Page 130 of Billion Dollar Mistake

“Hello Mom,” I say as soon as she answers.

“Hi, love. Are you on your lunch break?”

“Yeah, I called as soon as I could.”

She sent a message to call her when I got the chance. I needed to finish and email the documents to Bentley in order to keep my job.

“No rush. I just had a question.”

My brows pull together. “Yeahhh.” I draw out.

“Did you pay our mortgage?”

“No, I transferred you the money you need for the week. Did you get it?” I ask, with a sudden rush of panic. I’m about to hang up and check my banking app.

“Yes, we got the money, but when we tried to pay, we had issues. I called the bank who informed us that the mortgage had been paid in full.”

“No...” I grip the phone tighter. What’s going on?

“Yeah. I’m wondering if you had anything to do with it?”

It wasn’t me, but I suddenly knew who did.

“Maybe, let me call you back. I need to check something.”

I hang up and see a message from Summer.

Summer: Did you pay a year’s worth of rent today?

Nova: No, but I think I know who did.

Summer: I need a sugar daddy.

I grimace. I hate that she thinks of Jeremy like that because it hasn’t been like that. But I need to find out if he did pay off my parents’ mortgage and our rent.

I dial his number. His deep voice answers. “Hey, baby.”

His nickname for me makes my muscles weak but only momentarily. “Hi.”

“I’m still really sorry. The Boston Emergency has been a nightmare.”

I take this as another chance to be honest.

“You should’ve called.”

“I fucked up, didn’t I?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry. It will never happen again, I promise.”

The genuineness in his voice makes it hurt less, but I can’t give in. I need to wrap up this phone call.

“Did you pay my parents’ mortgage?”

He doesn’t miss a beat. “Yes.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. “And my rent for a year?”

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