Page 23 of The Billionaire's Runaway Bride

“I would’ve gone insane!”

I scoff. “I did.”

“Did…you ever care for Jeremy?”

I think back again to the swimming pool with Caleb. I compared that initial thrill of attraction. “At first, yes. When I met Jeremy in college, I did feel something for him. But once he met my parents, they became a force. He met their requirements. He pleased them. He ‘fit’ with what they wanted for me and with all three of them against me, I had no voice.”

“You always have a voice, honey.”

I nod, wishing she could have been my fairy godmother back then. Aubrey was. And as I think about my friend, I’m eager to connect with her.

“Marian, I was wondering how you’d feel about me starting up some social media accounts for the Goldfinch. Maybe spruce up the website, too.”

She smiles. “Go for it. Whatever you’d like.” Then she creases her brow. “Can you do that?”

I giggle. “Oh, you can teach this old dog a new trick or two…”

She cackles. “Old? You’re calling yourself old?”

I shake my head and hold up the phone she’s been letting me borrow. Marian insisted on paying me my first paycheck in advance, so I ordered a new phone. A whole new plan under my name, not my parents’ plan, and I can’t wait for it to get here.

“Why are you afraid of your parents finding you?” she asks.

“Because they’ll hunt me down and make me go back to them.” And I’m not ready to give up this chance to live.

“You can tell them no. You’re not a child.”

“But they’ll make it hard.”

She frowns again, confused. “Because you miss bits of it?”

I shake my head. “Not at all. But they’re persuasive. And they guilt trip me. They’ll hang that trust fund over my head like leverage and I can’t lose it. All my life, I’ve been sheltered. I couldn’t have a job. I couldn’t even take classes in art education like I wanted to. I’ve been trained to think I won’t ever work a day in my life, and now that I want to strike out on my own, I know I wouldn’t last long with nothing of a savings.”

“Are you afraid of Jeremy finding you?” she asks quietly.

The fire snaps and pops and I flinch back when an ember sprays up at me.

“No.” Yes. Deep down, I am. He’s never hurt me, not physically, but sometimes I got the sinking feeling it wouldn’t take much for him to make that change. That violence was just on the edge of his mind. Besides, a man couldn’t only be abusive with his fists. The mental warfare he employs with my parents is terrible enough.

“Anyway. I’ve ordered a new phone and I’ll start some social media presence for you.”

She smiles sadly and sighs, getting the point I won’t let this conversation continue with the topic she’s stuck on. I understand that she’s empathetic, but I truly dislike talking about the scary what-ifs I’m fighting hard to ignore.

My phone arrives the next morning, and after a while of setting it up, I’m hooked back up to the contemporary and “usual” standard of technology. Reception is spotty, but Marian’s right. If I sit in the corner booth at the Breckenridge coffee shop, I get through well.

Before I make good on my ideas for the Goldfinch and log in with new accounts on social media, I call Aubrey. Her number is the only one I’ve memorized, and how fitting, as she’s the only person from my old life that I’ve wanted to reconnect with.

“Hello?” she answers curtly. “I swear, if you’re another robocall for some stupid-ass warranty—”

“Beep.” I hold back a giggle as I try mimic a computerized tone that comes with those annoying solicitation calls.

“Huh?”

I lose it, laughing and trying to tell her that it’s me.

“Lauren!” She cracks up too. “I thought it was another spam call with the unidentified number!”

It feels so good to hear her laugh. It feels amazing to laugh with her. Earl and Ken pause their chess game to smile back at me, and I try to keep it down.

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