Page 18 of Date The Billionaire

The room was empty when I went in, so I headed back to my own room.

“How do they expect us to be ready in ten minutes? This is crazy!” I heard one girl wailing.

I thought it was too, but went back to my room to throw my belongings in my suitcase. I could only think about the fact that I would be in my own bed tonight, that I would be able to whack Tony over the head for the mess he got me into, and that I would be away from Carol and Arabella. The only downside was, I’d be nowhere near Jake.

Five minutes later I had everything packed and went to the front of the house to await further instructions. I was the first one there, so I looked around at the house to admire it one last time.

The house had been designed by a man, with male tastes at the forefront. Hardwood floors, wood-paneled walls, few lights, dark heavy furniture, it was all about the man. I liked the place but the only thing that ever drew me in were the windows looking out at the beach. Normally, you’d expect a beach house to be open, light, full of white walls and airy ceilings. This place was almost oppressive. It had always confused me and now that I was leaving, I distracted myself from my panic by mulling it all over.

“Hey! You ready?” Kelly came up beside me, full of her normal bouncy energy and her happy smile.

“Yes, but no. This is making me crazy, you know?” I gave her a look I knew would convey my worry, and she put her hand just above my elbow to comfort me.

“It’ll be fine, Laney. I can all but promise you that. Jake is stuck on you, girl. Not on that—” She paused, and I knew she was looking for a really good insult but not coming up with exactly what to insult Arabella with. “Tramp.”

I snorted at her rather fine choice and looked down at my feet to try to stop an outright laugh. “That’s pretty accurate, I’d imagine. The cars are here, let’s go.”

We walked out together, but stopped when Carol stepped out of one of the cars.

“You will be driven to the boats that will take you back to the mainland. You’ll then be driven to the airport, and from there to your respective homes. You are to discuss no part of the show with anyone, not even your BFFs, is that clear? Nothing must be leaked about the show or you will be sued and sued royally.” Her glare made me roll my eyes. The woman was impossible.

There was no, “it’s been great, can’t wait to see you again soon,” or even a, “I hate you and hope you don’t flake out on us,” it was just keep quiet or get sued. Typical Carol.

I went into the nearest car with Kelly and we both leaned over the backseat of the black sedan to stare up at the windows we knew to be the bedroom of each of our men.

I saw David smiling and waving down at Kelly and she waved back with a sigh. I didn’t see Jake anywhere. I felt my smile crack a little. The car started and the driver put it into gear. That’s when Jake appeared in the window, holding up a sign.

‘I will find you!’

I smiled fully again and waved. I really hoped he would find me. To see him, alone, without all of the cameras, the snide dealings, and the rest of it would be nice.

I didn’t even know his last name, but somehow, Jake had become my world.

Kelly sniffed and I knew she was trying not to cry. I handed her a tissue from my bag as I dabbed at my own eyes.

“Wow, I can’t believe I’m about to say this but we have to be brave, Kelly. It’s only a few weeks.” She took the tissue gratefully and gave me a watery smile in return.

“We can do it. Just make sure you call me or I might go crazy!”

“I will and you know it, girl.” I pulled her to my side and hugged her close. “I think I’ll need some support too, you know?”

She leaned into me and we absorbed the comfort offered until we arrived at the boat launch.

We had to part ways at the airport as Kelly was given paperwork for a different carrier to mine, and it was just as hard to watch her goes as it was to leave Jake behind. She’d become so integral to my world in such a short time, I didn’t know how I’d get through the days to come without her smile.

My flight home wasn’t long, just a puddle jump up the coast. Before I knew it, I was standing at my own front door. For a moment, I wondered if it had all been a dream. I didn’t even know what day it was.

Tony opened the front door and all but dragged me into the house.

“Girl, it is so good to see you, but why are you home? Were you eliminated? I’ll write so many furious emails if they did, they’ll think they’re being targeted by a hate group. Come on, come in the house, sit down. Let me grab your bag.”

He plunked me down on the couch in our familiar home and I looked around as he ran about grabbing my luggage and fixing me a glass of tea.

“Here, drink this. You look shell-shocked. Do you hate me?” He sat across from me on the couch, his leg pulled up in front of him.

“I don’t hate you. I do, but not much. I think you’re right with the shellshock. We got up this morning only to be told we were leaving. All of us left.”

“How many of you are left?” His excitement was obvious from the gleam in his eye and the way he grinned.