Love or Lust (LOL): Part 3

Day 42

Two more days.

I feel like I should be making large red slash marks on a calendar, counting down until I can leave. Until this is over.

Especially after last night.

Lennon came over after he got back from dinner with Bella as planned. We were making out on the sofa when things started to get a little hot and heavy. I couldn’t tell if he was acting or if it was real, so I pulled back, wanting to put space between us.

It felt real.

More real than the kisses we shared the night before.

Hell, if I’m being honest with myself, the way he was kissing me was more passionate than when he was vying for my attention. And those kisses... those drove me crazy.

I would get caught up in the moment kissing Lennon.

Not this time.

This time I was thinking about Jace and how kissing Lennon felt wrong. How it felt like I was cheating on him. Which, in turn, made me think about Wren. About how he cheated on me.

And then I started bawling.

Uncontrollably crying into Lennon’s chest.

To his credit, he held me close and tried to soothe me. He really is a good person, and Bella or whoever nabs him will be a very lucky girl. I have no doubt he will treat them like a queen.

Once I explained why I was crying, Lennon carried me into the bathroom, set me on the edge of the tub, and drew me a bath. After turning off the water, he let himself out and left me to soak.

I stayed in there and cried, the water turning cold long before I finally got out. After quickly dressing, I returned to my living room to find Lennon asleep on the sofa, his feet hanging off the edge.

Shaking him awake, I helped him to my room and tucked him under the covers. He protested the entire time, saying he didn’t want to make me uncomfortable, but I silenced him with a gentle kiss to the cheek.

And I fell asleep wrapped in his arms. When I woke up, he was gone and there was a note on his pillow.

I hope you’re feeling better this morning. Have a fun day shopping. Make sure Bella’s dress doesn’t overshadow her natural beauty. —Lennon

He’s so sweet.

His words bring a smile to my face, and it stays there for the rest of the morning as I get ready to leave. Bella and I are being dropped off at the mall, but unlike last night where the cameras were absent, today we’re not being blessed with that grace. They’ll be following us everywhere except the dressing rooms.

Which means we have to be careful what we discuss and where.

“I’m here,” Bella sings as she pushes through my door.

When I turn around, I find her in a pair of hot-pink yoga pants and a black tank top. Her outfit resembles my own. I’m wearing black yoga pants and a gray tank top. Both of us have our hair piled into messy buns on top of our heads, and our makeup is minimal.

“Are you excited?” she asks, dropping onto the sofa with a soft thud.

“To get off the ranch for the day? Yes. For this to be over tomorrow? Hell yes.”

“I meant to shop. I feel like it’s been years instead of weeks since I’ve been shopping. Not being able to shop online has me itching to buy, buy, buy. I want shoes and a new dress. Matching jewelry. The works!”

Her excitement is contagious, a smile slowly spreading across my face as she lists off all the stores she wants to stop at. Including the lingerie store.

“And who is that for exactly?”

“I guess it depends on how things turn out tomorrow.” A sly grin is plastered on her face as she tosses me my sunglasses from the coffee table, and we head out the door.