Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“Oh no!” A shocked expression ripples over her face. “I’m so sorry to hear that. She was such a lovely person.”
Lainey turns her body into mine and wraps her arm around my lower back.
“We’re just here for some fresh flowers,” I mention so we can get out of here.
“My name is Esther.” She gives us a compassionate smile, then gets to work. “I just got the most beautiful pastel-colored roses and peonies in.” She points at a bunch of buckets containing the flowers.
“They are lovely.” I nod.
“Good. The usual amount?” Esther asks as she takes one bunch after the other from the buckets.
“Ah . . . please. That would be great.”
While she’s busy, I brush my hand over Lainey’s braid and whisper, “You okay?”
Her eyes are brimming with tears as she asks, “Can I wait in the car?”
“Sure.” I glance at Tyler, who immediately steps closer when Lainey walks in his direction.
As soon as she gets into the back seat, Esther says, “Such a sad thing. What happened?”
God.
My voice is hoarse with sorrow when I murmur, “She had cancer.”
Esther wraps newspaper around the stems. “You had to have known her well to be Lainey’s godmother.”
“Rachel was my best friend,” I reply.
She shakes her head. “So young.”
I know.
I let out a breath of relief when she’s finally done, and I get to pay. I quickly swipe the credit card before loading all the flowers into my arms. “Thank you!” Rushing out of the store, I head to the trunk that Izak already has open and carefully place the flowers in it.
When I climb into the back seat, I reach for Lainey and pull her into a sideways hug. “I’m so sorry, my sweet girl.”
She brings her knees up and curls against me, crying her heart out. My own tears trickle over my cheeks as I try to comfort Lainey as best I can.
“I’m here,” I murmur, rubbing my hand up and down her back. “I’ve got you.”
Izak steers the car away from the curb and asks, “Should we go home?”
Lainey pulls away and wipes the tears from her face. “No. Go to Ralphs.”
“You sure?” I ask as I pat my cheeks dry.
She nods and lets out a quivering breath. “Yeah, I’m okay.”
I suck in a calming breath and press a kiss to the side of her head. I hope nobody else brings up Rachel while we’re out.
When we get to the store, Tyler sticks close behind us as we grab a cart.
“Is there anything you want?” I ask Lainey.
“We’re out of juice boxes and string cheese.”
I’ve noticed she likes snacking on them. “We’ll get some.”
I glance at the shelves as we head down the first aisle. There are all kinds of magazines, and Lainey grabs one for teens.
When she places it in the cart, a magazine catches my eye. I stop dead in my tracks, and it takes a moment to realize I’m staring at a photo of me and Easton splashed all over the cover. It’s from when he had his hands on my hips after I accidentally bumped into him at the bake sale.
The headline has the blood draining from my face.
Gold digger preys on Easton Rowe in his darkest time.
Does the A-list star need saving?
My gaze darts over the other magazines, and seeing one headline after the other, my breaths speed up as horror crashes through me like a tidal wave. Then I see a photo of Easton and me on the beach, where I’m staring up at him like a lovesick puppy.
Hollywood star involved in sordid fling while abandoning his dying sister on hospice doorstep.
Where is Lainey Rowe? Already shipped off to a boarding school while mother’s best friend marries Easton Rowe in shotgun wedding?
“Nova?” Lainey takes hold of my hand and tugs on it. “Stop looking at them. It’s stupid fake news.”
Realizing Lainey has seen the godawful headlines, I grip her hand and rush down the aisle to get away from the magazines.
Tyler brings the cart, and I try to act calm while we continue to shop.
Oh my God. How . . . ? Why . . . ?
Lainey tugs on my hand to get my attention. “Nova?”
My heart lies heavy in my chest as I glance down at her. “I’m so sorry you had to see that.”
She shakes her head at me, her eyebrows drawn together. “Are you okay?”
I force a smile to my face. “Yes, don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”
Rattled out of my mind, I struggle to focus and only get half the groceries I came for.
It’s only the beginning, and God knows what lies they’ll continue to spew about me and Easton.
Chapter 24
Easton
Not long after Nova and Lainey left, I got a text from Sylvia saying she’s coming over.
After taking a quick shower, I head to the office to grab the scripts I looked through. Just as I reach the kitchen and place the stack of scripts down on the island, Sylvia rushes into the house. “Easton!”