The Setup 💕

Chapter 7

"You know, I thought you were cool. I don't have many guy friends. I was like, here's a man who isn't interested in me. He's wonderful to hang out with, we have great conversations and he's fun. But if you're not going to keep your promises, you shouldn't have agreed. This is a project for Daisy's business and my best friend." She said clearly upset. But trying hard not to look down at his define abs and chest.

"I have to go. I have like 20 min to find a dance partner." She paused. "You know what! It's fine. I'll do it all on my own. Like the other classes." She turned, walking away.

"Lillie!" He called out as he stood in the middle of the hotel lobby with his hands on his waist. He closed his eyes in annoyance. Then walked to the elevator. While she walked out into the gardens.

Daisy resting in bed tried to sit up, but after a few tries, she gave up while Dan is in the bathroom showering. The sound of the water turning off is heard. She picked up her phone and took it off airplane mode. She reviewed her text messages. Opened a message from Emily, the front desk manager from Lavender Hotel. A picture of Will and Lillie on their first night and another picture of shirtless Will in the lobby having a conversation with Lillie. Daisy excited to see the pictures screamed.

"Oh my goodness." She screamed.

Dan rushed out of the bathroom. Half naked and wet. Water dripping down from his freshly cleaned hair and has a towel wrapped around his waist.

"Is it time?" He asked rushing. Trying to get things out of an overstuffed closet.

"What? Oh, I'm sorry. No. It isn't. Look at this photo of Will and Daisy from Emily."

She held her phone out to show him, the pictures of Lillie and Will on the screen.

He closed his eyes, took in a breath. And walked over to her.

"Oh honey." He said as he relaxed and bent down to give her a kiss.

"Don't scare me like that." He said, giving her another kiss. He looked down at the photos, smiled and kissed her again before walking back into the bathroom.

Lillie is at the side of the room alone, stretching before class starts. There are about four other couples in the class. A few are stretching, and one couple seems not to be talking to each other, sitting apart on the floor. A man and a female instructor enter the room. They greet everyone.

"Good morning everyone. Good to see you again. Today, we will continue the next steps for Salsa."

A freshly showered Will enter the room in a white tee and black shorts. He scanned the room, his eyes lands on Lillie who had her back towards the door, walked over to her. She still ignored him as she noticed him standing in front of her.

He whispered to her. "Can we talk?"

She began to follow the stretching moves that the instructors were doing.

"I can't talk and learn new dance moves. When am I ever going to get free dance classes again from two winning professionals." She said as she stretched out an arm.

He turned to watch the instructors and followed their instructions.

An hour and half later, Will and Lillie are enjoying themselves learning the new dance moves together. Lillie and the instructors are very impressed with Will's dancing skills. Some couples try to keep up. Lillie smiled at Will as he turned her. Making sure she doesn't fall when he turns.

"One two three, five six seven. One two three, five six seven. One two three, five six seven." said male dance instructor. The female dance instructor walked around fixing a few couples postures. She tried to guide the nonspeaking couple from earlier but are having a hard time dancing together.

"Perfect. Why don't we take a break, everyone." The male dance instructor said as he turned the music off.

The instructors walked up to each other.

Will and Lillie stood in place nervously. Waiting for the other to speak first.

"I'm sorry. You were right. I did make a promise, and I'm going to keep it." Will told her.

"I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have snapped at you." Lillie get cut off by the trouble couple, now in argument.

"I don't understand why we are here?" The man told his wife.

"Because you never listen to what I want. It's always what you want to do or what you want to eat. Just try it out! Please." She begged him.

"I'm here, aren't I. Isn't that enough? You know I hate dancing." He yelled back.

The instructors called someone to the class for assistance.

"But when you met me. You knew I love to dance. And during the beginning, you used to try." She said as she started to cry.
"Why? We're married. I don't see why I have to." He replied as if that were the answer. She walked out of class, and he walked after her.

Lillie watched them as they left. Will walked up to Lillie holding two cups of water and handed one to her.
"Thanks! He reminds me of an old college roommate. That didn't care about anyone but herself. It was only her way or what she wanted to do. She would say mean things to get people to do what she wanted. She was a nightmare. Not only that, but she would wear my clothes without asking. Borrow things that would magically reappear broken." She said, as she remembered.

"That sounds like a nightmare." He said.

"Oh yeah, Jasmine Spencer was my nightmare. One of the biggest reasons why it was so easy to transfer out of school." She said.

Will is surprise to hear the name and holds a baffled expression.

"What?" Lillie asked.

"She's my ex-girlfriend. I always wonder about the disappearing roommate." he smiled.

Lillie laughed, trying hard not to spill the water in her cup.

"I'm so sorry for you. I bet that was one crazy experience. Why is she an ex?" Lillie asked, still laughing.

"She cheated." He said coolly. She stopped laughing.

"That's insane. You're like..." She blushed when she paused. "Her lost." Lillie said to him.

Out in the garden courtyard, the beautiful Missy is sitting at a table by herself talking on her cellphone, people watching.

"So, basically, we are the riches people here at Lavender. I know right! How sad." She said to the person on the phone.

Lillie and Will walked past, heading to the outdoor dining area. Will is holding their food tray. Missy watched them as they passed her, she realized something.

"Hold the phone. I think I just saw New York top rich's bachelor, Will Stanford. (Pauses) I'm not joking. Let me see if I can take a pic." She whispered.

She took a picture, sent the picture to the other person and place the phone back up to her ear.

Will placed the food trays on a table. And pulled out Lillie's chair. They took their seats. Will, remembered he needed to do something, took out his phone, sends a text.

Will text to Dan: I've changed my mind. I decided to stay and finish the project. Talk to you later.

"He's worth how much? I think I found my new husband." Missy said, still whispering to her friend on the phone.

She hung up the phone. Stood and walked over to Lillie and Will.

"Hi, my fiancé decided to take a nap. May I join you two?" Asked Missy.

"Sure!" Replied a smiling Lillie.

Missy decided to sit a little too close to Will. Lillie noticed. Missy shakes both their hands.

"I'm Missy!" Said Missy.

"Lillie." Said Lillie.

"Will." Said Will.

"So, how are you enjoying Lavender Hotel?" Missy asked.

Missy pushes her hair behind her ear as she turned to Will. She placed a manicure hand on his arm. It stayed there longer than it needed to be. Lillie noticed that too.