Page 62 of The Billionaire Mismatch

“The annual trip to Miami,” she says, and I just shake my head.

“I don’t know anything about that,” I say casually. “Am I supposed to?”

“Um, considering the fact that he is planning to take you with him, yeah, I would have thought he mentioned it to you,” she says. I stop, turning around to face her.

“Take me with him?” I ask. “To Miami?”

“Yes,” Sadie says, picking a piece of the mask off my chin that I must have missed.

“For date number 5? Or is it 6?” I ask. I’m really starting to lose track here. Not just what number date this is, but what we are even doing anymore.

“For the conference, but yes. I assume you’ll be staying in a hotel and going to the beach. It’s what they always do on these work trips,” she says, waving her hand.

“Interesting,” I say, pulling the scrunchie from my hair to let it down before making my way back to the kitchen.

“Interesting?” Sadie asks, hot on my heels. “I just told you that Luca is planning on taking you to Miami and all you have to say is interesting?” she asks.

“Well, it is interesting,” I say. “For one, he hasn’t said anything to me. And also…that just seems like a big deal. I mean, we aren’t even actually dating. I mean…we are, but we aren’t together.”

“Are you sure about that?” she asks, as I pull a box of cookies from the cabinet. “What do you mean?” I ask, pulling out a chocolate chip cookie before handing her the box.

“I mean…it just seems like things are getting…serious,” she says.

“Sadie,” I say. “I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. Everything you and Kiersten and Henry and the listeners all told me to do.”

“I know. And I think you’re doing a great job. But I also think Miami is a great opportunity,” she says, munching on a cookie.

“A great opportunity for what?” I ask.

“To break his heart,” she blinks. “Or did you forget?”

I chew on my own cookie for a moment before responding. I love Sadie. I do. And I know this was my idea, and we are best friends. But I’m also seeing this whole thing from other angles now, and I’m struggling with the original plan. “Sadie. Why do you want to break his heart so badly?” I ask.

“Why?” she echoes.

“I know he hurt you. And you feel like he used you,” I say.

“He did use me. He led me on and took me out and–”

“How did he lead you on?” I ask.

“By flirting with me, giving me a promotion, taking me out to dinner, and then just walking away before firing me. No explanation, nothing,” she says.

“So he didn’t try to sleep with you?” I ask.

“No. He was just an ass. Probably because he knew that I wasn’t going to let him just use me. Once he figured that out, he was gone,” she says, popping another cookie in her mouth before washing it down with the last of her wine. “Bottom line is, he’s an ass. He deserves the same treatment.”

“Interesting,” I say, and she just stares at me.

“There’s that word again. What’s so interesting this time?”

“I don’t know, Sadie. I just…” I trail off, afraid to say what I’m about to say. But her eyes widen, prodding me to go on, and I feel like I have no choice. “I feel like the Luca you describe and the Luca I know–”

“The Luca you know?”

“The Luca I’m getting to know…are very different men,” I say.

“I see,” she nods, and I know my friend well enough to tell that I’ve struck a nerve. “And who is this Luca you are getting to know so well?” she asks.