Page 64 of Billionaire’s Game

“Get a room,” someone shouted. I was pretty sure that someone was Misha.

“Let’s get married. Haven’t you always wanted to visit Vegas?” Steve said.

To everyone’s surprise, Violet balked. “Slow down, buddy. I’m young and fun. I’m not going to let marriage ruin what I have left of my twenties. Are you freaking kidding me?”

Steve actually looked relieved. “Cool. Want to go get some noodles? There’s this Vietnamese noodle place out near downtown. They let me park my camper there.”

“You brought your camper with you?” she said, unwinding her arms from his neck and stepping back. “That’s so gross. I always hated that camper.”

They walked away arguing while the rest of us looked on.

“Well, that was something,” Emmaline muttered.

“God, how embarrassing,” Misha said as she helped herself to the pile of shrimp at the buffet table. “These are delicious.”

Oliver popped up next to me with Kat by his side. “Here’s your chance, Lesli. He’s sad and single. Get ready to pounce.”

I looked at Oliver and shook my head. No, I couldn’t. This couldn’t be the right time to tell him. He’d just been publicly dumped.

“He’s right,” Kat said. “He’s ripe for the picking... All vulnerable and sad.”

I wanted to cover my ears and hide when suddenly Magnus walked in our direction. During Violet’s speech his face had registered shock, then disbelief and then finally amusement. He didn’t look amused now, he looked determined.

“Shhh... he’s coming this way... he’s coming this way,” Lacey murmured. “Quick everyone, Pretend we weren’t talking about him.”

To my embarrassment, everyone started fake laughing and awkwardly talking about the weather.

Oliver was the worst offender. “Oh, Magnus. We didn’t see you there.” He patted him on the back with a hard hit. “Don’t worry about the breakup. Things will turn around. We’ve all had our share of public humiliation.”

Misha laughed and then quickly tried to cover it as a cough.

Magnus winced. “Yeah. That was pretty bad. I think I’m going to head out and lick my wounds.”

“Nonsense. Stay. We’re all friends here. No one’s going to bring up the fact that you got dumped so publicly.”

“No,” Magnus said with a sigh, “I think I’ll head out. I’ve given the papers enough to talk about for one night.” He looked at me then and I couldn’t read the expression in his eyes as he said, “Goodnight, Lesli.”

He turned to walk away and people cleared a path for him. Most were still whispering among themselves about the commotion Steve had caused.

I watched him walk away until he disappeared. My heart went out to him, but Oliver and Kat were right. Maybe this was my moment. I looked at Lacey and said, “Don’t wait up for me.”

I could hear cheers behind me and knew Oliver, Lacey, and the rest of the gang were cheering me on.

I picked up the pace, racing through the crowd and down the stairs. People looked at me curiously, but I knew it was now or never. I had to tell him how I felt or at the very least I had to show him.

“Hey,” I called as I closed the distance between us.

He turned around and looked confused but pleased to see me.

I swallowed hard, “I could say that I’m sorry about what happened, but I’m not sorry at all.” I surprised myself by my own bluntness.

“I don’t know what you want me to say.” He looked confused and on guard.

“I don’t know what I want you to say either, but I do know that I’m glad that it’s over between you and Violet. She wasn’t right for you.”

He looked at me quizzically, “Really? Then who is?”

I raised my hand and he gave a gruff laugh.