Paper Doll Lina by Robyn Lucas

Author:Robyn Lucas [Lucas, Robyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-09-01T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 23

A part of Lina wanted to see Mariana. What did the woman who’d been engaged to Noah look like? How did Lina compare?

Noah had begged Lina to stay in his room “just like that,” adding, “Do not move an inch.” He’d promised he was going to talk to Mariana in the hallway, and it would take only a minute or two. But ten minutes had passed, and Lina wanted to take advantage of the break to freshen up and get something to drink. She splashed her face, gargled with mouthwash, and finger combed her hair into a messy ponytail. This was her: fresh faced, natural, and messy. For the first time in a long while, she was okay with the woman in the mirror.

Curious to see what was taking Noah so long, Lina padded to the kitchen for some water. She lingered near the door for a while but gave up when she couldn’t hear anything. Before she could return to Noah’s room, the front door opened and a tall, photoshopped-in-real-life woman stormed in, her stilettos clicking against the marble floors. Lina blinked several times at the woman’s proportions. Her waist was unnaturally narrow, and her hips looked like she’d had a permanent reaction to a bee sting.

“Oh . . . hello,” Mariana said, slowly appraising Lina.

Lina froze. How could she ever measure up to someone like her? Now she understood why they’d been engaged, and she was pretty sure Noah was reconsidering being with her as he watched both women in the same room.

Mariana flipped her long blonde hair from her shoulder. “And you are?”

Noah crossed the living room and put his arm around Lina’s waist. “This is my girlfriend, Lina.”

Lina blushed at her new title. Girlfriend. Did people their age even use that word? It sounded so foreign. Maybe they could settle on another term. Lady friend? Significant other? Special friend? Lover?

Mariana raised an eyebrow. “That’s nice, but I thought we decided not to have random hookups around our son.”

“I’m standing right here,” Lina said.

“I’m not going there with you, Mariana, and like you said, he’s our son, so I’m perfectly capable of protecting Edward.”

“All I’m saying is I don’t think introducing our son to every woman you’re with is good. It might be confusing to him. Besides, it’s my week. He shouldn’t be here.”

“I don’t need your permission. And you’re right, Mariana. This is not my week. As you can see, I had plans.” He held Lina tighter. “You were unavailable for hours, so Anisa called me because she had an emergency and couldn’t wait any longer.”

“She could’ve called one of the other nannies or taken him with her. That’s what they always do,” Mariana said flippantly.

“They always do? Taken him with her? What does that mean?” Noah’s hand clenched at Lina’s side. “Do you leave him with the nannies all the time?”

“Well, they’re well paid for a reason.” Mariana threw a hand to her hip. “Edward! Come on. We’re going home.”

“No, he’s not. He’s sleeping, and you will not wake him up.

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