Forbidden Love

23

Lourde

It had been days since we’d broken up, but whoever said time heals all wounds must have meant more than a few days because this wound was fleshy and raw as hell. Feeling sorry for myself and crying my lungs out in despair, I hadn’t left my apartment since Monday when I asked him to leave. How Barrett could do this to me was unfathomable. To make things worse, he wanted to push me onto Finigan. Finigan!

Weeks ago, when he was forced to endure Finigan and me flirting at dinner, he couldn't stand it. But now? Barrett, along with Mom, Dad, and Connor were teaming up to push me onto him.

I wasn’t a violent person, but I felt like throwing and smashing everything in my way. I hated my parents for what they had done to us. Even more, I hated Barrett for not being the man I thought he was and stepping up at the very moment I needed him to.

Giving up on us was the easy way out, and he grabbed it with both hands. Maybe I was better off without the drama. Maybe he was too much work. Childhood trauma can do that to a person, molding them in a way where you gave up on relationships at the first hint of trouble. I buried my head in my hands, letting the salty tears flow.

I felt vibrations against my foot, and I wiped the tears away. My phone rang on the floor—again. I let out a sigh, then waited for it to ring out before deciding to pick it up and check the multitude of messages I'd been ignoring for days. Eight missed calls from Pepper and now a text popped onto the screen.

Pepper:If you don’t let us up, I’ll make a scene so big it will make Kim Kardashian’s sex tape look like a confession.

Shit. They were here.

All week, I’d been ignoring their calls, and now they were out front with the paparazzi too. Still camped out for some kind of exclusive—they hadn't left since the scandal broke.

The metal tone of the buzzer sounded, reminding me of their presence downstairs, and I let out a groan.

I didn’t want any visitors. Not even my best friends. Maybe they’d just give up and retreat if I didn't answer.

My phone buzzed again. I turned it over to find a message from Olivia.

Olivia: Pepper is here about to address the media. This friend of yours is ruthless—I like her. You have ten seconds…

Double shit.

Pepper would do something. She loved the limelight. I groaned again, then folded off the lounge, dragging my heavy legs to the intercom.

Pressing the button, I readied myself for whatever was coming. I glanced around my apartment, throwing my hands in the air, not even trying to attempt the mass cleanup that was so desperately needed.

I caught sight of myself in the mirror and ran my hands through my brown hair, trying to smooth down the frizz from days of neglect.

Again, what was the goddamn point?

Maybe turning away my housekeeper wasn’t a smart move. Looking around now, clothes, magazines, and half-eaten takeout containers littered the space. Glassware had stacked up near the sink, and I'm sure the apartment needed airing out. As I breathed in, a concoction of leftover sushi and rancid red wine filled my nostrils.

The elevator pinged, and the doors opened. Olivia, Pepper, and Grace stepped out like the Charlie’s Angels trio, looking immaculate and making me realize how out of touch I’d been with society. I looked down at my sweats and soy sauce-stained t-shirt.

Yeah, okay, so maybe a change of clothes was in order. I looked back up, and three sets of eyes regarded me.

“Jesus, Lourde. When you told me you and Barrett had broken up, I didn’t think you would ignore me for the rest of the week and go into a cave!” Pepper shuddered visibly at the sight of me. Stepping in, she pulled me close, giving me a bear hug.

I gripped her back, finding comfort in familiarity. After a minute, I let go.

“When’s the last time you showered?” Grace asked as she kissed me on the cheek.

“I can’t be sure,'' I said, smelling my clothes and letting out a laugh. The sound was foreign to me. Actually, moving was entirely foreign to me. I had slept on the couch most of the week, only getting up to use the toilet and answer the door for food delivery.

“How are you holding up?” Olivia asked, coming over and wrapping her arms around me.

“Look at this place!” Grace squeaked out.

“Sit down if you can find a spot. I’m fine, though. Really, you ought to just go home.”

“We aren’t going anywhere.’’ Grace moved some empty containers off the chair and onto the coffee table, then perched precariously on my armchair.

I sat back down on the couch with Olivia as I watched Pepper get busy cleaning up the dishes and kitchen area. “You’re lucky rodents didn’t overrun this place,” she said, picking up something with a finger pinch grip.

“How is he?” I asked Olivia, unable to hide my feelings for the man who broke my heart.

“I don’t know. You know how private he is. But he’s not the same. He’s definitely not the same without you. He’s keeping busy with all of this media stuff going on.”

“Are they any closer to finding out who set him up?”

“I think so. Listen, how are you doing?” Olivia asked, taking in my disheveled appearance then placing her hand on my knee.

I flopped back on the lounge. Now there’s a question.

“Lourde, hun, talk to us,” Grace added.

“I’m angry. Angry and confused.”

“What happened?” Olivia asked.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Pepper said, turning around from the kitchen. I was surprised she was even in there cleaning up—Pepper and domestic duties were like Superman to kryptonite.

“Her family put an end to the relationship. The Diamond name is too important to be embroiled in a scandal like this.”

“God, you sound like them,” I said.

She blinked, then returned to cleaning up the mess. “Well, I’m right, aren’t I?”

“But surely they can see past the lies? Couldn’t you and Barrett just tell them it was all lies?” Olivia asked.

“It doesn’t work like that,” Grace said, shaking her head at Olivia.

“Are you all the same with your upbringings?” she asked.

“Yes,” Grace and Pepper said in unison.

“Our families came from old money, so they know that reputation in this city is a currency on its own,” Grace added.

“And she’s not saying that to be snobby either. It’s just the way it is when you reach a certain level of wealth.”

“Is that true?” Olivia turned to me.

“Afraid so. But I’m sick and tired of putting my family above my happiness.”

“It's just the way it is, Lourde,” Pepper said.

“But my own brother, he knows how much Barrett and I mean to each other, he could have defended me, but he just sat there.”

“Maybe he didn’t know what to say?” Pepper shrugged. The way she always came to his defense was downright irritating now.

“That’s bullshit.”

“Look, your mother contacted me to check in on you,” Pepper said, changing the subject.

“She wants to remind you the ball is tomorrow night.”

“Fuck the goddamn ball!”

“You have to go. You're making me go!” Olivia said.

“And as much as I just met these girls and love them already, I want you there, Lourde.”

“Actually, how did you guys get in touch?” I asked, ignoring their pending question.

“Do you know how easy it is to slide into someone’s DMs?” Pepper inquired.

“It’s true. There aren’t many Peppers that slide into my DMs, mainly just horny guys,” Olivia said.

“I can be a horny guy,” Pepper said in a husky baritone voice that made us all spill over in laughter.

“Ah, no thanks,” Olivia said.

“So we’re all here to see if you’re okay and to get you out of a funk because that is what best friends do.”

“And what better way to do it than to get you all dolled up into a new ball gown?”

“Grace?” Olivia said.

Grace got up and moved over to the elevator, where a rectangular box was.

I hadn’t even noticed it when they’d walked in.

“This is for you,” Olivia said as Grace popped it on my lap.

Okay, so maybe for the first time, my mood had changed from somber as fuck to moderately happy.

“Open it.” Pepper hovered around.

I opened the lid off the box, and staring back at me was a navy-blue dress. It was backless too. Wait. “Is this the dress I tried on with you, Olivia?”

She nodded, a huge grin on her face. “It is.”

I lifted it out of the box and stood to admire it. “How did you do this?”

“I asked the designer for a favor. She had your measurements from previous dresses.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because you loved it, and you were too busy helping me get the perfect dress, you forgot about yourself.”

“Never forget about you, Lourde,” Olivia said.

“Thank you.” I put the dress down and hugged her.

“Hey, how about us too?” Grace asked.

“Sorry,” I said, wiping a tear away. “I’m so lucky to have you all in my life,” I said, pulling away from Grace to hug Pepper, who gave me a brief hug.

“So, does that mean you’re coming?” she asked.

“I guess it does now, you sneaky bitches!”