Love Arranged (Lakefront Billionaires, #3)

by Lauren Asher

“Fine,” I say, feigning reluctance. “But first tell me why you’re sleeping on the left side of the bed tonight.” His gaze darts to my mouth before returning to my eyes. “Turns out I don’t like the idea of you sleeping closest to the door.” I might as well tattoo his name across my heart because the way it bleeds for him after that confession… Yeah.

“You told me you wanted to be obsessed over?” He rips my underwear off and tosses them beside me. “That you wanted to be possessed?” “I want to be fucked, Lorenzo. Does that answer your question? Or do you want me to go into heavy detail about how I want you to fuck me so hard that my sore pussy will think of you all day tomorrow?” He nudges my legs father apart with a smirk, and I shiver. “If you’re not thinking of me all week, then I didn’t do my job right.” Oh. I like the sound of that even better.

A door parallel to the teacher’s desk I’m sitting at creaks open, and Lily walks inside the classroom, looking like the future mayor’s wife in a periwinkle dress she bought with my credit card. I never thought I’d enjoy buying something more than cars, but seeing Lily decked out in the clothes and jewelry I have bought her has me changing my mind. There is something incredibly satisfying about being able to provide for her, and screw Julian for insinuating that I couldn’t.

Lily is my new favorite drug, and my brain is rewiring itself so I’m completely dependent on her.

Maybe we were always doomed because neither of us is willing to sacrifice for the other. I won’t leave, and he won’t stay. It’s a tragedy that would make Shakespeare proud, and one I don’t fully understand.

I thought love could conquer all…only to have it destroy me instead. And I have no one to blame but myself.

Tomorrow I’ll pick myself back up and get ready to fake it, but tonight I’ll allow myself to break for the very last time.

I can’t give her everything she wants, but that won’t prevent me from giving her my all until the very end.

“You’re a real asshole for tracking me without my consent, by the way.” “I’ll never apologize for prioritizing your safety.” Her hands clench into fists by her side. “And who’s going to keep me safe from you?”

I never wanted to hurt her, yet that’s all I manage to do.

“That’s…great. I’m happy for you.” I’m surprised by her comment. “Really?” “Yeah. I still want the best for you.” Her shoulders curl in on themselves. “You say it like it’s a bad thing.” “Because I’m the one who always gets hurt.”

Trevor already stole my parents and my childhood from me, so am I going to allow him to take Lily and our future away too? No. Not anymore. I’m going to fight for her and us, one therapy session at a time, because Lily is worth it, but more importantly, so am I.

wish I could take back all the doubt I placed in Lily’s mind. All the hurt. But there is no time machine that can fix my problems. Only hard work and therapy, which is a process in itself.

“I was a fool for thinking I could walk away. I’d rather spend the rest of my life in therapy, working through my personal issues if it means I get to come home to you every day.”

Wherever Lorenzo goes, I will follow, whether it be a few towns over or across the world.

I hit him with an approving smile. “I’m proud of you, you know?” “What for?” “Investing in yourself for a change. You’ve spent so much time and money helping everyone else, and while that is fantastic, it’s nice to see you prioritize your needs too. Life is about balance, and I can see you working to find yours.”

I mourn their absence and the time that was stolen from us, and I mourn the future they’ll never be a part of. My parents won’t be here to see me become the mayor or get married to the woman I love. They will never be able to attend Sunday lunches with the Muñoz and Lopez families, and they won’t have a chance to pass along their own recipes. I’ll never get to share the joys of fatherhood with my dad, and I’ll always wish my mom was around to teach me how to step up and be the partner Lily needs. But most of all, I cry for the boy who had to grow up way too fast and for the man who will always struggle because of it.

“I love you,” she says. I kiss her before replying, “I love you too.” This time, a stronger wind blows through the cemetery, coming out of nowhere and ruffling her hair and mine. I’d like to think it’s my parents reminding me that they love me too.

He stares at my belly as he slides to his knees in front of me, his eyes full of wonder. My own blur from tears as I watch Lorenzo gently brush his hand across my nonexistent bump. “This is really happening?” he asks, his voice hoarse from emotion. “According to the two tests I took and my blood results, yup. We’re going to be parents.”

“Replacing our wedding-day picture already?” I joke. “I couldn’t resist.” “But I liked that one.” I pout. “I think I might like this one more.” “What?” I tilt my head to the side so I can get a better look at him. “It’s the first one of our family, so how can I not?”