"Sure, I can track a cell phone. Why?" Louis asked.

"Great – I was relying on your infinite knowledge to help me out here." I explained to him the situation with Richard and he immediately jumped into action, getting the necessary information online to be able to track Richard while I talked to him.

With shaky hands, I dialed Richard's number.

When he answered, he sounded surprised to hear from me. "Ashten? Are you all right?"

"Yes, Richard, I'm fine. But I just wanted to talk to you about the photo of me Louis and me. I assume you saw it?"

He sighed. "Yeah, I saw it. I guess that's why you broke up with me, huh?"

I closed my eyes feeling intense guilt. "No, it was a misunderstanding. Veronica and I just happened to see Louis and his friends in Central Park and we danced for a few seconds. Somebody caught us at just the right time."

"That makes sense, I guess."

"But Richard, that doesn't change the way I feel about you. I really have to move on, and I think you do, too. I just didn't want you to get the wrong idea about the photo."

"Fine," he said quietly.

"But I need to talk to you abou something else, too. I need to ask you something, and I want the truth," I said firmly. "Where are you right now?"

He hesitated for long enough that I thought he'd hung up. Finally, he said, "I'm in Chile."

"What are you doing in Chile? Your father doesn't have any oil operations down there. And oh, your parents gave me some interesting information yesterday. They said you haven't been going on business trips at all. What's up with that?" My voice was sounding more irritated with each word.

After another long pause, he sighed heavily and said, "I didn't want you to know about it. At least not yet."

"Trying to figure out a way you were going to have a wife and a mistress!?" I yelled.

"Ashten, it's not like that at all. I guess I can tell you now since we're no longer getting married. I've been trying to start a business of my own...importing lapis lazuli, because I know you love it. It was going to be a wedding present for you. I thought you could run the company instead of going to law school if you really hated Harvard that much."

"Richard..." I said in a squeaky whisper. "That's so sweet. I...I'm so sorry that I accused you of cheating."

"Yeah," he said. "The hardest part now is trying to figure out if I want to dump this business, or if I still want to make something of it. Maybe you could still have it..."

"No, I couldn't possibly take something like that from you. And I'm really sorry that I hurt you. I just...I think it's for the best. But we'll still talk when you get back, okay?"

He said a quiet good-bye and then I burst into tears. I felt awful about doing this to him. He'd never given me any reason to doubt him, and he'd always taken good care of me. I just didn't love him.

I told Louis about Richard's business idea and that he wanted me to run it. I was very moved by his thoughtfulness; I really couldn't believe he'd made such a grand gesture for me.

Louis pulled me to his chest and let me cry.

"I feel so guilty, Lou. I told him that the picture was nothing, but that's not true." I looked up at him. "That picture was the start of my everything. And I feel terrible because I thought he was probably feeling the same way about our relationship – that it was getting old and that our hearts weren't in it anymore. I turns out that it was only mine that wasn't in it, and I think I ended up breaking his."

It didn't matter how much I had wanted to break things off with Richard. I was still sad that he was hurting, especially because I was the one who had hurt him.

"It's all right," Louis said, still holding me tight. "This will work itself out. I suspect Richard will find someone who is his exact match...just like I found you."

His words dulled the ache in my heart. I leaned in and kissed him with fervor. He shoved his laptop aside and laid back, taking me with him so that I was lying on top of him. His arms snaked around my back and held me firmly while his mouth accepted mine in a very enticing way. He slipped one hand into my hair, stroking the back of my neck. Eventually, I rolled off of him so that we were lying side by side, still kissing and holding each other.

When we finally broke away, he just laid there smiling at me. I really couldn't believe that any of this was happening, but in spite of my feelings of guilt about Richard, I was ridiculously thankful that I had Louis.

"So, did you track him?" I asked, feeling silly for even asking.

"Yeah, he was telling the truth. He's in Chile," Louis said, making me feel even more foolish.

"I feel terrible," I repeated.

"Ashten, you didn't leave him because of me. You left him because you weren't in love with him. It seems like you haven't been able to trust very many people in your life. At least now you know that he wasn't cheating on you."

"Yeah," I sighed. "You're late for work," I said, noticing that it was 6:45.

"Oh well. There's no one up this early anyway." He stood up and grabbed my hand to help me stand up.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. "Maybe I'll visit the pool today."

"I'd like that," he said, walking out the door at the same time I did.

First, I went back to my room and slept. It had been an exhausting couple of days.

I woke up a few hours later to the sound of my phone buzzing. Veronica.

"Hey, chica," she said cheerfully. "Can Liam and I come over and hang out at your pool?"

"Umm, sure, but you have a pool, too..."

"I know," she laughed, but then she whispered, "Liam wants to meet Louis."

"You don't have to whisper," I told her. "Come over in about an hour so I have time to wake up. But you can't be really obvious. Louis is working, and if my parents suspect anything right now, I'm dead."

I showered and put my hair up in a messy bun like Danielle had taught me. I decided on my blue pinup-style swimsuit with the little white anchors on it. It covered me better than the other suits, and I just didn't feel like wearing anything super sexy today, especially not in front of Liam.

I threw on matching flip flops and a cover up and headed down to the pool.

I didn't immediately see Louis, so I wandered the grounds a bit, and then I saw him going into the pool house.

I followed him in and sneaked up behind him, putting my hands over his eyes.

He stood still for a moment and then said, "Lucinda, we've got to stop meeting like this."

I spun him around and said, "You goof!" Then I popped up on my toes and kissed him quickly on the lips.

"I get it, you're stalking me. You keep showing up everywhere I go." He grabbed me by the waist and kissed me back.

"Yep. I'm going to follow you around like a lost puppy." We shared a long and more passionate kiss until I heard Veronica's voice outside.

I pushed him away lightly and said, "Veronica is here with Liam Payne! He wanted to meet you, but we can't be too obvious. So, like no kissing or snuggling or hand-holding, okay?"

"Understood, Ms. Norwood," he said with a wink.

I quickly went outside to greet Veronica and Liam. Veronica practically leapt at me, hugging me fiercely. She whispered loudly in my ear, "I'm so proud of you!"

Louis came out of the pool house a bit later, and Veronica yanked him over to meet Liam. "Liam, this is Louis, and Louis, this is-"

"Liam Payne, I know," Louis smiled. "Very nice to meet you, Liam."

We sat down around the patio, although Louis tried to make it look like he was still working, occasionally skimming the pool and checking filters, etc.

"So, Louis," Liam began. "Tell us about yourself."

"Why do I feel as if this is an interview?" He chuckled.

Veronica piped up. "Gotta make sure you're the real deal for my best friend."

I covered my face in humiliation. "Could you be any more embarrassing?"

"I can try," she said, blinking innocently.

"Well, why don't you come with me to get some drinks while these boys get to know each other?" I said, dragging her away from the pool. When we were out of hearing range, I reminded Veronica, "You're supposed to be keeping this on the down-low. Tame your enthusiasm, or I'm going to kick you out!"

She just laughed at my empty threat. I would never kick her out. In fact, I tried to convince my parents to adopt her when we were younger.

"Oh, quit being such a worry wart," she said, blowing off my concern.

"This is serious! Remember this bruise?" I asked, motioning to my cheek. "My mother is not joking around. She might kill me if I cross her again in the next year."

"File charges against that bitch!"

"Oh, my gosh, Veronica. Get out of my house!" I hissed, trying not to double over in laughter.

But she finally said, "I promise I won't get you in trouble."

"Hey Lucinda," I called as we entered the kitchen.

"Well, hello there, honey," she replied in her sweet, grandmotherly way. "What brings you this way?"

"Just getting some drinks for my friends."

I swung open the refrigerator, but Lucinda slammed it shut again. She put her hand on my forehead, saying, "Are you feeling all right?"

"Very funny," I chuckled.

"Girl, your mother outdid herself this time," she said, examining my bruise. "One of these days, I'm gonna put that woman in her place. Ain't nobody gonna hit my little girl like that!" She pulled me into one of those soft hugs where I was swallowed up in her ample bosom.

"I can take care of myself," I stated confidently. Then I spoke much more quietly. "Louis said he's gonna look out for me, too."

"I'm glad you come to your senses. I told you that boy was head over heels." She had the biggest smile on her face when she said that.

I turned and kissed her on the cheek, and then I grabbed four water bottles out of the fridge and some fresh cut fruit. It was too hot to eat anything heavy.

As we made our way back towards the pool, we ran into Danielle. "Oh, my gosh, Danielle!" I exclaimed loudly.

"Oh, my gosh, what!?" She said in the same tone of voice. 

"Remember I told you about showing your designs to Veronica? She's here!" 

"Yeah," Danielle laughed. "I noticed. Hi, Veronica."

"Hey, Danielle," she replied.

"Go and get some of your designs," I told Danielle. "And bring the dress I wore the other night. We'll be down by the pool."

When we returned to the pool, Liam and Louis were laughing like maniacs.

"What's so funny?" Veronica asked.

Liam looked at her in all seriousness, and said, "A gentleman never tells."

As she was about to shove him into the pool, he grabbed her and kissed her. And then he threw her in. I set the snacks down and walked nonchalantly over to Liam and pushed him into the pool while he was laughing at Veronica.

Louis looked at me with a mischievous grin. "I'm sorry, Ash, but I'm going to defend my brother on this." Then he grabbed me around the waist and tossed me effortlessly into the water.

"Grrr!" I screamed playfully and I jumped out of the pool to chase him while Veronica went the other way so that we could trap him between us. However, he took the easy way out and ran into the pool house and locked the door.

Little did he know that we had a spare key, and of course, I knew its hiding place. I retrieved it quickly and rushed to open the door. By the time he figured out that I had the key, it was too late. I grabbed his arm and tried to drag him out to the pool, but he was too strong. He yanked me back inside and kissed me. Then he wrapped his arms around mine so I could hardly move. Since Liam and Veronica were still in the pool, he gave me a slow, lingering kiss that made my entire body heat up.

"I'm tired of hiding this," he said as he pressed his forehead against mine.

I laughed loudly and said, "It's only been like three days."

"Yeah, and you're mine but I want you to be all mine, for all the world to see."

Veronica and Liam mysteriously appeared at the door. "Ahem," Veronica said, pretending to clear her throat.

Louis let go of my arms, but he reached down and took my hand.

"Sucks that you guys have to sneak around," Veronica remarked.

"We were just discussing that," I said, smiling at Louis. "But it won't be like this forever." 

Louis and Liam started talking again, a little about Louis' plans for college and a bit about Liam's music career. They acted like they'd known each other for years. I was glad they were getting along.

We went back out to the pool side and laid down in the loungers. I took off my cover-up so I could get some sun.

Danielle came down with a few of her sketch books, and the red dress, as requested. Veronica hopped up again and went to the umbrella table where Danielle was spreading out some of her work.

After browsing for just a minute or two, Veronica said, "Holy Moley! You designed all of this? You are brilliant!" She grabbed Danielle's shoulders and said, "Brilliant, I tell you!" These sketches are phenomenal!" 

"You're going to choke her to death," I laughed. "But am I right? She's really talented."

"I just said that," Veronica snipped at me, playfully, of course. Then she said to Danielle, "We need to get together some time so we can talk business. I think we could go places with your designs and my impeccable sense of fashion." 

My mouth suddenly fell open. What the heck just happened? "Veronica! Just like that, you're going to open a business? Are you sure you want to do that?"

"I am now," she said smugly. "I've been thinking about it for a while, actually. Might as well combine my college education with something I adore - clothing!" She turned to Danielle. "But it will be a lot of hard work. We can't just jump into the fashion world out of the blue. It will take a lot of planning, networking, creating a business plan, and of course, designing clothes. You don't have to commit to anything right now, but at least we can meet to talk about it."

"But I wanted Danielle to come with me to Harvard," I said, pouting. 

"I'll stay with you at least til the end of summer," she said, grinning like crazy. Then she gathered up her things and sped to the house, yelling behind her, "I have to call my mom!"

When we sat down again, Veronica suggested, "Maybe we can double-date some time." 

"Ha!" I laughed. "Maybe if we go to Siberia or visit some primitive tribe in the Amazon. I'd prefer not to have another picture floating around the web that I have to explain to my parents."

"May I remind you that three out of four of us have private jets? They could come in handy. We could just fly around the world and only land to refuel. And maybe we could all join the mile-high club."

"Together? You are such a pervert," I shrieked with laughter.

"Not like that," she said. "Well, I guess it would only be you and Louis. I already joined."

"What?" I asked, yelling even louder. And then I mouthed out, With Liam?

She nodded vigorously and I just laughed. She had always been more adventurous than me - in everything.  

"Are you two pretty serious?" I asked quietly.

"I think so," she whispered. "We've talked long term relationship, but we haven't quite mentioned the m word. We talk more about me moving to England or traveling with him while he's on tour, or maybe both."

"How will that work if you start a business?"

"Hello? Remember the private jets? I can go anywhere I want to." 

I felt like I might cry at the very idea. "You can't leave me!"

"I could come back to visit you every weekend," she said, batting her eyelashes, trying to soften me up to the idea.

"But you wouldn't if you were traveling the globe with Liam Payne!"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," she said.

I nodded, and then she asked a question that I'd only begun to consider. "What are you going to do when you go away to Harvard? That's only a month away. And what's Louis going to do after the summer?"

"I don't know," I said with a little whine in my voice. "I can't stand the thought of us being apart. I found someone who truly makes me happy, and now college is going to ruin everything."

"Maybe he can go with you," she said and it sounded like she was joking.

But then and there, I hatched a brilliant plan.