Page 50 of Laying Low With the Billionaire

He’s still smiling as he turns and walks away.

Literally, what just happened? Is my dad proud of me? What the hell?

Anna would laugh at me for being surprised.Of course he is, dipshit, she’d say.You’re doing great.

Maybe she wouldn’t really say that exactly, but I can hear it in her voice anyway. I keep imagining what she’d say every time I have to make a decision or act like an adult or I need someone to be nice or mean to me. In my head, there’s an Anna for every situation, and it turns out that not too many of them are even about sex.

I miss the sex too, obviously, but more than anything, I just miss her. I miss the way she treats me. I miss making her laugh.

The fact is, I would not be the Joel I am right now or the Joel I think I’m trying to be without her. Even if I never see her again, I still need her. I need to hear her voice.

Sighing, I push my way through the revolving door, swimming with emotions about Anna and my dad and the long day. I think I’m happy, mostly. Work is going well, and so is Dad. I’m trying not to think about Anna too much.

I’m not succeeding.

Yet another advantage of being the boss is that I have my own personal parking space right outside the doors to the building. It’s awesome for when it’s raining — I barely get wet at all. I keep asking to have my name put on it but apparently that’s not allowed because CEOs change or something. Which I think is stupid. I’m never going to quit my job, especially not now I’m actually doing it and feeling good about it.

I press the button on my keys and my car unlocks with a beep. I’m just about to open the door and swing inside when someone yells my name from across the lot. Startled, I freeze, hand on the handle.

Breathlessly, Ben runs up to me and pants, “Joel, wait. Please. I have to say something to you.”

The temptation to just get in my car and drive away is huge, but I’m not really that petty and Ben is my best friend. I want to know what he’s got to say. Especially because after our fight, I was pretty sure he was going to avoid me for the rest of time. The guy’s got principles, which is what makes him so good and so damn annoying when he makes his mind up on something.

“Whoa, dude, take five. Aren’t you working from home today?”

“Yes, which I why I drove here to try and catch you at the end of the day. And I thought,there’s no way Joel stays later than five p.m. Even if he has magically transformed into a useful member of society, there’s no way in hell he works overtime.”

I’m pretty sure there’s a subtextunlike certain peopleguilt trap in there, but I choose to ignore it. New Joel rises above. And new Joel wants his friend back. “Okay, so… what’s up?”

“I need your help,” Ben says simply. He’s not imposing now. He’s just a guy who’s come to chat with me and clearly really wants something because he’s flicking his fingers in that way he always does when he’s nervous.

“Anything for you, dude, you know that. What do you need?”

He smiles and takes a step towards me. “I need you to come home with me.”

I can feel a little loading circle go round in my brain. I feel like I’ve missed a step in this conversation. He’s here smiling at me and being all friendly, but the way I remember it, we’ve just had a huge fight. Is he taking me home to murder me? Like in books, when the wife finally snaps and is really nice to her awful husband before beating him to death with a rolling pin.

Maybe I’m getting a little carried away.

“Why?” I ask, folding my arms suspiciously.

“Because I have a miserable young woman moping around my living room trying to piece her life back together, and she needs cheering up.”

“Anna doesn’t need me,” I say without thinking, then wince because if I’ve blown the one chance I had at seeing her again, I’m going to kick myself and get blind drunk. In that order.

Ben’s smile just widens. “No, you’re right. She really doesn’t. But she wants you. And maybe you being there won’t fix anything, but I don’t think it can make her more miserable than she already is.”

I take a moment to process that one. “You do remember,” I say carefully, “That last time we spoke, you kicked me out of your house? Because I was dating your sister?”

“Dating!” scoffs Ben. “I had no idea you were that serious about her.”

“That’s because you wouldn’t let me get a word in edgewise,” I say pointedly.

He nods, closing his eyes like he’s in church repenting. “I know. And I’m sorry. You’re my best friend, Joel. But you’re a fucking moron and I don’t want you to hurt Anna. Okay?”

I let myself relax, finally, dropping my arms back to my side as I realize Ben is deadly serious about this. He’s actually going to let us be a thing.

“I understand,” I say with as much sincerity as I can muster. “I promise, I would never hurt her. Ever. On purpose. And she’ll probably smack me really hard if I do on accident.”

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