Page 44 of Billion Dollar Mistake

“Yes. But head to the changing rooms and freshen up. I’ll wait here. Take your time.”

I walk into the bathroom, ready to take a nice shower. After I soak my muscles in the hot water, I step out to get changed, but to my surprise, there’s a massage therapist waiting for me, a setup arranged by Jeremy.

After the massage, I enjoy the snacks and refreshments that are laid out. Then slip back into my blue jeans, brown boots, cream knit sweater, and walk back out to find Jeremy.

I take the chair beside him, and he immediately kisses my temple. “You good?” he asks, his voice low and soothing.

“More than good.”

He nods in acknowledgment, and we settle in waiting for the weigh-in to start. The arena gradually fills with people, their movement and loud conversations create a buzz of excitement.

I steal a glance at Jeremy, noticing how his usually hard face is softer tonight. He tilts his chin down, catching me checking him out. A smirk plays on his lips, and with deliberate movement, he shifts his hand to my shoulder, pulling me closer to him.

I wonder what else tonight will bring, but disappointment floods me when he has to leave to deal with a major power outage at work.

“Is it just me, or has today just dragged on?” Dalton sighs loudly from his desk.

“Just today or do you mean this entire week?” Poppy adds.

“Tell me about it. I’ve aged about ten years since Monday,” Dalton says.

“You and me both,” Poppy says.

“So, any exciting plans this weekend?” I ask, peering over at their desks.

Poppy is slumped over hers, looking between Dalton and me. She’s warmed to me now. Less rigid. She still scares me though. “Nope. The usual. Sleeping in. Binge-watching Netflix and tackling my laundry. You?”

I wait for Dalton to answer. He’s squirming in his chair with a smirk. “I’ve got a date lined up.”

“A hot date, huh? Who’s the lucky person?” I smile.

“Well, you know how I went to Chicago, Poppy?”

Poppy raises her brows. “Mmhmm.”

“I met a cute guy named Blake in line for coffee. We got talking and hit it off but he had to go before we could finish our conversation.”

“Did he move here?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Nope.”

“You met him on a dating app.”

“Wrong again.” He smirks.

“Tell us,” I say.

He grins. “He dm’d me on Insta. Said he saw me in a pic that came up on one of his friends' stories.”

“Smooth,” Poppy says.

“We’ve been chatting back and forth for a while now,” he continues. His chair swivels side to side, and his gaze flicks between Poppy and mine.

“So he’s in town and you're going out. Where?” I ask.

“We both love sushi. There’s a nice but casual place just off 7th Avenue near the library.”

“I know the place. Best smoked salmon I’ve ever had,” Poppy adds.

---