Page 57 of Rich Girl
However, now, as I’m staring at Ray’s handsome face, I am scared of disappointing him. I don’t want him to get the wrong impression about it.
The dress I bought at the mall earlier is not giving me the boost of confidence I was counting on. Instead, it makes me feel self-conscious about everything.
“Just say the words, Hayden,” Ray encourages me in a soft voice. “I know that nothing you can tell me will change my mind about you.”
My eyes widen in surprise at that. It’s almost as if… As of he knows. In which case, I will feel even more stupid.
“I lied to you when I first contacted you.”
There, the words are now out into the universe, and he can do whatever he wants with them. He further confuses me when he gives me a gentle smile.
“What did you lie about?”
I let out a long puff of air, blowing the hair out of my eyes.
“About being from New York.”
His smile widens more while his entire body relaxes as he leans against the wall, arms crossed at his chest.
“You don’t seem surprised by it,” I finally say when he remains quiet.
Ray shrugs. “It was pretty obvious when I asked to see your driver’s license, and it said Massachusetts on it.”
“Wow!” I cover my mouth with both hands. “I should never try to be a spy. I never even thought of it.”
He stares at me some more, like he’s expecting me to continue. I’m not sure what I need to add or how.
“So, Boston, Massachusetts?” he asks after getting tired of waiting.
Emotions bubble up inside of me, to the point where I may actually cry.
“Yes,” I nod in confirmation as I struggle to hold back the tears.
He nods back, still not moving from his spot by the wall. The food on the table will go bad if we don’t start eating soon. I went through great lengths to have these plates delivered in perfect condition.
“What do you do there?”
I about choke on my own spit at his question.
“What do you mean?”
“For a job,” he elaborates. “What is it that you do? I know it’s not flowers,” he chuckles, making me laugh, too.
That part gives me the chance to drag it out a little longer.
“How do you know my job is not a florist?”
Ray’s eyebrow goes up in challenge, a smirk forming in the corner of his mouth.
“I see you googling flower related stuff every night when you think I’m not paying attention.”
I look away in embarrassment. I really thought I was fooling him with my mindless scrolling on my phone.
“And Evie called me to say you got upset today when she asked you to replicate some flower arrangement you’d been working on.”
Okay, this part gets me going.
“She asked me to do fifteen more, Ray!” My voice rises more with each word. “Fifteen!” I repeat. “It took me forever to just do one. There was no way I could do fifteen more by Friday.”
