Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
I drop down beside her, curious to see what Graham picked out for me. “I don’t want him to think I’m only into him for his money.”
“If he gets to know you, as he should if he’s in this for the long haul, he’ll know it’s not about that.”
“Then why was I marrying Michael? I didn’t love him,” I toss back at her, mad at myself for this whole mess.
“Because you don’t think anyone wants you. That you could ever belong or be good enough to be in that world. It wasn't about keeping up with the Joneses; it was about gaining their acceptance.” Well, shit. “Don’t be hard on yourself, Luna. I mean, I pushed through law school because of my mother. We all have our family issues, even when you think you don’t have a family.”
“You’re right.” There is no point in lying about it or trying to fool myself. “That’s why I say for now with Graham. He doesn’t know where I came from. Even if he did and was okay with it, what about the rest of his family?” Most of these wealthy families are cut from the same cloth. Especially the parents and their expectations.
Michael had pretended not to care about my upbringing or social status, but I think he thought having me beneath him was a good thing. It was a way to control me. He hadn’t been wrong either.
When I’d go to his events, he’d always find a reason to correct me or try to make me feel as though I should be grateful to be on his arm at all. It’s exactly why he’d gotten me knockoff merchandise. He hadn’t deemed me worthy of the real thing. That’s a hard pill to swallow.
"I don't know Graham, but I can't see my Dylan being friends with someone that would be so shallow."
"People are good at hiding things from others." I know that for myself. "Maybe I'm the shallow one."
“You’re not shallow.” Nat bumps her shoulder with mine. “You want security. There’s nothing wrong with that, Luna.”
Security, the word feels almost foreign to me. I do long for that. Who wouldn't want to have that? I know I have it with Nat and Frankie, but I also know they have their own lives.
I want to have my life intertwined with someone else’s. For that special someone to be my family and as much a part of me as I am to them. Unconditional love. One you can always count on and never question. Stability.
"Don’t you have this one?" Nat holds up the classic Chanel flap bag that is gold-tone with metal pink.
"Had,” I remind her. They are all now gone. I take the bag from her. The second my fingers touch the soft material, it’s so obvious what I had before was a fake.
One after another, Nat opens the boxes with me. Every single thing I burned is now here, but this time, they’re all real. Graham had taken note of everything. There isn’t one thing he missed. In fact, he only added more to the collection. He hadn’t only replaced them but gotten other items as well.
Tears sting at my eyes. “All right, I think he’s paying attention,” Nat says, taking it all in with me. We are surrounded by so many items.
“I pay attention to everything when it comes to you,” I hear Graham say. I stand up to turn and face him. “Had even when I thought you belonged to Michael, and I spotted you across a crowded room. When I walked into the bakery, it took me less than half a second to recognize you again.”
“Graham,” I whisper his name. This is all so much.
“Don’t be upset.” He clears the space between us. “I only want to make you happy.”
“I don’t know what to say.” My chest grows tight. I don’t understand all the things I’m feeling at the moment. It’s overwhelming, but I think in a good way, but scary too.
“Then don’t say anything, love.”
I nod. He smiles, leaning down to press a kiss to my mouth, taking a part of me with it. One I know I’ll never get back.
Chapter Thirteen
GRAHAM
“Nat hated me before we met.” Luna takes a sip of her mango mocktail after placing that zinger out there.
“Hate’s a strong word.” Nat’s drink is nonalcoholic too.
“Strong dislike then. You poured a beer on my lap.”
“It was an accident. I’ve told you that a million times.” Nat looks aggrieved. Dylan reaches out and pats her head in sympathy.
“Okay, you accidentally poured a beer on my lap after we were introduced.” Luna leans over to me and says in a stage whisper, “It was no accident.”
I nod in acknowledgement. “Why’d she hate you?”
“Because Luna stole my boyfriend. I’d been seeing this cute boy from my bio class, and then suddenly”—Nat snaps her fingers—“he dumps me. The next thing I know, he’s eating lunch at the cafeteria with this bombshell.”