Page 111 of The Billionaire Mismatch

“Haven’t we been doing that?” Henry asks. “This feels very Groundhog Day.”

But I just keep smiling. “I want to do an episode about catfishing in the current series.”

“Still lost,” Kiersten says impatiently.

“Your current series is all about real love stories, right?” Sadie asks.

“It is called Real Life Love Stories…” Kiersten says, but Sadie is salty enough to dodge the sarcasm.

“We want to do an episode centering around Luca and Olivia. I mean, honestly, who has a wilder love story than them?” Sadie says.

“Go on…” Henry says with narrowed eyes as he takes a sip of boba.

“I want to tell everyone everything. The good, the bad–”

“The sexy,” Sadie says with a little shoulder shimmy.

“It would start with the truth. With who I thought he was. What my plan was. My motive for doing it. And then…the truth.”

“So you want to recap your entire chaotic story in the hopes of romancing our skeptical listeners and polishing the reputation of the podcast,” Henry says.

“Pretty much,” I nod, and they think about it.

“People are going to eat it up,” Sadie says.

“And not because it’s juicy, high-concept, or loaded with drama,” I say.

“Even though it kind of is,” Sadie giggles.

“But because it’s real. It shows mistakes. It shows vulnerability, loyalty, and betrayal. It shows what really happens when people who have been burned by love put themselves out there. It shows…the truth…” I blink my eyes multiple times, finding they are suddenly hot.

“I love it,” Henry says. “Let’s do it.”

“Yeah?” I smile, and he nods.

“Hell yeah,” he grins.

“Hold on,” Kiersten cuts it. “It’s good. Don’t get me wrong. It’s really good. But there’s just one tiny concern…”

“Which is?” Sadie asks.

“It’s not a love story,” she says.

“Sure it is,” Henry argues. “It’s got all the elements.”

“Except a happ…” Kiersten says, and I bite my lip. Sadie offers an empathetic smile and squeezes my hand.

“And that…” I say as I do my best to swallow the lump of emotion in my throat, “Is what I’m hoping to change by doing this episode.”

Everyone offers me the same smile as Sadie’s. Because I think it’s safe to say, all we can do is hope.

* * *

“This is Kiersten K.”

“And this is Olivia Ramone.”

“And I am Sadie, a guest host for the day.”