Page 2 of The Sexy Billionaire

That’s right, he did.

“Guess we’re even,” I say, giving him a shrug.

We stare at each other in silence for far too long before my anxiety kicks in. I hate that seeing him after all this time has stirred up something inside of me. I need to escape, I can’t be here. Not with him, not when I’m so vulnerable.

“It’s been great seeing you, Gio. Guess I’ll see you in another fifteen years.” And with that, I turn and head inside.

“Paige,” he calls after me, but I ignore him, my feet picking up speed the further I move into the light.

“Paige?” Savannah calls out, noticing me emerging from the darkness with haste. As my best friend, she can tell when I’m not myself, and seeing Giorgio again after all these years and today of all days is too much for me. Ignoring her, I race up the stairsand head toward my old room; she is only moments behind me as I throw myself onto the bed and scream.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

“No,” I answer. It’s muffled thanks to my face being pressed against the bed. The bed dips beside me as she takes a seat and starts rubbing my back.

“Today has been tough. It’s okay to not be okay,” she explains.

Rolling over, I sit up and look at her. “Today has been tough and I’m not okay.”

“I know,” she says, reaching out and wrapping a reassuring arm around me.

“Might have also done something incredibly stupid,” I confess to her.

She raises her brows at me. “Not like anyone would blame you.”

“I ran into my ex.”

Savannah’s eyes widen at my confession.

“Then I cried in his arms. His strong arms. I hate that he still smells so fricken good too.”

“What? Why would your ex be here?” And as soon as the words leave her mouth, she gasps, remembering the stories I’ve told her about Giorgio. “I need to see this man. Show me,” she asks.

“Hold on,” I say, getting up and rushing over to the window that I know looks down over the garden as she follows behind. I point out Giorgio, who’s talking to his parents, his mother, wiping his shirt with a hanky.That’s mortifying.

“You’re not talking about that sublime creature in the dark suit, are you?” Savannah asks.

I nod. “He’s that good-looking, isn’t he?” I turn and ask as I nervously chew my nails.

“Can’t believe you’ve had that man inside you.”

“‘Savannah,” I squeal as I playfully slap her before falling into fits of laughter that I so desperately need. I can’t believe she said that. She shrugs my protest away. “I’m embarrassed. He said hi, I haven’t seen him in fifteen years and the next thing I know, I’m crying in his arms and have wiped mascara all over his white shirt.”

“The man looks like a god, Paige. I’d use my sadness as an excuse to get in his arms, too.”

My eyes widen at my bestie. “You’re messed up.” I smirk as I point my finger at her.

“I’m saying it’s what I’d do, not you,” she says, giving me a wink.

“I’m married.”

“And he’s not here,” she quips before realizing what she’s said.

My face falls because it’s true my husband isn’t here at a time when I need him the most. He knows how important Lucia was in my life—in our lives—she was our biggest supporter for the restaurant, and he couldn’t have taken a couple of days off to be by my side.

“I’m sorry, PJ. I didn’t mean to say that,” she says, walking over and hugging me.

“It’s the truth though, he’s not here when he should be,” I say, bursting into tears again.

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