Page 42 of Forking the Billionaire

“Drag you? You begged me to come along.”

“Doesn’t matter what I did. This is aboutyou,right?” She glared so hard I imagined she was trying to set my hair on fire with her eyes. “You brought your fuck buddy across an ocean as a date for a wedding. We’ve barely been here a day and a half, and you think you can just dispose of me?”

Disposewas such a harsh word, as if I’d used her, as if I thought she was garbage. That wasn’t at all my intention. I took a breath. She needed to know that wasn’t how I felt. “I’ll pay for everything. I apologize for?—”

“No.” She crossed her arms over her chest and jutted out her chin.

One word, a full sentence. I leaned back and rested my hands on the mattress, determined to keep my body language open, determined not to yell like my father would.

Finally, I said, “No?”

“Why should I have to leave just because you changed your mind? This is my vacation, too. I’m not leaving.” Jules set her jaw and squared her shoulders. Everything about her body language said she was unwilling to yield. There would be no compromise, only a fight.

I stared at her and let her words sink in. I could physically carry her out of our room, buy her the plane ticket to get her home, but I couldn’t force her to get on that plane. Worse, she was right. I was the asshole here.

“You should have thought about your feelings before inviting me,” she said, her tone a sledgehammer dipped in acid. “Suck it up and deal with the consequences.”

I was trying to do that. She wasn’t making it easy.

“Also, if you aren’t going to fuck me, I’m not going to any more of your social gatherings. No meals, no obligatory events, no sightseeing on the cliffs.”

I held back my sigh of relief. The last thing I needed to do was provoke her further.

“Perfect. I’ll find you another room.” I strode straight out the door. I couldn’t get out of here fast enough.

“Findyourselfa different room,” she called after me. “I like this one.”

I scrubbed a hand over my face, a mix of relief and frustration warring through my head. Out of all of my offenses, Jules seemed most pissed that I’d suggested she go home.

Everything would be all right. All I had to do was book another room, and my mistake would correct itself. It would be like I’d never brought her here. We’d each enjoy our ownvacation, completely separate from each other. Everyone would be happy.

I made my way down to the desk, where I was greeted by the same man who had welcomed us to the island yesterday morning. He had a gentle smile and an air of relaxed authority. It took me a moment to remember his name—Stan.

“Good day, Mr. Carrington,” Stan said, clearly remembering my name. “What can I do for you today?”

“Hi. I’d like to book a new room.”

“Have you found something about your quarters unsatisfactory?”

“No, nothing like that. I’d like a second room. One for me, one for my…companion.”

“I understand, and wish I could accommodate your request, but we’re completely booked.”

Claws of worry climbed up my spine. I’d done the difficult thing by telling Jules the truth. Now what? I couldn’t go back and sleep in the same bed as her. I wouldn’t.

I took a moment, and a measured breath.

“There has to be something, right? It doesn’t have to be fancy. I’m happy with the basics.”A closet. A shed.“Really, anything.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Carrington, I wish I could help. I’d be happy to make some calls to the bed and breakfasts around the island, but this morning’s check-in wasn’t promising.”

My lungs compressed, weight crushing in on me from both sides.

I said, “Everything on the entire island is booked?”

“As of eight this morning. Dry season is our most popular for tourism. I apologize for the inconvenience, and would be happy to place those calls.”

No one wanted to get caught in a hurricane, so of course everyone planned their trips in the same half of the year. All of this made sense, but it didn’t help me.

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