Page 63 of Love You, Mean It

Then we both took a smiling sip, basking in the applause.

“Oh, and while I have you…This is a big night for the Taylor family in more ways than one. I’m sure Theo won’t begrudge me one more little announcement.”

The room stuttered back to silence. I glanced at Theo, but his brows were knitted with genuine confusion. Next to him, Sam’s eyes were wide with something like horror. She shook her head rapidly at Ted, but he wasn’t looking at her.

“I’m thrilled to welcome yet another member into our family today, a woman as brilliant as she is beautiful. Many of you know Samantha Lindsay…”

The room turned to Sam, who managed a deer-in-the-headlights version of a smile. Ted cleared his throat and her eyes darted to me.I’m so sorry,she mouthed. I blinked, still confused.

“I’m thrilled—no, honored—to say that she’llalsobe joining the Taylor family soon.” Ted paused for a long moment, waiting until the whispers began to gather strength. His smile at Theo and me was positively serpentine. “The Taylorpropertyfamily, of course. Sam has agreed to come on as our new CFO.”

There was some polite applause, but the mood had shifted. Ted couldn’t have broadcast a clearerFuck this engagementif he’d tried. Actually…he was definitely trying.

“To new beginnings, in business and in love,” Ted said, raising his glass again. “There’s a lot of change on the horizon, but I’m starting to realize in my old age…change might not be such a bad thing. But for now, let’s stick to what we know and enjoy the drinks, hmm?”

Relieved laughter broke out as he passed off the microphone, and within moments, Sam was swarmed by people—her people, I couldn’t help but notice—eager to congratulate her. It was absurd—I was already planning to help her resume her rightful spot as Theo’s actually loving fiancée—but a little kernel of hurt was taking root near the base of my spine.

“Do you need a drink as badly as I do?” Theo bent to whisper the words directly in my ear, and the tickle of his breath over the sensitive skin there ran through me, prickling the hairs on the nape of my neck.

“Theo, this entire night is just one big ‘Damn, you need a drink’ for me.”

He laughed and snagged us refills before ushering me to a little nook half-protected by the edge of the bar, turning his back to the room. It bought us a brief respite from the flow of guests.

“That was pretty aggressive, even for Ted,” I started. “But I guess it makes sense for him to announce it when he already has a room filled with his entire network. Did he tell you he was planning to give Sam such a major role?”

“Of course not. We rarely talk. Plus, he must have known I’d see through him.” I raised an eyebrow in question. “Come on. You don’t really believe he hired her for herskills?”

“That’s not fair. Sam’s really good at what she does, right?” I realized I wasn’t exactly aware ofwhatSam did, but her air of supreme competence had to come from somewhere. Plus, even if the plan wasn’t fully under way yet, it didn’t seem great to encourage him to neg her.

“Oh, absolutely. But we weren’t even looking for a CFO.” Theo bit his lower lip, shaking his head slowly. “This hire has nothing to do with the company.”

“Then…what’s it about?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Ted’s never gotten over how I ‘let the best thing that ever happened to me get away,’ ” Theo scoffed. “I’m guessing in his mind, announcing her roleherewill help everyone else see it his way. Make them think the two of us ought to be together.”

My stomach twisted. Ted definitely wasn’t the only person in the room who felt that way.

“Why was he so set on her? You’ve dated other girls since you and Sam…ended things.”

“But none of those girls werequiteas impressive in Ted’s eyes.” Theo sighed, dragging his eyes back to me with effort. I couldn’t help but notice they’d been on Sam.Which was good…right?God, why wouldn’t my mind and the pit of my stomach just get on the same page?

She and Ted were chatting animatedly with a handful of older men, all of them the sort of worn-driving-shoes shabby that, inthisroom, actually indicated a higher stratosphere of wealth and influence than sharp, expensive suits. There was an eagerness on Ted’s face that I hadn’t seen before. If I had any doubts about what Theo was saying, the hunger in Ted’s eyes quickly dispelled them.

“Still,” I said, thoughtful, “what does it matter?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s too little, too late, right? Ted can try to engineer a happy ending for you and Sam all he wants—he can even get it for all I care.” Theo’s face twisted briefly. “It won’t hurtus,right?”

“We’re clear on how this plan works, aren’t we, Ellie?”

“Of course. But we’re not planning to actually make it to the altar,Theo.” I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the tightness beneath my sternum as I voiced the words.Focus on the plan…or, plans, at this point. “Step one: sell the engagement” was already on the roadto completion, which meant it was time to deploy the recently added “Step two: set Theo up with the girl heshouldwind up with.”

“Let Ted think he’s pulling off some devious plot,” I said, flippant. “By the time he realizes he was fighting a straw man, Mangia will already be neck deep in a deal with whoever runs the commercial property racket in Burnton.”

“God, it would serve them right,” Theo said. “I think I’d rather die than live in Burnton.”

“Be honest, that’s just deep-seated lacrosse rivalry coming out.”

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