our love for each other danced in my dreams.
Chapter 11
Gatsby
“The partythis weekend went quite well, sir. We had over three hundred in attendance, and Jules is quite good at preparing enough food for your guests without going over. I’m impressed,” my house manager, Terrance, rattled. I had little interest in the parties. They were just part of the plan.
I stepped to the tall window and looked out. Terrance continued his list, singing my praises, despite me doing nothing besides hiring the proper people to do things.
It was Monday morning. The fog was rolling across the lake, creeping slowly onto the shore. As I stared, my mind wandering, a figure came from the fog.
Neal Lovelace.
I had one of my employees look into them before they purchased the cabin beside mine. It was pure luck. I couldn’t write a better story. Daisy’s cousin, appearing at the perfect time.
They didn’t know that, of course. I made sure to keep my identity hidden from them as they made the purchase. I’d purchased the cabin when I purchased my mansion. It had been used by my staff while my house was beingrenovated. They stayed overnight while they were being trained and their families moved. But once they had homes to go back to each evening, the cabin became empty again, and I had no use for it. I put it up for sale and I began to vet the interested parties. Neal came at the right time.
They made their way back to their home. Their hair was as stiff as their legs dragging along the dirt path.
Must be hungover.
“Terrance, has my neighbor attended a party yet?” I asked, and he cleared his throat, looking down.
“No, sir. From what the staff has said, they have been spending time across the lake. They have a relative they visit.”
A relative, I snickered. There were only two members of my staff that knew my full plans. Terrance was not one of them. It was better off that way.
“Let’s see about getting them an invitation, then.”
“An invitation, sir?”
“Yes.” I went to my desk and reached for my laptop. “Something physical. Emerald green and gold. Thick paper. I want to put our best foot forward with this.” I opened my computer and began typing my instructions, then quickly printed off what I wanted and handed it to him.
“Deliver it this evening.”
“How many of these would you like me to have made, sir?”
“One.”
“One?” Terrance raised a skeptical eyebrow.
