Page 48 of The Billionaire and I

The wedding started off great.Evie was so beautiful, I couldn’t even believe it. She looked like a fairy-tale princess. So many guests had on amazing dresses; I stared at all of them. They were the best-dressed people I’d ever seen! But Audrey stole the show. Her pale yellow gown was fitted and long, and the beading around the waist showcased her knock-out figure. She was perfect. She looked like she belonged at a society wedding, that she belonged in James’s world.

I was feeling happy, real happy. Cole was holding my hand, and that felt good. Audrey was sitting next to me, and that was nice. I was nervous about my dress, of course. I worried I might rip it. And I was nervous about the earrings, that I might lose one. But as they had insurance, I tried not to fret too much. Plus, everyone kept looking at me the way I was looking at them: like they liked my dress. Like they thought I looked pretty.

It felt good. Real good.

Cole said something to Audrey about James eating a crab cake. Like, that James hated crab, but he ate it ’cause Audrey liked it. Cole hadn’t told me about that, but it validated what I thought, that James was in love with Audrey. Cole said that, too. That James must be in love with her since he ate a crab cake.

Audrey looked flabbergasted. I patted her back, then explained to Cole,

“Dre doesn’t think it’s possible that he has feelings for her—she doesn’t believe in fairy tales. She’s arealist.”

“Of course it’s possible,” he said.

And then he looked at me funny. Real funny.

The butterflies in my chest went bananas, circling, swooping, and having what felt like a little party right there inside me. Was he sayinghebelieved in fairy tales? Like, that a hooker and a billionaire could fall in love and live happily ever after?

“Oh, Coley!” I grabbed him and pulled him in for a deep kiss. The butterflies weren’t the only things going bananas. I couldn’t get enough of him. Cole ran his hands down my shoulders, setting my bare skin on fire. We both pulled away, breathing hard. I vowed to look straight ahead at the ceremony and only straight ahead at the ceremony, so help me God. We didn’t need to be groping each other on a church pew!

But then Audrey gasped. She turned white.

“Jenny,” she turned to me and whispered. “I have to go. It’s an emergency. Tell James I’ll meet him at the reception.”

“What?” I asked too loud. The people in the pew in front of us turned around to stare.

“It’s mymother,” Audrey hiss-whispered.

“Oh fuck, Dre. Go. I’ll cover for you.”

She was running down the aisle in a flash, chasing her wicked old witch of a mother out of the church. And then James, who was the best man, followed her. I mean, I couldn’t see that he followed her, but he hustled behind the curtain and didn’t return for the rest of the ceremony.

Good thing Todd and Evie were so busy making goo-goo eyes at each other that they didn’t seem to notice. But I saw Celia Preston turn around, and I knew that bitch didn’t miss a trick.Uh-oh.Celia Preston wouldn’t be happy that her son, thebest man, had run out before the wedding vows to chase Audrey. Shereallywouldn’t be happy if she knew the truth, that not only had James run out after her, that Audrey was an escort from the wrong side of the tracks, and that her billionaire son was more than likely falling in love with her.

Oops.

I’d promised Audrey I’d cover for her, and I would. But for the moment, there was nothing I could do. Cole and I sat and watched the ceremony, our hands entwined. I loved weddings, and they usually made me cry, even the ones on TV, but I was too worried about my friend to get emotional. Audrey’s mother was bad news. She madeJames’smother look civilized, which was saying something. She’d come into AccommoDating’s office once, demanding money, and Elena had to throw her ass out.

The happy couple recited their vows. I watched as Evie slid the ring onto Todd’s finger, and he did the same for her. The officiant pronounced them man and wife, and then Todd pulled Evie in for a big, fat kiss.

Everyone cheered.

As soon as the ceremony ended, I moved fast. I checked my phone, but there was nothing. I tried calling Dre—no answer. I hustled outside, but everyone was gone. Cole rushed out after me. “James didn’t answer his phone,” he said.

“Dre didn’t, either.” I scowled as Mr. and Mrs. Preston came outside. Celia was scanning the crowd, looking for her older son.

I pulled Cole next to them. “Audrey and James are meeting us at the reception,” I said, loud enough for Celia to hear. “Audrey just got her period. She had to get out of here so she didn’t wreck her dress.”

Cole coughed. Celia Preston’s eyeballs looked like they might pop out of her head.

“Sucks, I know,” I continued for good measure. “’Specially because we’re all going to the Caribbean tomorrow!”

Celia’s brow furrowed—or at least, it looked like she tried to furrow it. Tough to tell with all the filler. “Excuse me. Did you sayyouare coming on the trip with us?” she asked.

“Yes, ma’am.” I smiled inwardly when she cringed at being calledma’am. “Coley and I are lookin’ forward to it.”

“We are really lookin’ forward to it, Mrs. Preston.” Cole waggled his eyebrows at her. “Beautiful ceremony, by the way.”

“Yes.” She cleared her throat, sounding as though she was about to gag. “Quite.”

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