Page 99 of For the Love of Art

CHAPTER

EIGHTEEN

Lianne lazily flipped through a magazine on my bed as I searched my wobbly, plastic clothing rack containing most of my clothes. Nothing looked suitable to wear to a fancy beachfront mansion.

“You should go like that,” Lianne commented, not looking up from her magazine.

I looked down at my nude colored strapless bra and thong. “I think this might be a little too come and get it.”

Lianne looked at me. “Don’t you want him to come and get it?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Then wear just that.” She turned her attention to her magazine again. “He’s picking you up, so you’ll be alone.”

“I have to walk to the vehicle!” I protested, finally pulling a white linen dress from the rack. “And I’m aiming for invisible this weekend.”

“From prying paparazzi or Don?”

“What’s the supposed to mean?” I looked at the dress I’d chosen in the mirror. It was simple, with an empire waist and an A-line cut. The top dipped just low enough to show a little cleavage and had a small cutout detail beneath the bust. It was light and summery, perfect as it was sweltering outside.

“Just seems weird that you’re so nervous to be seen with Nathan.”

“I’m a private person.”

“Or do you just not want Don to know you’ve moved on?”

“He’s moved on!”

Lianne raised a brow at me. “Have you?”

My phone vibrated, and we both looked at it. I could see Nathan’s name, so I knew he was downstairs waiting for me.

“I’m signing divorce papers,” I said quietly. “What more moving on can I do?”

“Signing not signed?”

“I haven’t had time to sign them.”

Now, Lianne looked concerned. “You haven’t had two seconds to scribble an incoherent version of your name?”

I scoffed. “It’s not like it’s a big deal. If I don’t sign, the court will eventually grant him the divorce.”

I closed my suitcase and lifted it from my couch.

“Okay.” Lianne closed the magazine and stood up. “So, if this divorce is going to happen anyway, why not just sign the papers and run off in the sunset with your super sexy billionaire who can’t keep his eyes or hands off you?”

“My not wanting to be seen with Nathan has nothing to do with Don and everything to do with wanting to live a private life.”

“Okay,” Lianne conceded, but I could tell she didn’t believe me. I couldn’t exactly blame her. I wasn’t sure I believed myself.

Every time I went to sign those damn papers, there was a block between me and the pen.

My phone vibrated again.

“He’s impatient.” Lianne walked to me and then looked me up and down. “You look good. Just so you know, you owe me for leaving me alone with Frankie for the holiday.”

“You can go find a man,” I suggested.