Charming Deception

by Jaine Diamond

Gardening… They say it’s cheaper than therapy.”

hanging out with plants, to avoid people.

Troy’s text begins with the word I, and I swipe it away into oblivion, feeling exhausted without even reading it. His texts and his voicemails always start with I. I want… I need… I think…

But if there was one thing I learned from losing my dad so young, life is short. And it’s never a good idea to let a good thing slip away. Any more than it’s a good idea to hang on to the bad.

open the envelope, my heart thumping, and slip out the handwritten letter.

Sincerely yours, Jameson Vance

He nods and sips his drink. “Well, the best way for me to ensure that you’re safe and secure is to keep you here, engaged to me.”

And every time she smiles, it’s the best thing that happened to my day.”

“Alors allons te saouler, ma douce.”

“Tu es la plus belle femme de tout Paris.”

“You’re a queen.” He looks up into my eyes. “You stand, and I worship you.”

The entire time we eat, Daisy sits at my feet, staring up at me, like she’s deciding how much she likes me, while I sneak her food.