Page 72 of Billion Dollar Dispute

She snorts, shoving me as I stand up. We lock eyes for a moment, and something sparks between us, but she quickly shakes her head and walks off. I’m holding her shoes.

“Does this mean I keep your shoes?”

“No, I need them.” She spins back and quickly snaps them from my grasp with a giggle. Grabbing her hip, I bring her close to me. She gasps, her eyes meeting mine.

My voice low, my eyes slowly moving up and down her body, taking in every detail with a quiet appreciation. “You look incredible tonight.”

I watch her throat work on a rough swallow. “You’re not having sex with me, Harvey.”

“I never said I was.”

“Then what are you doing?”

“Telling you how beautiful you are. That’s what Prince Charming does at a ball.”

A whoosh of air leaves her mouth as she pushes back and walks away, carrying her shoes. “This story has Cinderella walking away holding her own shoes.”

Chapter 19

Jemima

I pick up Chadfrom Molly’s after letting him sleep in. The sun is warm as we drive home. Once we get inside the apartment, I tackle the housework with new energy. Then we head to the local shops, indulging in some freshly baked bread to celebrate last night's success.

Back home, Chad and I decide to build a fort. We drape blankets over chairs and inside we spread out his Legos to build an entire village. We laugh and talk as we play. This is my favorite time of the week, simply being with Chad and playing with him. The joy on his face as he builds is infectious. I realize how much I’ve missed moments like this, just being here with him, without the weight of work or worries clouding our time together. For so long, I’ve been caught up in making ends meet, but now, I can finally relax and just be a mom.

After lunch, Chad suggests we go play some basketball, but I have an idea.

“Where are we going?” he asks from the back seat of the car, his eyes wide with curiosity.

“You’ll see soon,” I reply, a smile playing on my lips.

His favorite music fills the car, and the upbeat tunes have him dancing in his seat. But barely five minutes later, he asks, “How much longer?”

“We’re almost there,” I reassure him, my excitement mirroring his.

I pull up outside a pristine basketball court in one of my dream suburbs, where the surrounding apartments are sleek and modern.

“This is so cool, bro,” Chad exclaims, running toward the court.

“I’m your mom, not your bro,” I remind him with a laugh.

He races across the court, and I decide to join him in a game instead of sitting on the bench. The sun shines brightly down on us, and as we play, I realize it’s not as easy as it looks. Sweat beads on my forehead, and I’m grateful for the shorts I have underneath my sweatpants. Since my weight loss, I usually don't show off my legs because I'm self-conscious of how thin they are. Stress and minimal food have taken a toll on my body, my curves disappearing.

I grab a big drink of water, glancing over at Chad to check on him. Next to him, I recognize the glistening chest, squared jaw, and piercing blue eyes.

Harvey.

He throws me one of those wicked smiles that makes my knees weak. His eyes drop over me, lingering just long enough to make my skin tingle. I stiffen, wishing I’d thought to throw on my sweatpants. His eyes trail back up, meeting mine again, and instead of the repulsiveness I feared, there’s intense heat.

I make my way hastily to Chad, standing behind him, using him as a shield.

“Mom, look! It’s Harvey.”

“I see,” I murmur, my stomach twisting in ways I can’t quite decipher.

Harvey smirks as his eyes dance. “It’s me.”

I roll my eyes, but I can’t stop the corner of my mouth from twitching. He sees it and laughs.

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