Page 51 of The Billionaire and I

“I’d do the same thing if I had someone to go home with,” James said gloomily. “You’ll be there tomorrow, though, right?”

“Of course. I’m not going to abandon you with your family on vacation. Plus, Jenny’s excited. She’s never been to the Caribbean before.”

“Neither has Audrey.” He sounded like he might cry.

I regarded my friend. “You might want to lay off the bourbon,” I counseled.

“Fuck you, Bryson,” he said as he ambled back toward the bar.

At least he was acting alittlelike himself. It made me feel slightly less guilty as I abandoned him and searched the party for Jenny. She’d returned from the ladies’ and was drinking with the bridesmaids, who were all interchangeably thin and blond, except for one lone brunette. Jenny said something that made them all laugh.

“Your girlfriend isadorable,” cooed one of them, a non-descriptively pretty blond. “And she sure can party! Where did you two meet?”

I coughed. I knew the Madam had supplied us with a background story, but I couldn’t remember it.

Jenny nudged me. “The gym! Don’t you remember, babe? I was on the treadmill next to yours, and you couldn’t stop starin’ at my ass.”

“I was mesmerized by it.” I grinned. “Still am.”

“Nice,” said the bridesmaid, her voice wistful.

“You guys goin’ on the trip tomorrow?” Jenny asked the bridesmaids.

“Hell yes!” said the brunette. “I cannot wait!”

“Me either,” Jenny said eagerly. “I’ve never been to the Caribbean before.”

All of Evie’s bridesmaids were rich, just like her. They looked at Jenny like she had three heads. “You’ve never been to theCaribbean?” The blonde closest to us sounded baffled.

“Never.”

“Girl, we are going to have a good time! We’re going to drink rum out of coconuts and get wild!” The brunette raised her drink, and they all hollered, “Cheers!”

“Let’s do shots!” one of Evie’s cousins shouted.

They stampeded toward the bar. Celia Preston, who had just entered the room, gaped at the herd of hooting, hollering, already tipsy young women. She grabbed a martini from a passing server, then watched as they ordered rounds of shots and downed them.

“Jenny, are you ready to get out of here?” I asked.

“Sure.” She looked longingly at the crowded bar for a moment, then smiled. “I have all week to teach these whipper-snappers a thing or two.”

“That’s my girl.” I grabbed her hand. While Celia Preston was sipping her martini and scowling at the partying bridesmaids, and James was leaning against the bar with a fresh drink and a thunderous expression, we took the opportunity to sneak away.

“They’re all going to be seriously hung over in the morning, including James,” I said once we were safely in the car. “Did you talk to Audrey?”

“Nah, she wouldn’t pick up. What happened, anyway?”

“James said she quit.”

“What?”Jenny looked panicked. “She can’t do that! She needs the money for Tommy, he’s in a group home, and they can’t afford to keep him in there?—”

“Woah, easy. Who’s Tommy?”

“Dre’s brother,” she explained. “He’s got special needs, and their mom wasn’t looking after him too good. So Audrey founda home for him that’s nice, like, top of the line. He likes it there. But it’s wicked expensive.”

I made a mental note to give Audrey money for these expenses, then realized James wouldn’t hear of it. He’d probably already taken care of the brother. “I’m sure it will work out. I think maybe they just argued. But I don’t know if she’ll be coming on the trip tomorrow.”

“Oh, this sucks.” Jenny frowned and shook her head. “Dre’s probably upset that her mother showed up at the wedding. She coulda ruined everything. If the Prestons saw her and put two and two together, it would’ve been terrible. She’s probably mad at herself for the situation, even though it’s not her fault. She’s probably feeling real bad, you know?”

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