Page 63 of How to Train Your Billionaire

“You always assume people with money are just having an easier go of it,” she says, swirling the ruby-colored wine in her glass.

“In some ways, sure. They don’t have to worry about paying the mortgage, but there are lots of other issues. Trust me. If money buys happiness, why are my parents the most miserable people I know?”

She doesn’t have any answers for me, not that I expected her to. But for now, her quiet understanding is enough.

“Thanks for ...” I pause, searching for the right words.

“For what?” she asks, turning to meet my eyes.

“For listening. Being my friend.”

“Are we friends?”

“If we’re not, I don’t think I have any.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Take It One Day at a Time

Frankie

Talking with Hayes last night was a revelation. He opened up in ways I hadn’t expected. Each new side of him surprised me and left me wanting more. He’s slowly but surely growing on me—like an unwanted mole. If I’m not careful, I can see myself developing a soft spot for him just like I have for Charles.

The following day, I finally catch up with Tessa via a much-needed FaceTime.

“Don’t make a big deal about it, but I just broke up with Big D,” she says when I answer.

“Okay ... Do we need to talk about this?”

She shrugs and messes with her bangs. “Not really. I wasn’t feeling it, and there’s too many fish in the sea to stress about it. What’s new over there?”

I fill her in on the latest and greatest aboard theElysium—basically that we’re cruising the French Riviera and it’s allverybougie.

“How’s the yachting life treating you? Not getting seasick or anything like that?”

Aside from that first day, when Hayes gave me medication and distracted me, I hadn’t experienced any more queasiness on board. I learned later that that day was particularly windy and we left when we did to avoid an incoming storm, so it appeared it was a one-off situation related to the weather and not my body’s reaction to life on the water.

“It’s honestly been great. I’ve never slept better, I can tell you that.”

When I mentioned that to Charles yesterday, he pointed out that it was likely due to the lulling sound of the sea. Theshhsound a mother makes to calm a baby is a universal sound across cultures—it was as though the ocean wasshhing me to sleep every night. And I kind of liked that idea.

“What else is new? You’ve gotta give me something.”

I draw a breath, hesitating. “Okay so don’t hate me ... but Hayes is growing on me.”

“Um, I’m going to need more information.” She sounds skeptical, and rightly so. I spenta lotof time complaining about him. A lot of time fixating on how awful he was.

When I didn’t know much about Hayes, but assumed I had him all figured out, I thought his life’s mission was burning through money, making my life a living hell, and worrying exclusively about himself. (In that order.) Now that I’ve peeled back the onion, so to speak, I realize I may have been a little judgmental. Now I see him as someone who cares deeply for others—even in his limited capacity. He feels a lot for Charles and Maddie and especially his assistant, Greta. He looks out for them, worries for them—possibly more than he does for himself. The level of care he set up for Greta floored me.

Instead of looking at him and seeing only a perfectly manicured life, I’m starting to see the cracks and bruises too.

I picture him just yesterday ... hunched over a tattered paperback at the breakfast table with his hair flopped over his forehead. Something in me softened. Maybe it’s not him that’s changed ... maybe it’s me. I don’t know how to explain all of that to Tessa.It’s been a slow, gradual process, like the changing of the seasons. One thing has blended into another until it’s almost unrecognizably different.

“Okay, yeah, he’s grumpy and judgy and impossible—but he also listens. Not just nods-and-smiles fake listening. Like, actually remembers things I say. He smells stupidly good too. Like woodsy aftershave and mint. It’s honestly distracting.”

“You seem to be talking an awful lot about Hayes. How’s Charles, by the way?”

“Charles? Oh, Charles is great.”