Page 276 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 5
“You’re selling it?” Mason asked. “I thought you loved that place? You went on and on about how quiet the street was when you made a bid.”
Too quiet.I shrugged. “I changed my mind.”
“You decided you want to live on a noisier street?”
“I just outgrew the place. I have Bill stopping by to figure out the listing price.”
“Oh, so you mean like right away,” Mason said. “We all have to come over before you sell then…”
“Really, it’s fine. I’ll have you guys over to my next place.” I wouldn’t. They’d ask too many questions. They wouldn’t understand. Just thinking about them peeking around made me start to sweat.
“You okay?” Rob asked. “You look a little pale. Please don’t tell me you’re secretly a serial killer and have a bunch of dead bodies in your basement or something. Did you guys hear about all the crazy people in Penny’s old neighborhood? James was just telling me about it the other day.”
James laughed. “I’ve banned Penny from going home for a little while. There’s a serial killer loose. Or maybe a few.”
“Really?” I shook my head. “The world’s a crazy place.”
“Just imagine how crazy it was living in London while it was being bombed during World War 2,” Tanner said. “All those air raids?” He closed his eyes, his eyebrows pinched together, as he took a sip from his drink. “That must have been terrifying.”
“Are you a big history buff?” Rob asked.
Tanner opened his eyes again and cleared his throat. “History is a fascinating subject. As long as you don’t get stuck in the past.”
I felt like that was a jab at me.
“Hmm…” Rob looked back and forth between me and Tanner. “It’s interesting that you have a love for history. Matt finds history very boring. Most best friends enjoy the same hobbies.”
“History isn’t a hobby,” I said.
“Can we have a word in private, Matthew?” Rob said.
God, I was sick of all these sidebars. I followed him over to the bar. “If you called me Matthew I must be in trouble.”
“I need you to tell Tanner once and for all thatI’myour best friend. This isn’t funny.”
“It’s a little funny,” I said, smiling as I took a sip.
Rob punched my shoulder a little too hard.
“Ow.”
“Who’s known you the longest? Who was there for you when you had food poisoning sophomore year at Harvard and were projectile vomiting everywhere?”
That was a gross night.
“Who had sleepovers with you every weekend growing up? And acted like an idiot so girls you’d like would choose you?”
“You did that on purpose?”
“Shut up. Whose kids call you Uncle Matt?”
“James’ do too…”
“This isn’t about James. This is about you and me. I was your wingman. And now you have Tanner parading randos in front of you when you’re supposed to be hanging out with us?”
“Right. Youweremy wingman. But you guys are all married. I needed a single friend.”
“Daphne wouldn’t care if you needed me to wingman for you.”
