I take a sip of my margarita and lie back down on the beach chair by Tamara’s pool. Sighing, I remember what she told me a few days ago. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that Beau will be married soon. Just the thought is hard for me to handle. It’s enough to make me want to drink, which is why I had to come over to Tamara’s, so I could do it without Dad eyeing me. I’ve been drinking more lately, and he worries.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” Tamara says as she steps out of the pool.
“I’m listening,” I say, putting my drink down and sitting up.
“Harvey finally found out why Beau is behaving so strangely toward you.”
“Really?” I ask, hope fluttering in my heart. Things might start making sense now.
Tamara nods and looks at me with pity in her eyes.
I wonder why, isn’t this good news? “What did he say?”
“He hates you.”
“What?” I ask, shocked.
“Beau hates you, and Harvey says Jenny is responsible for it.”
“I don’t understand.”
“After Beau was discharged from the hospital, Jenny had him take memory classes.”
“Memory classes? What are those?”
“So apparently, Beau hasn’t truly recovered his memory. Jenny had him take these classes and memorize everyone important in his life. Harvey says she did it so that it would be easy for him to fit into society again.”
“Oh my God! So that’s why Beau claims to know me but treats me like a stranger.” Jenny must have told Beau lies about me and made him think I’m a horrible person. I wonder what stories she made up.
“Yes. Harvey doesn’t know exactly what Jenny told Beau about you, but he’s sure it wasn’t anything good.”
“I can bet!” I lean back in my chair once more, taking all the information in. “It makes so much sense now why he called me a gold digger. That insult has Jenny written all over it.”
“It does, and Harvey even tried telling Beau the truth, but nothing came of it.”
“How come?”
“Beau doesn’t remember you or your relationship, so telling him that his mother is lying doesn’t change that. His feelings for you are just not there anymore.”
“That’s true, telling him the truth won’t change much, but I could still try something. Beau and I have shared so many wonderful moments together. I bet one of them might be able to jog his memory.”
“Yes, you guys do have a lot of history,” Tamara agrees, then smiles. “There’s no way you won’t be able to make him remember the love he has for you.”
“Hopefully I can, because if I don’t, then I’ll have a front-row seat to watch him marry someone else. Speaking of that, why is he still marrying Hannah?” I would’ve guessed it’s because his mom told him he was in love with Hannah, but now that I know he doesn’t believe Harvey because he doesn’t remember his feelings for me, I wonder what other reason he could have for marrying her.
“I asked Harvey the same thing, but he doesn’t know,” Tamara answers.
“Hmm, yet another thing to figure out,” I murmur.
***
The following day while at lunch with Camila, someone enters the restaurant and catches my eye. I stop eating and watch. Her blue eyes scan the room, stopping once she spots me. She smiles, her eyes shining with an evil glint, and approaches my table. The Louis Vuitton heels she’s wearing click against the wooden floor as she walks.
“Hello, Delilah,” she says, smirking devilishly.
“Hi, Hannah.” I force a smile. What she is doing here?
“How’re you?” She takes a seat beside me. Why the hell is she sitting down? I turn to face Camila and nod toward Hannah. She shrugs her shoulders in answer to my unspoken question.
“None of your business.” I narrow my eyes at Hannah, trying to figure out her game. She must be here for a reason, since she hates my guts. Even if she never said it, her inviting me to her and Beau’s engagement party was enough to tell me how she felt about me.
“I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now,” she says, pouting.
My brows furrow in confusion. “What am I going through?”
“Heartbreak,” she answers immediately.
“Oh.” I wasn’t expecting her to say that.
“You must be in a lot of pain.” Pity shines in her eyes.
I can’t believe it. She’s here to gloat. I should’ve known, this is exactly her style.
“I’m fine,” I say, keeping my expression indifferent. I’m far from that, but I’d never let her know it.
“You don’t have to pretend. I’m here for you.” Hannah pats my hand gently and gives me a reassuring smile.
I try to sound calm. “Hannah, I know you don’t give two shits about me.”
“I do so,” she argues, and my face scrunches up in disgust. It’s bad enough I have to deal with Beau marrying her, but now this, too? I wish she would leave me alone. Being around her only reminds me of what I can’t have.
Then, her mask of pleasantness drops. “Jenny told me you’re smarter than you look, and she’s right. You didn’t fall for my facade like you did last time.” Hannah looks at her nails as she speaks, her whole demeanor changing.
“Only a fool would fall for it twice,” I reply. “Now leave.”
She looks me dead in the eyes. “Stay away from Beau.”
“And if I don’t?” I ask, folding my arms across my chest. It’s funny that she thinks she can keep me away.
“Then you won’t like what I’ll do to you in retaliation.”
“What could you possibly do to me, Hannah?” I doubt it could be worse than anything the Williams family has done.
“If you really want to know, then test me, and you’ll see.” She stands from the chair, picking up her Hermes purse. A feeling of disgust hits me as I realize it’s the same kind I have, and apparently Jenny also has one. I really need to burn that thing now.
I look up at her and smile. “I can’t wait. Goodbye, Hannah.”
“Goodbye, Delilah.” She puts on her shades and walks out of the restaurant.