Page 86 of Billion Dollar Revenge

“You like him.” Nova smirks into her tea.

“She’s smitten, you mean,” Summer adds.

“All of the above,” I reply with a grin. These are my best friends. I tell them everything; we’ve been through thick and thin together since school.

Both girls stay quiet as they eagerly wait for me to discuss what happened with Evan.

They’ve been through everything with Bobby, so it's nice to have something positive to say.

“At first, you know how he suggested we date to piss off Bobby…Well, then we forgot about it, and just started hanging out and realized we both liked each other.”

“I’m glad he’s treating you good,” Nova says.

“God, he’s everything I've ever wanted. Plus, he's an old-fashioned gentleman,” I gush in a ramble.

“Why is old-fashioned good?” Summer asks, her face pinched.

Nova wears a knowing smile?she is dating his brother, so she knows exactly what I mean.

“He opens doors, makes sure I’ve eaten, and that I’m warm. He makes me feel cared for.”

“Yeah, men these days suck. They don’t open doors. They don’t even pay the full bill. They lie,” Summer replies with a sigh.

“That’s why he’s so different,” I say.

The girls look at me with the same awestruck expression I wear. They’re happy for me.

My phone chimes, interrupting our conversation.

The girls drink their tea, and Nova tells Summer how the boys must have learned a lot from their parents and Gram.

I check my phone and see it’s a text.

“Is that him?” Summer asks.

“Yeah,” I reply, laying my phone back down without opening the message.

“Read it,” Nova says.

You don't need to tell me twice. I’m dying to know what he’s written.

I pick it up and swipe my finger across the screen to read it.

Evan:My house feels cold without you.

My teeth dig into my bottom lip as my stomach flutters.

Me:I miss you too.

After hitting send, I put my phone away. But my mind is still high from the idea that he misses me. It’s only been an hour, and I'm already getting a text.

“You deserve this,” Nova says.

“About time,” Summer adds. “Now, tell us more.”

I clear my throat before replying.

“It just kind of happened. Like, we've been avoiding it.”

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