Page 3 of Baby for My Enemy Billionaire

Carmen was Nate’s friend first. She’s more likely to uninvite me than Nate, which means I miss out on a favorite pastime of mine. I can either go and risk the chance of running into Nate, or I can go home and sulk while everyone else in our friend group has a good time.

Neither option sound particularly enticing now that Maddison’s reminded me about it.

“Don’t look so glum, Jade.” Maddison reaches over and squeezes my arm. “It’s going to be fine. I’ll talk to Carmen and make sure that she understands. She won’t want a cheater at her party, even if she’s friends with them.”

“I don’t know about that…”

“Look, we all know that Carmen hates cheaters. She’ll be more furious than you are at Nate. I don’t think we have to worry about that.”

My phone buzzes again, and this time I turn it over. It’s from Nate, as are the five missed calls and sixteen text messages. I didn’t realize he had tried to contact me this much.

Maddison sighs and takes my phone from me.

“Hey!”

“Let’s put that away now,” Maddison says, opening her bag and popping my phone inside before shutting it with a snap. “We’re here to have some fun and remember that Nate is not the one and only man in your life. We’ll enjoy ourselves, eat good food, and laugh until we wet ourselves. Then we’ll have a girl’s night in, either at your place or mine, depending on the situation. Nate is out. Remember that.”

“Nate is out,” I murmur.

“You did the right thing getting rid of him.”

I know that, but I’m still feeling gloomy about things. I didn’t expect this to happen, and now I feel like I’m floundering. Nate had been a constant in my life for three years, and now he’s gone. I can’t trust him again, no matter what he says.

I just want him to leave. And he just couldn’t let go.

Picking up my glass, I raise it in a toast.

“You’re right. We’re going to enjoy ourselves. I am not going to cry over that bastard any longer.”

Maddison grins.

“That’s it, Jade. We’re going to show him that he’s a thing of the past.” She clinks her glass with mine. “Cheers. Now, what are we going to order? I’m starving.”

***

Finn

“When are we leaving, Dad?” Katie asks.

I can’t help but laugh as my teenage daughter bounces up and down in the doorway, looking like a little girl going to Disney for the first time.

“Have you got everything packed? I’m not taking you anywhere if you haven’t got everything you need.”

“Of course!” Katie folds her arms. “I’m not a kid anymore, Dad. I know how to pack a suitcase!”

“And you still forget things. Is that a kid thing or a teenage thing?”

“I’ve double-checked my stuff. It’s all there.”

I’m going to have to believe her. It will take too long to review her list and check her luggage. We’ll have to find out when we get to the resort, and by then, it’ll be too late, and I’ll have to buy her new stuff. While I can afford it, I don’t want Katie to think I can get everything at the drop of a hat. She needs to be responsible with her things. To her credit, she usually is.

She just can’t pack properly right now.

“So?” Katie prompts again. “When are we leaving?”

“In about ten minutes,” I say and gesture at my computer. “I’m just going to check my emails and make sure everything’s set, and then I’ll pack the car.”

“Dad, you know what you’re like when you check emails. Don’t take forever, or it’ll be too dark before we leave.”

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