Page 86 of The Billionaire Mismatch

“I mean, for the past few weeks you’ve been acting weird. You never have time to hang out. You have zero interest in meeting anyone. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say it’s because you’re already seeing someone.”

“I mean, I kind of am,” I point out the obvious. “I thought that was part of this. To actually date Luca, not just go out with him a couple of times.”

“So you’re dating for real?” she asks, whipping around to face me.

Uh oh.

“That’s not what I meant,” I say.

“It better not be,” she snaps back. “Because that would be betrayal.”

“Do you still have feelings for him?” I ask.

“No. Of course not,” she says. “But that’s not the point. He broke my heart, Livv,” Sadie says, turning back to the mirror to apply another layer of shimmery, red lip gloss.

The next sentence out of my mouth is probably a mistake. But honestly, I am tired of the games and letting her run my life. “Broke your heart? Or just turned you down?”

Sadie stops, her lips in an O shape and the gloss suspended in the air. She stands up straight and turns to face me again.

“What is that supposed to mean?” she asks.

“Nothing,” I sigh. “I’m sorry. I think I’m just tired and I’m not really feeling this place. I might go home if that’s okay.”

“Suit yourself,” she says, turning back to the mirror. “But if you run into the old Olivia, the one that likes to have fun, tell her I’m looking for her. In the meantime, I’m getting more free drinks.” She grins and tugs her cleavage down a little more before walking out of the bathroom.

Alone, I turn and look in the mirror. My flowery dress. My wavy hair. My light makeup and white wine. Sadie is right about one thing: I don’t look like the old Olivia. But as I stare at myself, I realize something: I prefer this Olivia. And this Olivia is in the mood for something else.

I pull out my phone and send a text, knowing the answer before it even comes back to me all of two seconds later.

Chapter 29

Luca

Olivia:You still free?

The text comes to me as I am in the middle of a set of push-ups. I don’t mind pausing for the moment. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve stayed very fit in my…more mature…age. But at the end of the day, a rigorous circuit regimen of burpees, pull-ups, push-ups, and deadlifts would kick anyone’s ass. Especially when the deadlifts are three hundred pounds and the push-ups are single-handed. All that said, a text message is a welcome interruption.

Especially from Olivia.

Luca: Depends. Who’s asking.

Luca: Was girl’s night out not everything you hoped and dreamed?

Olivia: More like everything I expected and dreaded…

Luca: lol

I’m not really laughing, obviously. It’s a figure of speech. But it does make me smirk.

Olivia: I just got in my car. I can head home. Or…

Luca: Or sounds good. Come over.

I don’t bother to change before she arrives. After that workout, I am in desperate need of a shower. I answer the door in workout pants, running shoes, and a thin layer of perspiration that coats my bare chest and torso like suntan oil. Olivia’s parting lips and slow drag of her eyes over my torso and pink cheeks tell me she isn’t put off by it.

“Am I interrupting something?” she asks, her voice coming out an octave too high, and I bite back my amusement.

“Nah. I was just finishing up a workout,” I tell her, still holding the door open for her.