Page 66 of The Billionaire's Teacher

“Was it really that bad to handle the paperwork for us? Because I recall offering to find someone who did specialize in international real estate and being told not to be dumb.” Scott pinned Tristan with a glare.

“True. And yet. I thought it’d be a one-time thing.” Tristan offered a tight smile and looked around the table. “Or are you all going to go buy stuff offshore? Should I go back to school?”

“Maybe take on a partner who already specialized?” Noah grinned.

Tristan let out an exasperated grunt.

“I liked it better when we were teasing Wes about his older lady friend.” Tristan glanced at Cody and Noah, the only two currently still in. “Would the two of you hurry up and figure it out so we can start a new game?”

“Oh, fine.” Noah pushed all his chips into the center of the table. “Let’s do it, Cody.”

Cody shook his head. “Nah, man. I’m out. You got it.”

“Excellent.” Noah put his cards down and pulled the chips to himself.

“Aren’t you going to show us your hand?” Cody nodded toward the cards in front of Noah.

“Nope.” He snagged the other discarded cards and quickly mixed them in with his.

“Seriously?” Cody scowled. “You were bluffing, weren’t you?”

“You’ll never know.” Noah looked at Austin. “Your deal, man.”

I breathed out a tiny woosh of relief when Tristan’s attempt to restart the conversation about Sunny seemed to fizzle. As much as I loved these guys, I needed some time. Space. Something.

Whatever it took to get back to the place where I wasn’t picturing her as part of all the pieces of my life.

She’d only been in my life for two weeks. It didn’t seem right or fair that everything without her was a little less vibrant.

But telling the guys that? Talk about opening the door to endless ribbing.

Hard pass.

I could get over her. Move on.

I had to.

18

SUNSHINE

Idropped into the chair on my porch and propped my feet on the rail with a sigh. It was good to be home.

I stared out over my little stretch of sandy beach to the water that lapped at the shore, then let my gaze drift farther out across the blue. Birds called to one another. The waves whispered. My windchimes tinkled cheerily in the light breeze.

I’d spent the last week and a half working as many charters as I could. Finally, Zee and the owner ganged up on me and sent me home. There were other captains. I should share. All the usual objections to me using work as my coping mechanism for grief.

So. Fine.

I was home.

And maybe, in some small way, they were right.

I could breathe a little easier here.

But I could also think. And that was really the hard part. Because here, in the cottage Luca and I had built, where we planned to spend our lives, I couldn’t escape memories of him. And I couldn’t keep from picturing Wes here, either.

It was ridiculous. We’d known each other two weeks. Maybe we’d spent more time together in that brief acquaintance than many people did if they dated once a week for months, but that didn’t mean I was in love with him.

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