Page 27 of The Runaway Billionaire's Inconvenient Baby
“It looks it,” I say, and I mean that genuinely.
A couple wander over to us and ask if they can take a seat.
Billie looks at me, and I smile at them both. “Sure thing. I’m Jacob,” I say, offering my hand.
“Sage,” says one of them.
“And I’m Louise.”
“Good to meet you,” I say, then squint more closely. “Wait, didn’t I come into your store today?”
Louise nods with a grin. “You sure did, and let me tell you that your fit is looking fire.”
“Thanks… I think.”
Then I notice Sage’s eyes widen behind her sunglasses. “Wait. Like Jacob who wants to steal our island, Jacob?”
Billie shoots me a look as if to say,playnice. But something about the atmosphere of this whole thing has put me in a great mood, and I would have been nice even without her. “Yes, that’s me,” I say, throwing up my hands. “It’s a beautiful place.” I trail off, not wanting to make them any promises about not buying it or saving their homes or anything like that. I try not to make promises I can’t keep. “What do you two do?” I ask instead.
They tell me more about the shop they run on the beachfront. Sage makes sculptures and tableware, and they sell what they can. I find myself acting like I’m in another person’s body, asking questions and being interested in the response. I learn that Louise has lived here all her life, but Sage moved five years ago. That they’re getting married next spring. That Billie is invited.
Of course, Billie is invited. I don’t think there’s a single person on this island that Billie doesn’t know.
They don’t ask any questions about me or anything else about me buying the island. But that doesn’t seem to matter. For a change, I’m genuinely interested in their lives. For the first time in years, it’s like a great cloak has dropped from my shoulders, one of paranoia and longing.
Being here in the bright sunshine, chatting to some new friends, I feel alive again.
I feel like I’ve spent years missing out. Maybe I have. Maybe this is the kind of life I could have been living all along.
Billie taps me on the shoulder. “I’m going to sell some more raffle tickets. Do you want one?”
“How much are they?”
“Five dollars each.”
“I’ll take one, but put me down to donate this much.” I lean in and whisperthreemillionin her ear.
She gasps, her hand flying to her mouth. “We can’t take that.”
“Why not?”
“It’s a lot of money!”
“I know. That’s why I’m giving it to you. Do something good with it. I’ll make sure the transfer goes through tonight.”
“Thank you,” she whispers and squeezes my shoulder before darting off.
“She’s the best, isn’t she?” says Louise dreamily. “I’ve known her since we were kids.”
“And she’s always been like this?”
“Oh yeah, she practically unionized the playground at one point when the teachers tried to take chocolate milk away from us.”
I grin. “Tell me more.”
And Louise does, telling me tiny secrets about Billie’s childhood, about their lives here. They treat me like I’m a normal person, here to spend time with the community. I know Billie is going to be weird about my donation, but I meant it. The charity work issomething I’ll let them continue even after I move in. I feel like I owe them that much, at least.
After I move in. It all sounds so certain. I really have my heart set on this place.
