00:00...palms.
00:09Riley's nails bit into her palms, the sharp sting grounding her.
00:15She just had to take it.
00:17She'd been rash, and the timing was all wrong.
00:20For now, all she could do was suck it up.
00:24Forcing a tight-lipped smile, Riley said,
00:28Landon, I get it.
00:31Then she turned to Hazel, her voice dropping to a softer tone.
00:36Hazel, I am so, so sorry.
00:40I promise it won't happen again.
00:43I really do see you as a friend.
00:47Hazel just raised an eyebrow.
00:49She hadn't pegged Riley as someone who could swallow her pride that easily.
00:53Having made his point, Landon took Hazel's hand and guided her from the room.
00:59Once they were in the car and pulling away, he glanced over at her.
01:04Feeling better?
01:06Hazel nearly choked.
01:08What's that supposed to mean?
01:10That I should be thrilled I got to put your childhood friend in her place?
01:14You think I'm that petty?
01:16Landon didn't answer right away.
01:20He just gave her a slow, knowing look that said everything he wasn't.
01:25A hot blush crept up Hazel's cheeks.
01:29Why did it feel like he could see right through her?
01:32And then she remembered Rowan.
01:35She quickly pulled out her phone, worried she'd given Rowan the wrong idea about Landon.
01:40Her fingers flew across the screen.
01:42I take back what I said.
01:46My husband is completely faithful.
01:49Two pings echoed in the quiet car.
01:52Landon's phone lit up.
01:54He glanced down and casually tapped the screen.
01:58Just spam, he said.
02:00Oh.
02:02Hazel didn't think anything of it and went back to her own phone.
02:06An email from Rowan came through.
02:09So you misunderstood him?
02:10What made you think that in the first place?
02:14Is he normally like that?
02:16Hazel's face burned.
02:19Was she really discussing her marriage with some guy in his 40s?
02:23Still, Rowan was Landon's friend.
02:27As his wife, she felt like she had to defend him.
02:31She typed back,
02:32Of course not.
02:33My husband is a great guy.
02:37Landon's phone pinged again.
02:38This time, a small laugh escaped him.
02:43Hazel frowned.
02:44What's so funny?
02:46More spam, Landon replied smoothly.
02:50She narrowed her eyes.
02:52You get a lot of spam?
02:55Apparently.
02:57Landon sounded far too pleased with himself.
03:01Jack must be slacking.
03:02How is spam even getting through to your private number?
03:07Landon nodded calmly.
03:09I'll be sure to dock his bonus tomorrow.
03:12You're unbelievable, Hazel muttered.
03:16Just then, another email from Rowan popped up.
03:19I've always been curious.
03:22Why did you marry Landon?
03:25Hazel froze.
03:27How in the world was she supposed to answer that?
03:30Their marriage was a fluke, born from a mix-up.
03:34She'd married him to get back at her ex and reclaim her inheritance.
03:38It was a calculated move, plain and simple.
03:42The car fell silent.
03:45As the moments ticked by, Landon's expression darkened.
03:49He was about to change the subject when a new message suddenly flashed on his screen.
03:54Because I like him.
03:56Hazel had typed out,
03:59I like him.
04:00That's why I wanted to be with him.
04:02The corners of Landon's mouth curved upward.
04:06He couldn't fight the slow, spreading smile that took over his face.
04:11Hazel, meanwhile, noticed that Rowan hadn't replied.
04:15And Landon's phone had mysteriously stopped getting spam.
04:19As they were getting out of the car,
04:21she glanced at her phone and saw a new email.
04:25She tapped it open.
04:26It was from Rowan.
04:29Landon said the same thing about you.
04:30He said he fell for you at first sight.
04:34The message hit her like a physical blow.
04:37Her vision swam,
04:39and for a dizzying second,
04:41the world seemed to tilt on its axis.
04:44Landon fell for her at first sight?
04:47How would Rowan know that?
04:49Was he just guessing?
04:51Or had he actually asked Landon?
04:54Once the initial shock subsided,
04:56a strange, shy warmth spread through her chest.
05:00Still, she was emailing a man 20 years her senior about love,
05:05and the whole thing felt a little weird.
05:08She took a deep breath,
05:10trying to sound casual in her reply.
05:13Wow, thanks for sharing.
05:16Didn't peg you as the sentimental type at your age.
05:19Landon's face instantly fell.
05:22He looked like he wanted to crush his phone in his hand.
05:25At his age?
05:27Who was she calling old?
05:30Hazel shot him a strange look.
05:32Wasn't he just in a great mood a second ago?
05:35Why did he suddenly look like he was about to blow a gasket?
05:39Ugh, men were impossible.
05:42A few days later,
05:45a formal apology gift from the Nelson family arrived for Hazel.
05:49Riley had included a handwritten letter
05:52explaining she'd been spoiled rotten her whole life
05:55and hadn't thought through her actions.
05:57She wrote that Landon's lecture had made her do some serious soul-searching,
06:02and she hoped Hazel could find it in her heart to forgive her.
06:06But tucked inside was something far more interesting,
06:10a screenshot of a repost from Angelica's social media.
06:14In the original post,
06:15Angelica announced she was the long-lost daughter of the Morris family
06:19and claimed she'd had a prior engagement to Landon.
06:23The comment section was a dumpster fire,
06:26with everyone calling Hazel a husband-stealer.
06:29But Riley had reposted it with her own fiery caption.
06:34Even if Angelica had some previous engagement with Landon,
06:38what does that have to do with Hazel?
06:40Who cares if it was even legal?
06:43Right now, Landon is happily married to Hazel.
06:47So who's the real homewrecker here?
06:50Unsurprisingly, Riley had been dragged online
06:53for a solid 24 hours for that post.
06:56And just an hour ago,
06:57someone had dug up dirt on Riley.
07:01Riley?
07:02Isn't she the eldest daughter of the Nelson family?
07:05I think her brother Hunter is good friends with Landon.
07:09I don't care who she is.
07:11If you defend a homewrecker,
07:13you're just as trashy.
07:15Please.
07:16Anyone who's friends with Hazel
07:18can't be a good person.
07:19I heard Riley's studio is on Cypress Street.
07:22Hazel frowned and tapped on another link.
07:28Riley's studio had been splattered with paint
07:31and was now temporarily closed.
07:34Twitter was a total war zone.
07:37Some people were slinging mud,
07:39while others were sympathizing,
07:41saying Riley was only defending her friend
07:43and was now paying the price.
07:45But the one thing no one seemed to doubt
07:48was that Riley and Hazel were friends.
07:51There were even a few comments that read,
07:54I don't know anything about Hazel,
07:55but I'm jealous she has a friend
07:57who would go to bat for her like that.
08:00Hazel's eyes narrowed.
08:02A friend who would go to bat for her, huh?
08:05She wasn't buying it for a second.
08:07She refused to believe that Riley,
08:09the same girl who was trying to get one over on her
08:12just a few days ago,
08:14had suddenly become some noble warrior
08:16willing to take a bullet for her.
08:19But she had to admit,
08:20it was a hell of a smart play.
08:23Even Luke called her,
08:25his voice booming through the phone.
08:27Hazel, you're a legend.
08:29You even got Riley on your side?
08:32Your charm is off the charts.
08:34He kept going.
08:36Angelica couldn't get to you,
08:38so she went after Riley.
08:39And Riley just took the heat
08:41without saying a word.
08:43That's a real ride-or-die friendship.
08:46Hazel was speechless.
08:48Seriously, who raised Luke
08:50to be such a sweet, naive marshmallow?
Comments