Page 358 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 7
“I liked the sound of it until that last bit,” said Chastity. “God, I can’t wait for it to be cold again so guys start wearing gray sweat pants.” She fanned herself with her hand.
Tanner likes to wear gray sweatpants…He’d worn them that first night after we got fake raided by the FBI. And he’d looked…amazing. He looked amazing in everything he wore. I looked over at my bookshelf, still curious about what the hell he haddone to it. If I was lucky, maybe he’d added a framed picture of himself wearing gray sweatpants.
“Hey guys,” I said. “I never told you why I really called this emergency girls night. Before Tanner left, he…” A knock on the door interrupted me.Tanner’s back!Maybe?“Hold that thought.” I jumped up and answered the door.
“Delivery for Ashley Cooper,” said a delivery guy holding a huge bouquet of red and yellow roses. At least three dozen. “That you?”
“Yup.”
He handed me the roses and walked away.
Chastity ran over. “Oooh! Who are those from?”
“Maybe they’re apology roses from Homeless Rutherford for always licking our pizza?”
“Huh?” asked Liz.
“Um, nothing.” I spun the roses around so I could read the card stuck among them:
Ash,
I know you don’t want to hear from me, and I respect that decision. But I also hate to end things on a sour note.
I don’t expect any response, but I wanted you to know that I’m so sorry about how things ended between us. I take full responsibility. If I had just asked you out sooner, none of that would have happened.
I promise that this is the last you’ll hear from me. But if you ever do decide to reach out, I’ll be here.
Yours,
Anthony Lyons
“O.M.G.,” said Chastity. “Dr. Lyons is so adorable. Are yousureyou don’t want to keep dating him until you figure things out with Tanner?”
It was a really sweet gesture. But he wasn’t Tanner. “I’m sure.”
“Alright then. What were you saying about Tanner before we got interrupted?”
“Right.” I closed the door and walked back to the couch. “So after I made my three wishes…” Another knock on the door.Who is it now?It was probably Tanner coming back from the caterers. I started to walk over to answer the door, but then the roses caught my eye. “Shit,” I whispered. “What if it’s Tanner? And he sees my roses?”
“Good call,” said Chastity. She plucked the note out of the roses and tucked it into her bra. “Okay, you’re good. Now they’ll just make him jealous.”
Chastity really did not understand that I didn’t want to make Tanner jealous anymore. I just wanted to figure out a way to help him through his secret problem and then start a real relationship.
Before I could fully explain that to her, she ran over and opened the door. A single black envelope - much bigger than the usual ones - had been propped against the door. No delivery man in sight.
She picked it up. “Looks like a special delivery from the Society.”
“Why’s it so big?” I asked.
“Hopefully that’s the exact question you’ll be asking later tonight,” said Chastity.
Madison made her trademark disgusted throat noise.
“Now let’s see what they have in store for us.” Chastity broke the seal and pulled out a thick stack of papers. She read the top sheet. “Good evening, Raven. It was brought to our attention that your second wish - to learn all of Ryder Storm’s secrets - was not completed to your satisfaction. We hope that in the attached documents you will find whatever secrets you seek. Signed, The Society.” She flipped to the next page and her eyes got big.
“What is it?” I asked.
She tossed the stack of papers on the coffee table so we could all see what she was seeing. The top photo was of Ryder entering One57 with two gorgeous blondes, their arms linked with his.The next photo was of him at a bar with a brunette. Then another blonde at a restaurant. On and on it went.
