Page 145 of The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée

“Maybe if he was in the emergency room. But he was at work. He didn’t even call.”

“Just think about it,” she says.

“Can I think about gorillas on tiny bikes instead?” I say. “I’d so much rather think about gorillas on tiny bikes.”

Noelle rolls her eyes. “Yes, okay. Just because it’s your birthday.”

Mia rushes in. “Happy birthday, babe!” She hugs me. “Max is out there with the car, come on! We’re breaking you out of here!”

“We’re leaving?” Jada asks, and then she downs the rest of her drink and comes over and downs my drink. I grab Noelle’s arm, and we all leave.

And like a crazy person, I am thinking about it.

Chapter 28

Rex

I burstinto the TipTop and scan the place. She’s nowhere to be seen.

What have I done? How could I have stood her up on her birthday of all days? I should’ve set an alarm. Five alarms.

I go up to the bartender and describe Tabitha. “Her friends might have come and gotten her,” I say.

The bartender gives me a hard look. “You’rethe guy,” she says in an accusatory tone.

“I am,” I say. “Did they say where they were going?”

“No.” She grabs a rag and wipes the bar.

I sink onto a stool, unsure what to do. I have everything I wanted. I shouldn’t be this upset.

The bartender comes back over. She points at a booth near the panoramic window. There’s a couple sitting on the same side, heads together, talking or maybe just snuggling.

“Those are friends of hers. You could ask them.”

“Thanks,” I say.

I head over. As I near, I notice the woman has a little white dog half inside her coat. And the man looks familiar. Have I met him?

“Hi, excuse me, are you friends of Tabitha Evans’s?” I ask.

The man stands. “Rex O’Rourke. We finally meet.” He extends his hand. “Henry Locke.”

“Henry! A pleasure,” I say. I’ve been on conference calls with Henry Locke of Locke Companies—they’re a construction firm with their fingers in the real estate asset market. We’ve done deals on behalf of clients, but we’ve never met in person.

He introduces me to Vicky and Smuckers. Smuckers is far more happy to see me than Vicky is. He wiggles excitedly in her arms, trying to get to me. Vicky says hello unenthusiastically.

“I need to see her,” I say to Vicky. “I need to apologize. You’re probably aware that I screwed up hugely.”

“Very aware,” Vicky says.

“Do you know where she is?” I ask.

Vicky shakes her head. “I don’t. And I don’t know if I’d tell you if I did. Try calling her, asking her if she wants to see you.”

“I can’t get through.”

“Well, if she doesn’t want to see you, you have to respect that.”

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