Page 37 of The Billionaire and I

“I’ll do what I can—but I’m sorry that James’s mom is evil.” I squeezed my friend’s arm.

“Thanks, Jenny.” She smiled at me. “I appreciate it. But there’s nothing I can do—honestly, I don’t want to think about it anymore. So please tell me how things are going with Cole.”

“It’s been pretty busy. I mean, we’ve beengettingpretty busy.” I laughed, my honking sound carrying down the hall. I needed to cheer poor Dre up, so I should dish. “We even did it in the dressing room at a snotty French boutique!”

Her jaw dropped. “Tell me everything.”

We headed into the private bathroom, setting ourselves up by the well-lit vanity. Il Pastorne’s bathroom antechamber was nice enough to move into and pay rent. I pulled my makeup bag out of my purse.

“Cole’s frickin’ crazy!” I applied more blush and lip gloss, then fluffed my hair. “I swear to God, I’ve never been with someone who wants to have this much sex. He can’t keep his hands off me.”

“Even in the dressing room at a fancy store?” Audrey asked.

“Yeah. He totally thinks he’s above the law, right? It’s a billionaire thing—he thinks the rules don’t apply to him.

“He just followed me when I was trying this dress on. We weren’t in there for two seconds, and he pinned me up against the wall. With the sales-clerk right outside! He had to lift me up so she couldn’t see our feet together. And he fucked me like crazy. I had to slap my hand over his mouth though ’cause he’s a yeller when he comes. Real loud, Dre. Real loud. And he likes me to do this thing with his balls?—”

“Jenny—I didn’t mean it! Don’t actually tell meeverything.” Audrey clapped her hands over her ears. “I don’t need to know the thing about his balls!”

I fanned myself. “Fine. But I’m gettin’ hot just thinking about it. I should be exhausted, but I’m not. Jesus. He’s worse than Loopsy and Fat Vinnie put together.”

My friend blinked at me. “Do youlikehim?”

“Are you kidding me? This is the best time I’ve had with a Johnever.It’s like we’re the same person. Except he’s rich, and he’s a guy. And that thing with his balls.”

“Huh,” she said.

“Huh is right.” I turned and inspected my friend’s face. Enough aboutme. Audrey and James had been all over each other again tonight. They seemed like a real couple. I’d seen the way James was looking at my friend. She might be his hired date, but he had real feelings for her. I could tell.

“Mr. Sex in a Suit is a little romance-y tonight, Dre. He’s got it real bad. I almost feel sorry for him,” I said. “Did you bat him around like a cat toy last night?”

“I might have… a little.” Audrey pursed her lips.

I nodded at her. “It worked. You better watch it. I know that look he’s got.”

“Jenny, stop.”

She paused and then said, “What look is that, exactly?”

I rolled my eyes. “I think he might be in love with you. I’m just sayin’.” I shrugged. “He doesn’t look like he’s pretending anymore.”

“That only happens in the movies.”

“Then I’ll come over and film you,” I snapped. “Jesus, Dre. You gotta loosen up a little. Sometimes good things happen to good people.”

“Huh,” she said again.

“Huh is right. Let’s go. We don’t want your Mr. Suit to cry because he misses you… and Coley’s hand hasn’t been on my ass in more than five minutes. My butt’s gettin’ cold.”

I nodded at her as we left. “And James’s mother is the devil, but that doesn’t mean things can’t work out with you guys. You just might wanna skip the holidays!”

“Fair enough, Jenny.” Audrey laughed and shook her head. “Fair enough.”

The rehearsal dinner wasfun.We drank a ton of wine. We ate delicious food, including tiramisu, and nobody tried to feed me a seared octopus. Cole and I hung out with Audrey and James, talking, laughing, and acting as if we were on the best double date ever. Which we were. Except that Dre and I were escorts, and all of this was just for show.

But at some point, my show had crossed the line into reality TV. When I laughed at Cole’s jokes, I wasn’t faking. They were funny. When I kissed him and snuggled against him, it felt good. It felt goodin my heart, where I had no business feeling anything. I watched Audrey, knowing that she felt the same way about James. She had real feelings for him. I was screwed; Iknew that. But I still held out hope for my good-girl friend. I prayed she would get a happily ever after out of this.

I knew better than to hope that for myself.

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