Page 49 of Just A Bet

Noa offers me a sad smile. “I think we both knew there was never an us.” With that, he turns and walks away.

It’s so quiet. The eyes of everyone I know and don’t know are on me. I want to laugh, because how else do you handle the end of a fake relationship?

Instead, I turn and glare at my brothers. “Are you happy now? Do you see what your bets have done?”

They each looked shocked by my accusation. “I’m sorry, Lennox.” Trent says and drops his head.

“I hope you are. Someone deserves to be.” I turn and run from the house, pretending I’m holding back tears, but it’s not until I reach the gazebo that I let out the laugh that’s been bubbling up for hours.

That felt good.

Chapter 19

Grant

Lennox was engaged.

Now she’s not.

That’s all it takes to get my legs working and sprinting after her. I thought I heard someone cheer when the front door closed behind me, but my mind is solely on Lennox. She ripped my heart right out of my chest when she announced she was engaged to Noa. But now I have a chance again. I’ll take it slow. As slow as she needs. But I won’t risk losing her again.

She was wrong when she said no one saw her.

All I see is her. Even when she thinks she’s invisible, I see her. How she’s always drawing on her tablet or reading a romance novel, loves to bake, and hates the color green. Which is weird, but I love that about her. The way she stops and talks to any old lady we pass on the street. It’s like she’s a magnet for them, a beacon of hope and happiness. At least, she always has been for me.

I slowly approach the gazebo. She must be sad, even if her failed engagement thrills me.

But she’s not crying. Is she…laughing?

“Lennox?”

She jumps, and her phone skids across the floor of the gazebo.

I lean over and pick it up. The screen lights up with a text from Noa. Acid washes over my skin at the sight of his name. But then I see the four little words that turn the entire night upside down.

Noa: Did they buy it?

“Thanks.” Lennox grabs the phone and turns away from me.

What did that mean? Did who buy what? The engagement? Or the break-up? Or both?

I was so livid when she broke the news that she was engaged, I couldn’t see straight, but in hindsight, her story was full of holes. They didn’t act like they were in love. I mean, they tried, but if I had been in Noa’s place, I wouldn’t have hesitated to kiss her under the mistletoe. I would have been kissing her all night.

Was this whole thing a joke on me and her brothers?

Dang. She wins the Bentley prank cup for sure, if that’s the case. There’s only one way to find out.

“Are you okay?” I ask, stepping up next to her along the rail.

She turns her face away before shaking her head. But I saw her tear free cheeks.

“You must have really been in love,” I say, egging her on. If I push enough, she’ll crack, but after what she put me through tonight, she deserves a little pressure.

She nods.

I choose my next words carefully. “I can talk to him, if you want. Clear up the misunderstanding.”

Her head flips in my direction, her eyes wide and afraid. “What?”

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