Page 28 of The Billionaire's Engagement

I sighed.

“I’m sorry that idiot broke your heart, but maybe it wasn’t meant to be. He’s the one insecure about your relationship and couldn’t even man-up and tell your dad about his feelings for you,” Danielle said. She was the type of person to tell me how it is and won’t beat around the bush. That’s what I loved about her.

“I don’t know, Elle,” I said, still unsure what I should do.

“I’m not telling you to go out there and hook up with a random guy if you’re not ready…unless that’s what you want. Let’s just go out and have fun,” she pleaded.

Maybe she’s right.Maybe going out will help make things easier for me to move on.

I looked at Danielle and her eyes were pleading. I hated when she begged.

“Fine. I’m going to shower and get ready,” I told her.

My best friend’s lips curved to a wide grin. “Yes!” she squealed.

I shook my head, chuckling, then got up and went straight to the bathroom to shower while Danielle got ready in my bedroom. The hot water felt good running down my body, relaxing me.

I dried and curled my long hair in loose waves, then put on my make-up, glamming myself up with a smoky eye look and nude-colored, glossy lips. I entered my bedroom and Danielle was dressed in a deep purple sleeveless dress that hugged her body and the hem hit mid-thigh.

“Wow, look at you, sexy!” I cat-called.

“Look who’s talking, girl. Wear this dress.” She chuckled, tossing me my little black dress.

I changed into the strapless dress that clung to my curves like second-skin and put on patent leather high heels.

Danielle whistled. “You look amazing, Mila!”

“Thanks, Elle. Let’s go before I change my mind,” I said, grabbing my purse.

“We’ll have fun tonight. I promise,” Danielle said, threading her arm in mine.

We headed to the front door and left for Wicked Bar and Lounge, a popular bar in San Francisco. I thought about Hudson on the way to the lounge, feeling depressed again. I pushed those thoughts down, not wanting to ruin my night. Danielle was right.You need to move on.It was right then and there that I made up my mind to get over Hudson.

“I’m ready to have fun,” I said, smiling.

18

HUDSON

If I thought not seeing Mila for three days after coming back from Hawaii was torture, this misery was ten-fold. Ever since I broke up with her and never looked back, I regretted the decision every damn day. I missed her so much. It feels like all the light in my life was gone.

What the fuck was I thinking to not stand up for Mila—for us and our relationship—when I should have? I’m so angry at myself for letting this happen. I hated that I made Nelson upset, but feel even worse to break Mila’s heart. Mila makes me happy, and that should have been enough to not be a fucking idiot. Now that she’s no longer in my life, I don’t know what to do. I hadn’t tried to contact her. Every time I was about to hit send to a text message, I deleted it and when I pulled her number up to call her, I just canceled it, changing my mind. Who knows if she’d even take my call.

My phone rang, pulling me out of my thoughts. For a split second, I got excited, hoping it was Mila. I glanced at the phone screen, then my lips pulled into a frown. The caller ID read:Nelson. I haven’t spoken to him since the day he caught Mila and I together—in our state of undress, nonetheless.

“Hey man, what’s up?” I answered, trying to mask the bitterness in my voice, hoping I didn’t sound fake to him.

“Hey, Hudson, nothing much. Umm…so I wanted to talk to you about what happened last week,” Nelson started.

“Okay,” I responded, not sure where our conversation was headed.

“What you did—with my daughter, no less—was wrong.” His voice was low. “I can’t believe you’re sleeping with Mila,” he said, anger laced in his tone.

“I’m sorry?—”

“I’m not done,” he interrupted, voice stern.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Okay.”

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