Page 4 of Forking the Billionaire

“And I always believe something must be wrong when you call,” Gabe said.

Just like I was feeling right now. “Uh-huh. It’s our thing. You lather yourself in routine. I burst holes in that monotony to keep you on your toes. If you change that delicate balance, who knows, the world could implode.”

“I have news.”

Of course he didn’t respond to my joke. But this news…was it bad news? It had to be bad news or he wouldn’t call me on a weekday during business hours. He was supposed to be in his lab, waist-deep in algae sludge, creating some brilliant scientific breakthrough that would, after a startling lab accident that was definitely someone else’s fault because Gabriel Stryker was infallible, transform him into his ultimate form—flying superhero Captain Planet.

Something had to be wrong with Oma or Uncle Wallace, or the fate of humanity. That was the only explanation for this phone call.

I held my breath, clenched my butt cheeks, and braced for the impending misfortune.

“Layana and I have decided to wed,” Gabe said.

That was not the world-shattering bad news I’d expected. That was good?—

“In Calypso Caribella,” he said. “On March tenth. We’ll arrive on Friday the fourth.”

The fourth was onlyeight days away.

“That’s….” My brain couldn’t process. I heard the words. I understood them. But they didn’t make any sense.

Calypso Caribella was supposed to be my sanctuary, offering me safe asylum from the life I’d desperately fled. My old life wasn’t supposed to follow me here.

Since I hadn’t offered an appropriate response after a long pause, Gabe continued, “It is important to me that you are involved in the wedding, so we’ve chosen to bring the celebration to you. I’d like you to be by my side.”

These were nice words, with nice sentiments behind them. But the part that repeated in my head didn’t feel nice—Gabe was coming here, in eight freaking days.

Say something. Be supportive.

“You have to ask her to be a groomsbabe.” Layana’s loud whisper carried through the line. “It’s not implied. Make sure to ask her outright.”

My chest felt numb, like my heart had stopped beating and my lungs had stopped breathing. My mouth wouldn’t move. Words wouldn’t come out.

“Did her eye just twitch?” Sage whispered to Ziggy. “I think her eye just twitched.”

Ziggy nodded slowly. The pair of them had apparently given up on pretending they weren’t listening to my conversation. Instead, they both openly stared at me with looks of intense interest and mild concern.

“I’d like you to be a grooms…woman,” Gabe said. “If you’re willing.”

“Of course.” Finally, I’d managed to speak. “Yes. That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you.”

Layana seemed awesome during the short conversations I’d had with her. Her reality show and blog had offered way more insights into her life. My conclusion—she was perfect for him, just the right amount of trouble to push Gabe out of his boring routine of grumpiness and control.

The joy I was supposed to be feeling would come. I’d start feeling it any moment now. Right?

TWO

JASPER

Nothing thrilled me more than tearing out a section of twenty-year-old soiled carpet and finding original hardwood floors hidden beneath. Except maybe dawn on the Atlantic, when low tide was on the rise, creating the perfect sandbar breaks. I’d sit on my board and watch the perfect six-foot barrel form, its surface smooth and filled with promise.

A no-strings-attached fuck session wasn’t bad, either.

The sales rep from Knot Your Average Rug—Jules—lay her head and chest on the kitchen counter. She remained naked from the waist down, sated and content.

I tossed the condom and zipped my pants.

“We should do this again soon,” she panted against the granite.

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