Page 34 of Hoax and Kisses
When I meet Matt’s eyes, my breath hitches. His jaw locks, his expression dripping with hostility.
Well, that confirms my suspicion. It’s a good thing he wasn’t there when I stopped by this morning, then. If he had looked at me like that while it was just the two of us, I would have lost it.
Disappointment rises up inside me. Why should I care what he thinks anyway?I shouldn’t, and yet I freaking do, and I don’t know why. It’s making this thing ten times more complicated than it needs to be.
It was one fuck, Zoey, my brain screams at me.
But it was such a good one. That’s definitely not my brain talking.
Matt looks away first. With a shake of his head, he lumbers to a chair in the back of the room and sits, his leg sticking out in the aisle. Next to him, a teenage girl wearing headphones is deeply focused on the notebook she’s drawing in. On her right, Lola leans over to the man I saw at the flower shop this morning.
I take a seat and flip through my notes, barely registering the words I’ve jotted down. A dull ache prickles in my chest as I wait for the meeting to start, and I absently rub at the tight spot. I’ve given a lot of presentations in my career. In front of investors, CEOs, and industry titans. But somehow, this one feels monumental. Like a turning point. What if I fail? What happens then?
You don’t have a choice. You don’t have the first clue what you’d do with your life if you weren’t Daddy’s little helper.
I let out a bitter chuckle. Mom was smart to get out while she could. Now what’s left for me to do? Start from scratch? And go where? Do what? I’m trapped as long as my father is still around.
“If you’d all take a seat, we’ll get started,” Rob says, the mic releasing an ear-piercing squeal.
I cover my ears, and so do just about all the people around me.
“Sorry about that, folks,” he continues. “The purpose of tonight’s town hall is to discuss the testament of our beloved Pine Falls resident, Emile Roland, who served this town as its postman for almost fifty years.”
There are a few sniffles, some mumbles. The crowd has mixed feelings about him, I see. Maybe I can use that tidbit to my advantage.
“Emile, as peculiar as he was, left the town with a parting gift.” Rob places his glasses on his nose and reads from the document in front of him. “It is no secret that I loved my town very much. I may have pissed off at least half of you, but everything I did was with Pine Falls in mind. Except when I dumped your mail in the shredder, Marty. You deserved every bit of it, you fucking old bastard.”
A burst of laughter threatens to escape me. I clamp a hand over my mouth.
“Hum…” Rob says. “Sorry about that, Marty.”
The old man with a cane who sits two rows in front of me scoffs and flips the mayor off.
“Whoa. Okay, Marty. These aren’t my words.” Rob tilts his chin down again, scanning the paper, his lips moving as he goes through it. “Okay, folks.” He sets his glasses on the table, then links his fingers on top of the testament. “His wishes are fairly straightforward. Our dear Emile is leaving his land to the town, on the condition that we use it for the common good of Pine Falls. A proposal must be presented to the town, and the one that receives a majority vote will be approved.”
Rumblings erupt all over the room.
Amajorityvote? That wasn’t part of the plan. At all.
I wanted the residents’ approval, yes, but I didn’t think I’d need theiractualapproval to secure the land. I figured I’d work my magic and get people on board with the concept of the project. But I fully intended to go forward with it regardless of their blessings.
Fuck. Now that they seem to know who my father is, how am I gonna convince these people that I’m not here to build a disgusting concrete hotel for billionaires? That I’d rather offer a full experience for adventurous tourists while maintaining the charm of this picturesque town? That I want to do it with the help of the local businesses?
“Please, everyone, let’s calm down,” Rob says into the mic.
The room quiets slowly, and people return to their seats. In my periphery, Matt is up, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, eyes on me.
I dart mine to my lap.
“I’m sure we’ll find something we can all agree on in time. Speaking of, we have a guest with us tonight who’s ready to present the first idea for the lot. Zoey?”
Rob moves away from the podium.
As I stand, whispers grow and carry me to the stage as the weight of the stares settles heavily on me.
Matt, still leaning against the wall, is watching me intently as I step up behind the podium and square my shoulders with a shuddering breath. I tune him out, pushing him out of my mind. I’ve done this a million times. I could do it in my sleep.
“Thank you, Rob.” I nod to the mayor. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Zoey Delacroix, and I couldn’t be more excited to be with you tonight.”
