Page 38 of My Billionaire Neighbor's Secret

I was quiet during the ride home. It felt weird to be sitting so close to him again in such a confined space. But then, he began to play relaxing music that calmed my nerves. He started talking about his new neighbors in the apartment he was staying at, eventually making me laugh. I’d forgotten how good he was at making me laugh. He had a way with people.

I noticed the dangling key chain attached to his car keys. It was a Disneyland design that had our names on it.Drake and Leigh.

“I’m sorry you had to see that,” Drake suddenly blurted out when he saw me looking at it.

“Oh, no, it’s fine,” I said quickly, then looked out the window. My heart was constricting from the memory. That had been our first anniversary as a couple. We’d gone to Disneyland, acted like little kids, and had great fun. We had been so in love then. He’d kissed me during the fireworks and then we parked the car in a very dark spot when almost everyone else had gone. We made out in the car and almost got caught by security.

“That was a fun time, huh?” he said.

“Yes, it was,” I answered in a soft voice.

“My favorite memory was going on that crazy roller-coaster ride where you can’t see anything and we’re just surrounded by stars and planets. You were screaming in my ear the entire time….” he shared, laughing.

I couldn’t help but laugh too, when I remembered it. “Sorry about that…” I said sheepishly.

“And the fireworks… they were so spectacular…” he added.

I didn’t want to recall that because we’d gotten so mushy and sentimental then. He did not mention about making out in the parking lot after, but I knew that he was recalling it at that very moment. I stayed quiet.

When we finally arrived at my house, I turned to him and said thank you.

He reached out and squeezed my hand gently. I did not pull back this time. “Thank you, Leigh…” he said. “This means a lot to me. I really hope you can forgive me eventually. We had so many wonderful memories, and every day they just keep flashing in my head… I’m so sorry that one major incident, one major mistake, erased it all. I was a coward, and I’ll forever regret it.”

My chest felt heavy. What he did to me was unforgivable. But I guess it’s important for me to forgive and forget so I can move on completely.

“It will never be okay,” I told him truthfully. “But perhaps someday I’ll find it in my heart to forgive you. That way, I can bury it in the past.”

He looked hurt and disappointed instead of relieved. Maybe it’s because I said I wanted to just bury it in the past and move on without him.

“Thank you,” was all he said. Then he got out of the car and opened the door for me.

As we walked toward the front of the house, he glanced at Carter’s house in surprise. “So you and Carter are really next-door neighbors?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said, not wanting to even glance there. Here I was, spending time with my ex-fiancé, who was Carter’s childhood best friend--- the Carter I just had sex with a few hours earlier.How fucked up is that!

“I went here one time already,” Drake said. “Have you been to his house?”

“No.” I could sense that he still had his doubts about what was really going on between Carter and me. He was fishing for information.

“Has he been to your house?” he then asked.

I thought of that day when he’d brought me up to my bedroom while I was dripping wet from the pool. I remembered how I had kissed him while I was drunk.

“No,” I lied. I just hoped that Carter wouldn’t tell him.

Drake looked relieved. He smiled. “If you trust me with your car, I’ll deal with the problem and have it back here later when you wake up in the morning. I’ll even pay for the new battery.”

“No, you don’t have to do that…”

“Please, Leigh,” he begged. “I want to.”

I knew it would definitely be less hassle for me, so I gave in. “Alright,” I said, handing him the car keys. “But I’m paying for the battery.” I took out my wallet and gave him some cash. “No buts.”

He grinned, holding on to my fingers for a while when I handed him the cash. “Sleep tight and sweet dreams.”

I froze. It was what he used to say to me when we were together. But I didn’t want to show him that, so I just said a quick good night and went into the house.

Chapter 16

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