Page 120 of Billion Dollar Mistake

I turn my face to the table, my parents’ eyes are on us standing in the entryway. I lift my hand toward them and in a flat voice I say, “Come.”

I walk him through the house which isn’t as big as his and we arrive at the table.

“I’m so sorry I’m late, Mr. and Mrs. Lee.” He hands my mom her bouquet. And she stares at him confused.

“Are these for me?” she asks.

“Yes, Mrs. Lee,” Jeremy says.

Jeremy moves to my dad, who stands when Jeremy arrives with his hand extended to shake my dad’s.

“Mr. Lee, I’m sorry I’m so late,” Jeremy says, offering to shake his hand.

My dad lifts his chin. “Making a good impression doesn’t mean much these days, does it?”

They stand eye to eye. My dad’s hard expression makes Jeremy clear his throat and turn to me.

“Again, I’m so sorry. These are for you.” The sincerity in his voice and his dull eyes make me step forward and take the bouquet of roses.

My dad will love that he’s given us flowers, apologized, shook his hand, works hard, and wears a suit. They are all a tick of approval in his eyes.

“So you got stuck at work?” my dad asks.

“Yeah. I have a few problems with a hospital in Boston. It needed my urgent attention.”

“Take a seat and we can talk while we eat.”

“Do you want something to drink?” Mom asks Jeremy.

“Water?” he says.

“Sparkling or still?” she asks.

When did my mom buy sparkling water?

When I decided to invite a man over…

Chapter 28

Jeremy

“Still, thanks,” I reply.

My eyes drift to Nova and I can’t help but want to slip my hand over hers and interlace them together. I hate that I’ve upset her.

I have this desperate need to touch her to alleviate the tension in the air. But I need to respect her and her parents. I’ve already left a bad first impression. I’m feeling unsettled and I can only imagine this is how she felt with my family.

After they met Nova, my family proceeded to bombard me with texts and calls to remind me not to fuck this up, to tell me how beautiful and intelligent she is and how happy they are for me. I had to laugh a few times. Do they think I’m unaware of how special she is? I barely looked at a woman before, but with her, she consumes me. Every day. All day.

“Are you able to return back to your job after treatment?” I ask her dad.

Her mom brings a glass of water and I look up and mouth, thanks.

She takes her seat, and we eat.

The chicken is incredible.

“I’m on unpaid leave, but I’m due back soon.”

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