Page 46 of Forking the Billionaire

Wait. I wasn’t supposed to be spending time with him. And somehow throughout the day, I’d never gotten around to telling him that.

Finally, Jasper finished chewing and swallowed. His face went as green as I imagined mine had been a minute ago. After the food went down, he smiled full-force.

“Call if she vomits again,” Gabe instructed Jasper, in full authoritative dad mode. “Or if she isn’t feeling better once she’s home and in bed.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Scout’s honor,” Jasper said.

“You were never in the scouts,” Gabe said.

“It’s the sentiment that counts.” Jasper flashed one of his award-winning smiles. If I could pull off charm like that, Gabe wouldn’t assign me a babysitter. “Really, Gabe, you can trust me to look out for Esme.”

Better yet, he could trust me to take care of myself. I pressed my lips together, and reminded myself not to antagonize my brother. He would only be here for a few more days.

“I do trust you,” Gabe told Jasper, before turning his attention to me. “Don’t give him any trouble.”

“What do you expect me to do?” I crossed my arms, apparently done with holding things back. “Ditch him on the way there?”

The somehow both blank and warning stare Gabe cast my way was typical. Without him saying a single word, and I could feel waves of disapproval emanating off of him.

Since he clearly didn’t find my suggestion amusing, I said, “I promise to behave.”

Seemingly appeased, he did something very not-Gabe. He smiled. “I hope you feel better, Esme.”

“I do, too,” Layana called to me with a wave.

“Feel better,” Morgan said.

“Thanks.” I waved to everyone, then grabbed my skateboard and left.

Jasper slipped comfortably up next to me. The two of us traveled side-by-side in silence for a while, letting the balmy night envelop us. The wheels of my board bumped along the ground in their familiar rhythm. Salty air filled my lungs. I started feeling better.

It was strange having Jasper here. It was strange being around him again. Our forced proximity stirred up memories I wished I could forget. Like when the idea of marrying my best friend Jasper Carrington had burned bright in my tiny six-year-old brain for five entire days.

It started with an offhand comment from Jackie Lowell on the playground during recess on a cloudy Thursday afternoon. She’d pointed out that if a boy and girl spent all of their time together, their futures were inevitably entwined.

She’d sang a stupid song that lodged itself in my head, tainting everything else that would happen over the following five days. I hadn’t been able to shake the constant reminder that Jasper and I would spend the rest of our lives K-I-S-S-I-N-G.

Except that had only happened once.

And it would never, ever happen again.

I turned my chin up and stared at the bright stars that filled the sky. “I didn’t need your help, especially since helping me nearly choked you to death.”

“You caught that, huh?” He chuckled.

“I am perfectly capable of walking myself home,” I said. “I do it all the time. Every day, with no one to check up on me.”

“It’s still nice to have people who care,” Jasper said.

It was. I knew Gabe’s concern came from a good place. “I have people who care here on the island, too.”

“Like your musician not-boyfriend?”

“What’s everyone’s obsession with Ziggy?” I said, letting a tick of annoyance tint my tone. “Yes, he’s a friend. I’ve also gotten close with a fortune teller. And before you consider telling my brother about this new threat to my innocence or whatever, she’s a woman. I’d tell you how old she is, too, but then I’d have to kill you. She made me swear never to tell, and I’m not even sure the number she gave me is real.”

“Why would I tell Gabriel?”

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