"It's her perfume. She wears a gallon of it every day. She rubbed it all over Luke, like she rubs it all over Dominic every chance she gets." She glanced over her shoulder at Dominic.
"She's right. I've never smelled anything so foul in my life, and Luke reeks of it." He scrunched up his face as he stepped back, taking Lily with him.
"What?" Luke yelled. "How does she even know you?"
"She's a baseball groupie," Lily told him. "She's using you to get me away from Dominic. She's delusional. There's no way Dominic would ever go out with her, even if he'd never met me."
"You little liar." The high-pitched voice coming from up the stairs made Lily yank her attention upward. Valerie stomped to the top of the landing and leaned over. "What do you know? You're just the latest whore he's fucking this week. If you hadn't gotten in the way, I'd be the one warming his bed at night."
Lily's eyes widened. She'd never seen anyone as off her rocker as this crazy woman.
As if Valerie noticed Dominic for the first time, she gasped. Her mouth fell open, and she set her hand over it.
A collective gasp around her included Luke. "Valerie?" His voice was a bit high. "What are you talking about? Tell these people they're crazy. You don't actually know this Cordes guy, do you?"
Valerie ignored him and narrowed her gaze at Lily, baring her teeth like a rabid dog.
For a moment, Lily thought Valerie might fling herself over the railing, but the police raced around Lily and ran up the stairs. They had to manhandle Valerie to get her. She kicked and screamed and clawed at them the second they grabbed for her.
It took several tense moments for one officer to flatten her to the ground and another to put cuffs on her.
Then they hauled her to her feet and descended the stairs while Valerie continued to scream. Most of her words weren't distinguishable.
The two officers who arrived first led her out the door and into the back of their patrol car.
Officer Wright remained. "Would you all mind stepping outside so I can get a statement from Mr. Vandergriff, please?"
Dominic seemed reluctant, not moving from his spot in the foyer where he still held Lily.
Her chest pounded, but she wanted to get out of Luke's house. She never wanted to see his face again. She didn't even care if he had no knowledge of Valerie's bullshit. He was a total dick for not figuring it out and doing something to stop it.
Slowly, Dominic eased her out of the house. When they reached the lawn, he spun her around and pulled her front into his chest. He threaded his hands in her hair and met her gaze. "You okay?"
She nodded. "Pissed." She lifted her hand. "And my hand might hurt tomorrow."
He smiled. "I hope his face hurts worse."
"Do you think there's even the slightest chance he didn't know?"
"Nope. Either way, he's too stupid for words."
Lily set her forehead on his chest and stared at the ground. "Somebody please get those pictures off the Internet."
"On it," Stephan said.
All she could do was pray the damage wasn't too bad.
Chapter Fifteen
Two days later …
"Is this a conspiracy?" Lily asked Ava as she drove down the highway. "I don't need a chaperone, you know. I'm completely capable of driving myself to Jupiter without freaking out and punching anyone along the way."
Ava giggled. "Not a conspiracy. I thought you might like the company. Besides, Dominic promised to set me up with one of his teammates after the game."
Lily groaned. "Seriously?" She glanced at Ava and then back at the road. "That's a horrible idea."
"Why? You're dating a ball player. Why can't I?"
"Because … "
"Yes?"
"Because they aren't all like Dominic, Ava."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Baseball players have busy schedules. They're out of town a lot. They have a lot of money."
"Are you listening to yourself?" Ava asked. "You sound ridiculous. Like you're trying to be politically correct, but failing."
"What? I'm just saying they're busy, is all." She bit her lip. She really didn't want Ava to go out with a famous ball player. Ava was young. Lily didn't want to see her get hurt. She was impressionable. If a man smiled at her the right way, she would swoon, and then he would hurt her.
Lily considered clobbering Dominic. What was he thinking?
"Stop worrying. We're just going to the game. It'll be fun. And then later, you won't have to drive back alone. I don't want you to fall asleep at the wheel."