Page 110 of Forking the Billionaire

“Yes.”

“Fine. I don’t care for it. Can we do the quiet thing now?”

“Why? It’s just getting interesting. Back in the hotel room, which part about my offer for you to join in our fornication made you uncomfortable?”

The driver’s wide gaze caught mine in the mirror.

“All of it.”

“Because you didn’t want to share Jules?”

“I don’t care what you do with Jules.”

“That’s not true. You definitely cared.”

“Not about her. You were in my bed, with the saddle, and the cheese, and…” I shivered, agitation rising through my veins. “It was a lot to digest.”

“Cheese can be like that. You have to choose the right varieties.”

“Kill me now.”

Chester barked a laugh. “Since you locked her belongings out of your room, Jules has been staying with me. Is that entanglement going to be a problem on the flight home tomorrow?”

“No problem.”

“You seem like the smile until you explode type, and I’m not interested in getting punched because you let your jealousy build to a boil.”

“I’m not jealous. You want Jules, you’re welcome to her.”

He stared at me, like he was trying to decipher if I was telling the truth.

“I don’t even know if I’ll be on that plane,” I said.

As soon as the words left my mouth, I recognized what I was thinking. I might not go back to Epiphany, not if Esme wanted me here. I’d give up my life there for her if she asked.

Because I loved her.

I’d loved her for a long time, first as a friend. But the past week had taught me a lot about our history, about how everything had happened through her eyes, and about the woman she’d become. And with every revelation, my love had grown.

I didn’t just love her anymore. I was in love with her.

And I wanted to be the man and partner she deserved.

Chester tapped his chin as if he’d been privy to my private thoughts. “Interesting.”

I wanted to flip him off. Instead, I smiled.

We pulled up to the restaurant, thank goodness. And I decided then that I would not say another word to Chester on the ride from the restaurant to the beach. Preferably, I’d never speak to him again.

TWENTY-EIGHT

ESME

“She’s always been like that.” Lindsey laughed and threw back the rest of her glass of wine in one gulp.

The bonfire lit the joyous faces gathered in the sand. Alcohol was consumed. Stories were told. I stuck to sparkling water and let the reminiscing soak in and warm my heart as much as the fire warmed my skin.

Lindsey continued, “Layana used to dress up in her ballet leotard and strut around the living room during the televised pageants.”

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