Uncovering You 6: Deliverance (8 page)

“Okay, okay,” Fey hedges, not even waiting for my reply. “Once a week might be a little steep. After all, I know how
busy
you are.” She sneaks a look at Jeremy, full of sly understanding. “But at least once a month. Okay? And email me when you can! At least that way I don’t have to wonder if you’re alive or not.”

“Okay,” I smile. “Sure, Fey. I can do that.”

She takes out her phone and hands it to me. “Punch in your new number,” she commands.

I freeze. I don’t
have
a number, and if I do anything on the phone without Jeremy seeing, his suspicions would immediately be raised. The memorandum on news of the outside world has still not been lifted.

But before I can blunder things any further, Jeremy reaches over and takes the phone from my hand. “I gifted Lilly a new cell phone with an international data plan,” he says, “when we arrived here last night. She hasn’t had the chance to memorize the number yet. Have you, Lilly?”

“Oh. No.” I say. “I’ve no idea what it is. The phone’s still in its box.”

Fey and her mom exchange a strange look.

“Luckily, I have it saved in my contacts,” Jeremy continues. He takes out his own phone, and transfers the number from screen-to-screen. He hands Fey’s back to her.

“Thanks,” she says, squinting her eyes at me in unspoken questioning. I give her a little smile and a shrug.

Well, that wasn’t suspicious at all,
I think.

That’s when I notice the delicate engagement ring on her finger. I’d been so caught up thinking about how I must appear to her that I’d forgotten all about Robin!

“Where’s your fiancé?” I blurt out.

“Oh.” Fey giggles. “Robin didn’t come with us. He got a job offer from
The Economist
for next year. They have a winter break retreat for all the new recruits in South Africa.” She smiles. “I’m so happy for him.”

“
The Economist
is a prestigious newspaper,” Jeremy says. “Receiving an offer from them right out of college is impressive. I respect that.”

“Thanks,” Fey beams. I can just
see
the pride radiating on her face.

“You haven’t gotten married yet, have you?” I ask. “Still just engaged?”

“Oh, a wedding is an enormous undertaking,” Thalia says. “The two love birds wanted to do it quick, right at the end of summer. But Fey’s father and I managed to convince them otherwise. It took quite a bit of wrangling on my part.”

“Mother!”

Thalia smiles warmly at Fey. “I convinced them to wait a year and do it properly after graduation.”

I lean forward in interest. “So the date is set?”

“Oh, yes,” Thalia replies. “August 23
rd
, 2014.”

“You’re coming. Right?” Fey asks. She sounds suddenly anxious. “I wanted you to be . . . one of the bridesmaids. But I didn’t know if I’d see or hear from you before then . . . ”

“We’ll both be there,” Jeremy interjects. “If Lilly has the honor of being one of your bridesmaids, it’s not something I’d ever let her pass up.”

I turn my head toward him. Appreciation of the deepest sort blooms within me.

“Of course,” Jeremy continues, “being a bridesmaid is no small task. You’ll want her free and on-demand in the weeks leading to. If the August date is final…?” He trails off, and both Fey and Thalia nod, “… then we’ll make sure to schedule Lilly’s vacation time in advance. Thalia, you mentioned difficulties in planning? Well, I know of a magnificent event planner who just so happens to be on my payroll.” He takes out a business card from his pocket and writes on the back. “That’s her name and contact information. Give her a call. Tell her you’re a friend of mine. Use my first name. She’ll know who you mean.”

“Thank you,” Thalia says. “But I couldn’t possibly—”

“I insist,” Jeremy says. He pushes the card across the table, where Fey picks it up. “And I’m well aware that a wedding can be a great expense. Work with my gal, and I promise you that you won’t see a penny of the bill.” He locks eyes with Fey and speaks directly to her. “Make it as extravagant as you want. Think of it as an early wedding gift for one of Lilly’s old friends.”

“Wow,” Fey mutters. She reached for the card. “Thank you, Jeremy. That’s very gracious …”

“And unnecessary,” Thalia says. She places her hand on Fey’s outstretched arm, stopping her. “Thank you, Mr. Stonehart. But I am sure my husband and I can take care of our own daughter’s wedding.”

“I have no doubt you can,” Jeremy says smoothly. “And please don’t take this gesture as me suggesting anything of the sort. I am simply aware that I am guilty of having kept Lilly so occupied that she has not had time to dedicate to old friends. If you do take me up on the offer, it will just be a way of me saying sorry. Nothing more.” He directs that charming smile towards Fey. “It’s unfortunate that I did not get the chance to meet Robin today. He sounds like a very accomplished, intelligent young man, to be picked up by The Economist at the start of his career. Next time we meet, I would love to make his acquaintance.”

“As I’m sure he’d love to meet you,” Fey replies. I notice that she’s picked up the card, even though Thalia hasn’t released her grip.

“But seriously,” Jeremy says. “Call my wedding planner.” He looks over and smiles at me. “Seeing Lilly in a bridesmaid’s dress might give me some unintended inspiration.”

***

The rest of brunch goes by without a hitch. I’d been wrong before. I didn’t have to be cold and distant to make it through the meeting. In fact, most of it was spent reminiscing about old times.

Jeremy’s humor and inherent charisma also came through. He shone in the moment just as much as he had last night, on stage. By the end of it all, the last traces of Thalia’s hostility had vanished.

Afterwards, when we’ve all said goodbye, and I reaffirm my promise to Fey to keep in touch, I feel light as a butterfly. I’ve just spent a magnificent few hours with an old friend, with Jeremy Stonehart at my side, and nothing at all has gone wrong. It’s been light, breezy, and fun. My earlier trepidation about it had been all for naught.

“Come here,” Jeremy says when we reach our car. He pulls me into him and surprises me with a warm, passionate kiss. “You were wonderful,” he says. He lifts his shades so that I can see his eyes. The smile that’s on his lips extends to them, making the corners crinkle and making
him
look so very human. So very accessible.

“You weren’t bad yourself,” I counter. “You know, there were a few times, especially at the start, when I thought we’d get a showing of your temper.”

“Temper?” Jeremy sounds amused. “What temper?”

“Don’t tease.” I slap his arm. I feel like spinning and laughing. The sun is shining. I’ve re-established ties with Fey, and I’ve just been the recipient of a toe-curling kiss.

Suddenly a shadow clouds his eyes. “Lilly,” he says seriously. “You know that this was a one-time occurrence. Even though you were perfect, I can’t risk meetings like that again.”

My spirit falls. “I know,” I say softly.

“It’s not . . . It’s not because of you,” he growls. “You’ve proven to me time and again that I am right to trust you. It’s because of me. As you learned last night, Stonehart Industries is going public. Everything I do is scrutinized. I was able to arrange that enough of my men were present at the café to ward off problems—”

“Wait! What?” I stop him. “What do you mean, ‘your men’?”

“Security, Lilly.” He frowns. “Surely you don’t think I can go out in public without security!"

I feel an uncomfortable itch between my shoulder blades. “We were being watched?” I hiss.

“Yes,” Jeremy says. “Don’t tell me you take offense!”

“Take offense? Take offense? Hah!” I scoff. I look around the street, feeling a lot like a tiny fly caught in an invisible web. “Of course I don’t take offense, Jeremy,” I say sarcastically. “Why, what’s a little more invasion of my privacy at this stage of the game, anyway? It’s not like there’s anything about me that hasn’t been laid bare.”

“Lilly, stop,” Jeremy commands. “You’re being histrionic.”

I step around him and fling open the car door. I’ve come to accept that I cannot have any secrets from you, Jeremy. But, taking away Fey and Thalia’s privacy, too? That’s what has me so riled up. “Let’s get out of here,” I spit, and slam the door shut.

Jeremy stalks around the front of the car and gets in. I shove my seat belt angrily into its holster. It doesn’t fit. I try again, jabbing it into the slot once, and again, and again, and again, and again.

“Here,” Jeremy says, reaching over to help. “Let me get that.”

“I can do it!” I explode. I keep trying, but the damned thing just won’t go in.

“Lilly.” Jeremy takes my hand. I try to jerk away. But, he has an iron grip. “You’re ruining the vehicle.”

“I don’t care!” I cry out. I feel tears of anger and frustration building in my eyes. Why can’t I do it? Damn it! It’s such a simple, stupid thing!

With all the force I can muster, I rip my hand from Jeremy’s. Pain shoots through my shoulder. “Fuck!” I curse. It feels like a sprain. I rub at it vigorously with my other hand, seat belt forgotten, the injury worsening my already-foul mood.

“Lilly—”

“Just go!” I say. “Go. Take me back to the room. Have ‘your men’ follow us. See if I care.”

He just looks at me. He makes no indication of starting the engine, or driving us back, or anything of the sort.

“Well?” I scowl. The pain is working its way up my neck and down my arm. “What are you waiting for? Go! Take me back to the prison where I’ll know, at least, that my every action isn’t being scrutinized by invisible watchers.”

“You’re overreacting.”

I bark a near-hysterical laugh. “No, Jeremy. I’m not.
You’re
under reacting. Don’t you think it’s a little, oh, I don’t know, outside of regular decorum to plant
spies
at a meeting that was supposed to be strictly casual?”

His jaw tightens. “If you knew the lengths I went to, to get those men there,” he begins.

“Oh, and now you want me to be thankful?” I spit. “You want me to say ‘Thank you, Jeremy, for having your goons watch over us?’ Well, tough fucking luck. You’re not going to get that from me. No way. No how.”

“Having the cafe secure was essential to our meeting Thalia and Fey,” he says softly. There’s an undercurrent of impatience in his voice, which, if I were in a more reasonable state of mind, I would do well to heed.

I don’t and I won’t. I refuse to stand on pins and needles around Jeremy Stonehart any longer. I’d go crazy if I had to keep second-guessing every minute action. I’m already committed to him, bound inextricably to the enigma of the man. And he’s bound to me. If I risk evoking some of his displeasure by acting this way, so be it. He’s already done his worst, and I’ve survived it—twice. Right now, it’s doing immense things to my psyche not to feel so restrained around him.

“If I couldn’t arrange for it in time, you would have never seen your college roommate. I
think
, Lilly,” he emphasizes the word with a low growl, “that I deserve some appreciation for that. This type of bratty attitude will make me think hard about letting you go on similar outings in the future.”

“Outings where every step I take is being watched, every word I say probably recorded, is that right?” I give up on the trying to ease my shoulder pain and, instead, jam both hands in my armpits, crossing my arms and staring straight ahead. “Even without the brooch, or the collar, I’m still your prisoner. You did a fine job reminding me of that today.”

“Dammit, Lilly! Don’t go there,” Jeremy warns.

“Or what? Or you’ll leave me in the dark again? Let’s see how far your sentiment of affection really goes, Jeremy. You say you love me? You say you trust me? I say, ‘Prove it.’” I turn my head and stare out the window. I catch my own reflection in the mirror. I can’t believe how angry I look.

I’ve never had a temper. I’ve never been overly emotional. I’ve never succumbed to tears on the spot, or exploded after seeing red, or had anything trigger me past the level, collected woman I once was.

Somewhere along the way, with Jeremy, that’s changed
.
And I hate how susceptible I’ve become to my emotions. These types of mood swings are starting to mirror Jeremy’s personality shifts. That, in itself, is enough to piss me off. The fact that I am helpless to stop it, that I don’t even know why it’s happening, makes it worse.

What happened to the college undergrad who prided herself on understanding people? What happened to the girl who knew how to tackle all the bad shit that inherently came with the territory of having an alcoholic mother? What happened to the determined, ambitious, fresh-eyed, young woman ready to tackle the world?

Jeremy Stonehart happened. That’s what. Around him, I’m unable to control my emotions. I’m unable to control my body. I should feel nothing but repulsion and hatred and disgust for the man. That would make things simple. That would help me act the part I need to take him down.

But I don’t possess any of that indifference. In fact, even angry as I am right now, I don’t feel any of that rage directed towards
him
. It is channeled more toward the situation in which I find myself. A situation that I’m helpless to change

“Lilly …” Jeremy says. His voice has turned soft. Mellow. It kindles unwanted feelings of warmth in my stomach.

I try to shut them off. But, I can’t. They mix with all the other emotions I’m feeling to create a scrambled cacophony that I’m too weary to dissect.

“Just drive,” I say. My voice hitches. I do not look at him. “Please, Jeremy. Just get out of here.”

***

We arrive at the hotel after getting stuck in traffic for nearly an hour. Apparently, a single accident is enough to stall movement on the roads when there isn’t a viable emergency-response system in place. We spend the entire wait in silence.

If being delayed like this annoys Jeremy, he doesn’t let it show. I guess, technically, he is still on vacation. He has dedicated the time to spend with me.