Page 47 of Her Billion Dollar Groom

Maybe if I were a braver man, I would stand here and confess my love for her, tell her that this ridiculous situation has got out of hand for me, that it stopped being a game months ago.

That for a second, I thought she was feeling the same way.

But I don’t think I can bear to stand here and tell her I love her, just for her to turn around and laugh in my face. I don’t think my heart could take it.

If this is the way she wants it… so be it.

“Okay,” I say quietly. “I guess we’d better just stick to our original agreement then. You know, no strings, no feelings. Just me helping you and you helping me. Simple as that.”

“Yeah,” she agrees, and I could swear that she looks sad about it. But I don’t know what to think anymore.

Why do I feel like she’s breaking up with me?

“Jason,” she says, sucking in a breath. My heart drops to my stomach. That’s how I know this is serious. There’s no pouting, no fluttering of the eyelashes. Just my name and the simple knowledge that she’s about to say something that’s going to hurt. “I’ve been thinking… clearly, whatever this is, you and me, it’s… it’s not working? Is it?”

“No,” I agree quietly, itching to run. “I guess it’s not.” Saying those words aloud feels like a knife to the chest.

Have I really been so stupid as to think that she could care about me? Was Chris right all along? How stupid was I for proposing this plan, for thinking that we could get out of it without getting hurt?

“Well, if it’s not working, maybe we should take a break from each other.”

“A break?”

“Yeah, take some space. I’ll move back to my apartment. We can keep pretending for the public, but I think taking a time out would be best for us. That way you can concentrate on your work, and I can write my album, and we won’t bother each other anymore.”

What I don’t say is,But I like it when you bother me.

What I do say is, “Okay, if that’s what you want.”

“I just think it would be best, don’t you?”

She keeps asking like she’s trying to get me to challenge it, but my heart is too hollow to argue. “I guess.”

The truth is, no, I don’t think it would be best at all, but at least this way we might keep our dignity and friendship. At least this way, the plan will still work. Because that’s what’s important, isn’t it? The plan, the business, the image, the money.

Me and her, whatever that was, it was never destined to work.

Why should I mourn something that was never supposed to be?

“I can help you move some of your stuff,” I offer.

But she shakes her head. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll call someone.”

“When are you thinking of going?”

She shrugs. “Tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“Why not? It’s not like I have a reason to stay.”

Everything in my body screams out,Tell her now!If there was ever a perfect opportunity, that was it. But my stupid mouth stays silent, my tongue walled in a cage behind my teeth, and I just nod.

“Okay. Well, let me know if you need anything.”

With that, I leave, retreating to my office, my heart splintering with every step. I sit down heavily, and before I can think about it, I burst into tears.

That was my one chance to keep her, and I blew it.

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