Love or Lust (LOL): Part 3

“No, because I love Jace more than I ever loved my ex. Because I only see myself with him. Maybe I’m delusional or blinded by what I think we feel for each other, but right now the idea of not being with him is devastating. I’ve felt my heart shatter once before or so I thought. I have a feeling that was mild in comparison to how I’d feel if I lost him.”

“Wow,” he exclaims, releasing my hands and sitting back in his chair. “I can only hope to find something like that someday. I’m happy for you, Presley, I really am. I pray he realizes how lucky he is.”

“Me too. Me. Too.”

Milo changes the conversation easily back to Claudia, the show, and how we’re going to blow up their finale with our little scheme. He gives me more details about his evening with Bella and admits that he enjoyed kissing her but didn’t feel a spark. She said as much earlier, but I knew she wouldn’t feel anything. Her heart has already been claimed, and it doesn’t matter who else she kisses, once given the chance, she’ll jump into Lennon’s arms.

Which will hopefully be Sunday night.

At the finale.

As long as everyone sticks to the plan.

This part concerns me since Milo is supposed to choose Bella and I’m choosing him. If he changes his mind and picks me, the entire plan fails. There can’t be two winners. I need the chips to fall where they are supposed to for us to get the results we want.

As we’re waiting out front for the town car, I reiterate that point to Milo.

“Don’t forget the plan for Sunday. Bella and I are shopping tomorrow, so we may not see you guys. We won’t have time to adjust anything before the ceremony.”

“I know. I’m still on board, I swear. I didn’t mean to make you doubt me.”

“So, you’re going to vote for Bella.”

“Yeah,” he replies, letting out a defeated sigh.

“We’ll always be friends, Milo. I know that’s not what you want to hear right now, but it’s all I have to give. Let’s end this, go back to our lives, and we can figure things out from there, okay?”

He nods as the car pulls up to the curb.

“For the record, Presley, all of us wanted your attention. From day one. I’m not sure what Jace did to win you over, but I think we all wish we had beat him to it.”

I can’t help but smile. Most of the guys made me feel special, loved in their own way. They’ve all treated me with kindness. I had fun on almost every date, even when I didn’t think I would.

But Jace... There was just something about him. Even when I was considering Lennon, I think that was just me trying to deny the strong attraction I felt for Jace.

“He saw me first,” I state with a shrug.