Chapter 16♥Investment and Interest
Edward didn’t bother waiting for Lucy to call him. He showed up at her house the night he knew she was due back and knocked.
“Edward! What a pleasant surprise.” She motioned for him to come in. Her suitcases were still in the entryway and she was as casual as she ever got these days, which meant while her hair and makeup looked perfect, she had taken off her shoes and untucked her blouse.
She led the way to the kitchen and poured herself a large glass of red wine and a small one for him at his request. He only wanted enough to be comfortable. If there was a night to keep his wits about him, tonight was it. He took the glass Lucy offered and sat at the table, resting his head in the palms of his hands. The conversation they needed to have was not something that could be rushed or botched. Even now, nothing he had thought of seemed right to start with.
“How was your trip?” he finally asked.
“Exhausting. I’ve shaken so many hands and talked to so many people. But I shouldn’t complain. I was lucky to get a book tour at all. Publishers are stingy with them these days. Giving me one means they have confidence in my book.” She stared him down with that last bit, letting the meaning sink in.
“I’m proud of you.”
“No, you’re not.” She swirled her glass before taking a small sip. “It’s okay to hate it, you know. I know I do sometimes. I lost you writing it, so… It’s bittersweet. That’s how I’ll always look at it.” She stared him down again, studying or analyzing. Maybe plotting her next move. It had taken him a long time to see the manipulation in pretty much everything she said, but now that he knew what to look for, he saw it in everything. She probably did feel bittersweet about the book, and about him, but mostly it was about things not going the way she’d wanted them to.
He was tired of playing by her script and not saying what they really meant. If she was going to call him out on it, he could do the same. “I don’t think you can tell the difference between pain and ambition anymore.”
“That’s a mean thing to say.”
“Sorry. It’s how I feel. I’m trying to be honest. I’d like a little more honesty from you, if that’s possible.”
“If it’s possible? You’re saying I’m not capable of honesty?”
“What do you want from me, Lucy? The truth this time. And don’t tell me you miss me or love me. Is that what you told Elinor? That you just want things to work out between us and can she please help you?” He must have hit close to the truth based on the anger flashing in her eyes. Maybe getting her angry was a mistake, but a part of him rejoiced in seeing real emotion reflected back at him.
“I did want us to work out. But since you’re making it clear that’s never going to happen, I want you to wait as long as you promised before taking up with someone else. Is that too much to ask?”
“I’m fine with that. I’m waiting. Just leave Elinor alone.”
“I will if you will.” There was a dangerous glint in her eyes. “I know you were practically glued to her side at the Middletons’ party. Did you think it wouldn’t get back to me? There is no middle ground anymore. You either act like my fiancé until I earn out my advance, or I’ll get what I want my way. I can guarantee you won’t like it.”
A prickle of dread walked up Edward’s back, but it was better to know what she was threatening than wait and guess. Every time he thought he understood Lucy, he ended up blindsided. He had a feeling he was about to be blindsided now.
“What do you mean by that?”
“After we broke up, I started writing a backup book, just in case. I believed you when you said you’d keep up the fake engagement, and you meant it when you promised it, but that’s not how things go sometimes. The book is calledNice Girls Get Dumped, and it’s honestly some of my best work. All it needs is the addition of all the juicy little details everyone loves. That Elinor’s your secretary, that I warned her I thought you were seeing someone else in my sad attempt to scare her off. But she wanted what she wanted, and she took you anyway.”
“That is not Elinor.”
“Isn’t it? It’s really up to you. I bet she’d hate all that negative attention on her, but if it helped sell books, I’m good either way.”
“I’d sue you for defamation.”
“You wouldn’t win, but you’re welcome to try. Look, I’m not saying I’d make up stuff about her. But what does it look like when I call my new friend, Elinor, and my fiancé answers her phone?” She leaned forward. “All I want is what you promised me. We act like we’re in love. You’re not seen with anyone else. We all end up happy. Deal?”
“You say that like I have a choice.”
“We always have a choice, Eddie.”
***
“I’m going to see Will in Colorado. My ride leaves in an hour.” Marianne left that bomb in Elinor’s bedroom doorway before continuing down the hall to hers.
“What? Why?” Elinor rushed out of her closet, where she’d been playing a hopeless game of why-do-I-keep-clothes-I-don’t-wear, and ran down to Marianne’s room. A blouse flew at her and Elinor caught it.
“Keep that one. I’m too chesty for it.” Marianne began stuffing the rest of the clothes on her bed into an open suitcase.
Elinor dropped the blouse and crossed her arms. “Marianne Dashwood, it’s a Tuesday morning. Have you even let your boss know you’re leaving town? And how exactly are you leaving town?” If Mom gave her permission to take the one vehicle they owned, Marianne would have to drive over Elinor’s dead body to get it out of the driveway.
