Page 61 of Willowbrooke
Knowing I couldn’t hide forever and that I needed to find a way to ask Leo what was going on, to give him the opportunity to explain, I eventually returned to the ballroom. But once again, Margot intercepted me.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you, darling,” she purred.
She took a beat, looking me up and down, then said, “Are you alright? Have you had too much champagne?”
Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was my anxiety, or my patience wearing thin, but without thinking, I said, “I didn’t know Miss Hawthorne was Quinn.”
Margot turned her head. “I’m sorry,” she apologized. “When I realized you didn’t know who she was, I thought it was best not to mention it—Leo should have said something.”
“He did say something—he told me that he broke off their engagement last year.” My words came out defensively,despite my best efforts.
“That’s what he said?” She raised a brow. “It’s true that they hit a rough patch when Leo first returned to Willowbrooke. Adjusting to a long-distance relationship, and George’s condition, was difficult for both of them. But Quinn moved back during the summer, and they decided to give it another shot since she was closer. She was of great comfort to Leo as he grieved.”
I felt my heart sink. Why would Margot lie to me about something so serious? But more importantly, why would Leo keep it from me—and not just keep it from me, but actively lie about it? “Why haven’t I seen her around the house—if they’re together?” I swallowed, trying to find some shred of dignity to hang on to.
“Before you moved in, she was over all the time after working to set up the gallery and on the weekends. She felt uncomfortable after you started staying at Willowbrooke. But it’s really none of your business—you’re just Leo’s interior designer. You should be happy for him to have found a second chance at love.”
The cacophony of the music and conversation began to fade from my ears. I could feel how shallow my breathing was becoming, and I knew if I didn’t sit down, I would pass out, an embarrassment I couldn’t take, given the circumstances.
“Thank you, if you’ll excuse me…” I gently squeezed Margot’s hand to indicate I would be taking my leave, before turning on my heel to find an open seat out of her eyesight.
But before I had the chance, I spotted Leo tucked away in a booth at the back of the room, with Quinn in his lap. The two of them were all over each other.
“This can’t be happening…” I whispered, blinking back the tears welling in my eyes. I couldn’t cry in front of these people. I wouldn’t.
Changing course, I exited the ballroom, stumbling out into the lobby.
“Do you have any available rooms?” I asked a woman working the front desk. I fumbled through my clutch for a credit card—I knew it was going to cost a fortune, but I certainly wasn’t going back to Willowbrooke. “Please…” I felt a tear escape and quickly wiped it away.
“I just need an ID and a credit card,” the woman replied sympathetically, taking the cards from me as I slid them across the counter.
Definitely drunk and positively devastated, I made the ridiculous decision to call William once I was alone in my hotel room. The call went to voicemail, but that didn’t stop me from leaving a humiliating message, needing to cry to someone, and too cowardly to call Mina for some reason.
“Did you know?” I asked William over voicemail. “Did you know he was still with Quinn? You could have said something—but instead you encouraged me—pushed us together. He’s here with her tonight—Margot said the engagement is back on and has been since this summer. You could have saved me all this heartache. I thought you werekinder than that—I shouldn’t have called—sorry…” I hung up the phone.
The room was spinning.
I switched off the light and curled up on the bed, unable to stop the tears…
It was just before one in the morning when I awoke with a start to the trill of my phone ringing. I’d slept for just over two hours. Still a little buzzed, I answered the call without thinking or looking at the caller ID. “Hello?” I croaked.
“Jesus, Penny, I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for hours.” William sounded worried. “What is going on?”
“I shouldn’t have called you.” I felt my face heat with embarrassment. “I’ve had too much to drink,” I told him honestly.
“Is Leo alright? Is he with you?” William demanded.
“No—he’s with Quinn…” I scowled, blinking back a fresh round of tears.
“Wait—what? I thought your voicemail—I didn’t think you were serious,” William stuttered. “What happened?”
I took a deep breath, willing myself to sober up. “During her speech, Margot said they were still engaged. She told me they’ve been together this whole time.”
“That’s not possible—he isnotwith Quinn—they ended things right after he came home to take care of George—last fall, I think.”
“I saw them together at the bar—and later—they were kissing.” I could feel bile rising in my throat at the thought of it…and probably because of the champagne.
“Penny, I’m telling you, something is wrong here. He’s not with Quinn. He’s in love with you—he told me so himself.”
