Twisted Love (Modern Romance #3) - Piper Lawson Page 0,82
do worse than Aiden Vane.”
Camila tosses me a smile before pulling on her shoes. “The thing you realize once you’re not eighteen anymore is what a woman has to do if what she wants to achieve is bigger than love."
I haven’t thought much about love for myself until the past few weeks. Now, it’s hard to think of anything else.
Since Ben cut me out of his life and his heart last week, I’ve been going through the motions.
I get home late and leave early. I’ve thrown myself into work. Getting my schedule back on track and trying to figure out how to get my business back on track after not landing the Vane account.
One of Camila’s bridesmaids comes in, offering a warm hello to me as she heads for one of the stalls.
“That’s better,” Camila says of the shoes.
“It’s nice to see all these people from our trip to the Vineyard,” I say as we head back out. “You have good friends.”
“Ben could’ve come tonight.”
My chest aches, a full, raw wave of emotion I’ve been trying to bury until I’m alone at home in the dark, where I can let it overwhelm me. “I don’t think it’s going to work out.”
“Why not?” Her pretty eyes cloud.
I shouldn’t spill to a client, especially not one on the brink of her own wedding, but she looks so genuinely caring. “He doesn’t want a relationship. At least not with me. I confessed something I hoped would set us free, but it only drove a wedge between us.”
She turns to search out her future husband in the crowd of well-dressed bodies, frowning when she finds him. “When I was younger, I fell in love with a man. I tried to be what he wanted, was afraid to lose him. I lost him anyway. For all his flaws, Aiden knows who I am and why I’m here. Nothing can make up for going to bed knowing you have no secrets between you.”
Except that’s not true. They might have shared secrets from the world, but he’s kept his feelings from her. There’s no way a man like Aiden Vane spills his guts on what was built as a business transaction. And there’s no way Camila could be as distanced talking about him now if he had.
“I’m impressed with how you managed us,” Camila continues, steering us back toward the coat check to drop off the bag once more. “In the photo shoot and article draft, we look together, on the same page. I’ll be sure my father-in-law knows that when he decides on the person to run his campaign.”
“Apparently, the decision’s been made.”
“Has it?” She sets the bag on the coat check counter.
The attendant starts to take the bag, but Camila holds up a hand. She tugs the ends of one elegant glove until it gives. The other one follows suit.
Turning back to me, Camila folds her arms. “Tell me what you would do.”
Despite what happened with Ben and me this week, working with the Vanes has reinforced that you find devils where you least expect them—and friends too. Some relationships you didn’t expect to find emerge while you’re busy desperately clinging to others.
I lift my chin. “Not all relationships are the same. People want to rediscover one another, and they change over time too.”
She listens thoughtfully as I go on for a few minutes, and when I’m finished, she nods. “Well. I hope we’ll see Ben at the wedding on Saturday. There’s still time.”
There’s no chance of that. He’s made his position clear.
He loves me. But he doesn’t want to be with me.
I’m still not enough.
Only this time, it has nothing to do with my sister and everything to do with me.
"I’m glad you decided to come," Lily says as she holds the door to the climbing gym Thursday afternoon.
“It’s the first time you’ve expressed an interest in climbing.” I leave my sunglasses in place as I follow her inside. "Plus, my ass needs the workout."
We get ourselves checked in and change into our gear before heading out into the main area.
“I’ve been talking to professors at school about getting a research assistant position," she says.
Surprise has me turning to look at her as I get out my harness and strap it around my waist and legs. “That’s great.”
“I want to help pay for my tuition.”
“I have it covered. I’m getting a final check from the Vanes after the wedding."
She squeezes my arm. “Then I’m going to start helping with rent. Or at least bagels.