Lizzy froze. Montauk. Will. She felt her stomach drop as her heart pounded against her ribs.
Birdie took a breath, then continued, “The loss of John and Claire was tragic. For me and for Will. But it’s time to start moving on. Yes, Will was technically left the house, but his life is in the city, not here. It makes sense to sell.”
Lizzy turned enough to narrow her eyes on Birdie. “I think that is up to Will, not you.”
“And I think it’s not your place to interfere.”
“I haven’t.”
Birdie gave Lizzy a doubtful glance, then looked back at the road.
Lizzy shook her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t—”
“We’re both adults, so please don’t placate me. I know there is something going on between you two. I can connect the dots. First, you tried to steer him away from selling the Montauk house when we were at the club having dinner. Am I supposed to think it’s a coincidence that just a month later, he decided to stay out there for a week and comes back only to tell me he’s not selling?”
Lizzy’s pulse tripped. “He’s not?”
“No! His receptionist said something, but I didn’t believe her. That’s why I insisted he call me himself. Then he waits until an ungodly hour tonight to finally get back to me? Unacceptable. He should know how rude it is to just ambush someone like that after hours.” Lizzy was tempted to point out the irony of their current situation, but Birdie barreled on. “What’s even worse is the fact that he barely said anything to me other than the house is going to remain in the Darcy trust and if I have questions, I should call his lawyers. Do you have any idea how much Page, Lefroy, and Brandon charge an hour to field my phone calls? It’s ridiculous!”
Page, Lefroy, and Brandon. The name sounded familiar, but Lizzy couldn’t place why. Her brain was spinning in too many directions. “Birdie, I didn’t even know he had decided to keep the Montauk house until right now.”
“Oh please,” Birdie huffed. “You told him not to sell it.”
“I told him to do what he wants.”
“Well, clearly he wants what you want.”
Something in Lizzy’s chest tightened. “Is that what he said?”
“He didn’t need to say anything,” Birdie replied haughtily. “But I know how women like you see him. You love the bank account, the big houses—”
“Are you serious?” Lizzy replied, eyes wide.
Birdie turned to glare at her. “I’m always serious when it comes to real estate.”
And just like that, Lizzy was done. “Pull over. I need to get out of this car.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. We’re in the middle of nowhere.”
“Let me out, Birdie.”
Birdie huffed again, then swerved to the side of the road. The car had barely come to a stop before Lizzy flung the door open and stepped out.
“Will has been through so much!” Birdie cried, leaning across the passenger seat. “You can’t manipulate him where he’s most vulnerable just to get what you want!”
Lizzy stopped and turned around. “Neither can you.”
Birdie’s face blanched just as Lizzy slammed the car door shut.
The Mercedes sped forward, did a U-turn, then disappeared down the dark road, gravel and dirt swirling in its wake.
Lizzy looked down at her hands and realized they were shaking, adrenaline still coursing through her veins. Birdie’s revelations were a jumbled mess in her head, but one fact remained clear: Will wasn’t selling his house in Montauk. And he wasn’t selling because of her. She hugged his stolen Columbia sweatshirt tightly around her, trying to tuck her nose into the soft material of the collar to inhale it. She missed his lips, his touch, and she wasn’t going to deprive herself of him a second longer.
Her cell was tucked into the sweatshirt pocket, and she quickly reached for it. Birdie was probably calling Will right now,recounting their drive. Or maybe she was calling those lawyers of his at Page, Lefroy, and Brandon.
Wait.
She knew that law firm. The name had sounded familiar, nagging at her memory. Suddenly, Will’s voicemail came back to her, the one when he told her to contact his lawyers for proof about Tristan. It was the same law firm that had witnessed Tristan’s affidavit, the one that ensured Mary’s release: Page, Lefroy, and Brandon.
