Page 57 of The Billionaire Mismatch

They look at each other before turning back to me. “Date four run down,” Kiersten says. “You have seven minutes, and then we have to get to work because I’m picking up a double today.”

So I tell them everything in more detail than I did Sadie. I feel a bit guilty about that, but I also didn’t want to upset her with the details. Plus, Kiersten and Henry are my go-to for advice when it’s a subject I can’t talk to Sadie about. And getting eaten out within an inch of my life is definitely one of those subjects, considering Luca Laurent was the one doing the…eating.

“Okay,” Henry nods when I finally finish talking and take a sip of my coffee.

“So your date was spontaneous and fun and had a happy ending,” Kiersten says. “Nothing wrong with that.”

“Yeah, except for the fact that I don’t think this whole thing is going the way we initially planned,” I say.

“Sure it is,” Kiersten says. “He’s laying it on thick…because he has secret intentions.”

“Or a secret side piece,” Henry adds.

“Or you are the sidepiece and he’s actually married,” Kiersten says, and I just stare at them.

“I think we would know if Luca Laurent was married,” I say. “He’s a public figure.”

“So is Keanu Reeves, and yet unless he is actively Matrix-ing, nobody knows anything about what he’s up to,” Henry says. “Trust me. I’ve looked.”

“I don’t think he’s married,” I say. “And I don’t think I’m a side piece either.”

“So you think he’s falling for you?” Henry asks, and I don’t say anything.

“That would be perfect,” Kiersten smirks.

“Would it?” I ask. “I don’t even know if I want to be in a relationship. Even if I did, I’m not sure how I’d feel about being with the CEO of a dating app. It kind of goes against everything I stand for. And he’s so grumpy. And so rich and–”

“Okay, Elizabeth Bennett. So Darcy isn’t your type. Right…” Henry winks at me.

“Olivia,” Kiersten cuts in. “We aren’t suggesting you actually date him or even that he’s actually falling for you.”

“Right,” I shake my head, willing away the warmth in my cheeks. “That would be ridiculous. You know what else is ridiculous? Sadie thinks he knows that her and I are friends and he’s trying to play us.”

They both just stare at me.

“Crazy, right?” I ask.

“That makes sense,” Kiersten says, and Henry nods. “That makes total sense. Why else would he take you on four dates, two of them with no action? Oh yeah, because he’s fucking with you. He’s fucking with all of it. Which means in this next episode, we gotta amp it up.”

“That’s not really what I had in mind–” I say, but Kiersten just grins and scribbles a bunch of things down before standing up.

“I have to go, but this is perfect.”

“So perfect,” Henry agrees. “We are going to get him so good. And our ratings are going to go through the roof!”

I go out to my car, my half-chugged coffee in hand, feeling more lost and exhausted than before. I can’t help but feel like a fish out of water. Or a fish with too much water, if that makes sense. A little fish caught in that big ass current over by Australia. I’m in so over my head and my friends are all just along for the vicarious ride of their lives.

I would love it if they were right, and he really is an asshole that’s just playing me. If he really is the world’s biggest catfish, we are going to hook him, expose him, and throw him out to sea. Sadiewould get her payback, and Unmatched would get its ratings, and he would get what he has coming to him.

Except that I am really struggling to believe that’s actually what he has coming to him. I am struggling to believe that’s who he is. And when I reach my car, I come to a halt. My jaw drops as I stare at the giant bouquet of assorted yellow flowers. My struggles are now solidified.

I check the note and sure enough. They’re from Luca. And he wants another date.

If this wasn’t some huge ruse to take down the CEO of Realr, I’d be wondering if he might be boyfriend material after all.

Chapter 19

Luca