Page 131 of Billion Dollar Mistake

“Yeah, that too.”

I’m stunned silent for a beat before I open my eyes and sit up. “Why?”

“Why not,” he argues.

“Jeremy.”

“Nova,” he mimics.

I sigh. “Why?”

“Because I can. It’s nothing to me. But it's everything to you.”

“I was doing it.”

“You were, baby, but you weren’t living your life. I want you to spend your money on you. You work hard.”

“I do.”

“Now you can spend the money on whatever you want. Investments, savings, a house, a new car.”

“It’s too much,” I breathe, squeezing my eyes shut.

“For you, it’s never enough. I want to give you the world.”

I stare out at the courtyard flowers. “I don’t need the world.”

“I need you.”

I hang my head as my eyes prick with fresh tears.

“I have to go,” I say and hang up.

Later that night, it’s five thirty and I’m curled up on the sofa in sweats under a throw blanket watching Million Dollar Baby.

Summer isn’t home from college yet and Chelsea is at work.

I’m alone feeling sad and sorry for myself.

A knock on my door sounds and I throw off my cozy cream blanket and walk to the door.

I suck in a sharp audible breath. It’s Jeremy. He’s here. I take in his appearance as if I haven’t seen him recently. My gaze starts at his brown styled hair and travels down over his navy suit that accentuates his broad shoulders and black dress shoes that complete the look.

The sight of him sends my stomach into a frenzied somersault, excitement bubbling within me at seeing him again.

In his hands, he holds a big bouquet of red roses. I run my hand over my sweater, making sure it’s clean and that it didn’t have any chocolate stains on it.

“Hi,” he says.

I frown and look over his shoulder. “What are you doing here?”

“I was thinking we could have dinner tonight. I could make it up to you,” he offers.

“So you can bail on me again?”

He winces. “I deserve that.”

I accept the red roses and turn, leaving the door ajar so he can close it behind him. “Was there a shortage?” I tease, throwing away the week-old red roses and arranging the fresh ones in the vase. I had meant to get new ones for both my mom and me, but I hadn’t been in the mood to do it.

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