Page 77 of Not the Billionaire

Franky led his parents along behind the Schultzes and into the building.

“Sky,” Genevieve whispered after her.

She looked over her shoulder and stopped walking as Genevieve approached.

“Why did Franky’s mom think I was talking to Sebastian when they arrived?”

Skylar shrugged her shoulders. “She must have thought she saw him or something. She gets confused easily.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“Everything looks great, Genevieve,” Skylar told her. “Everyone’s going to love it.”

“Thank you.”

Skylar entered the building after her family and the Middleburys and left Genevieve standing alone on the sidewalk. There was a flurry of last minute activity all around her, but she had an unsettling feeling. She didn’t know Glenda Middlebury or if she had a tendency to get confused easily, but the whole thing made her uneasy. Including the fact that Kurtis had scurried off so quickly.

As the day went on, families from around the area descended on the yacht club and spent the day enjoying the events with their kids, competing in the inflatable course and the dinghy race. Everything was a big success so far, and Genevieve couldn’t have been happier.

Well, that wasn’t true. All day long, she kept looking for Kurtis, wondering why he wasn’t there with her. She’d texted him several times with no reply. She tried to focus on the day and not worry, but she thought he’d be there at her side. He was as much a part of the planning of this day as she was. He’d been there to help her with all the little details, and now the day had arrived and she was going it alone.

Thankfully, she wasn’t completely alone. She had been welcomed in by the Schultz family, who praised her great efforts for this event.

When it came time for the regatta, Genevieve planned to go watch with the rest of the spectators and see how everyone was enjoying it. She started toward the parking lot, but was unexpectedly intercepted by Ephraim Schultz.

“You’ll be riding on the yacht with us, won’t you?” he asked.

“To watch the race?” she asked in surprise.

“Of course. You put this day together, young lady. It’s only right that you have a front row seat.”

Excitement coursed through her at the thought of riding on the Schultz’s yacht. “I would love that.”

“It’s settled then.” Ephraim motioned for her to follow, and they joined the family, who were boarding the yacht along with a dozen or so others.

Genevieve took in everything around her as she boarded this luxurious watercraft. The rope that held it to the dock, the gangplank as she walked across, people on the deck above, the windows on the upper level, the antennas and instruments on the roof of the main cabin. She smiled to herself. Look at me now, Daddy.

When she found Skylar and Franky, they were joking around, as usual, and she took a seat next to them. Genevieve listened to their banter and found the two of them adorable, making her wonder why they weren’t a couple. But maybe theirs was more of a brother and sister relationship. They sure seemed perfect together, though.

The yacht sailed through the channel and out onto Lake Michigan, where the sailboats were waiting to begin the race. The sky was clear blue, the sun shone brightly, and it was a perfect day on the water. Not too choppy or rough, but with just enough of a breeze. An ideal day for a sailboat race.

Franky reached across the space with his foot and tapped Genevieve’s leg. “Why the long face?”

She forced a smile in reply.

He guffawed. “That was about as sincere as Skylar when she says I’m funny.”

“You are funny,” Skylar said with a wink.

“I’m sorry. I just wish Kurtis was here.”

They looked at each other then back at her.

“He’ll be here,” Skylar told her.

Genevieve’s eyebrows lifted. “He will?”

“He had some things to take care of today.”

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