Page 97 of The Billionaire's Teacher

“Your smirk suggests you don’t really mean it.” His eyes danced. “But I’ll try to behave. For now.”

“Thanks.” I needed to get myself under control. He needed to get himself under control. Good grief, neither of us were teenagers. “Should we go find your friends and sit?”

“We can do that. They’re your friends too, you know.”

I nodded. I could actually agree with that, even though I hadn’t known them long. At least the women were. The guys? Well, I guessed we’d find out what they thought of me after today. I took a deep, steadying breath. I could do this.

I would do this.

I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear and followed Wes as he led me into the sanctuary and down the side aisle to the row where I spotted Jenna and Megan already standing and chatting with the rest of the guys.

“Relax. They’ll love you.” Wes paused and met my gaze. “Even if it’s only because I do.”

I squeezed his hand, bolstered by his words. “I love you, too.”

He flashed a grin and took the final steps to the aisle where his friends were gathered. “Hey, guys.”

Everyone looked over.

I had one of those moments that usually only happens in dreams—where it feels like you’re standing onstage in front of a packed audience with the bright, hot spotlight burning down from above and you realize you never got your copy of the script. My stomach knotted and it sounded like everyone talking was underwater.

“You all right?” Wes whispered and nudged me with his elbow.

I smiled, but it felt sickly. Hopefully, it didn’t look that way to everyone else. “Yeah.” I lifted a hand in greeting to the group.

Jenna shot me two thumbs up. The tension in my shoulders eased. My smile relaxed.

“Hi. It’s nice to meet you all.” I squeezed Wes’s hand.

After a moment, he squeezed back. A couple of times. Oh. I loosened my grip.

Wes met my gaze and mouthed, “Ow.”

“Sorry,” I muttered.

“Looks like they’re about to start.” Wes nodded toward the platform where the worship band was moving into position.

Everyone in the sanctuary seemed to notice the cue. Conversations quieted and rows filled up with congregants.

I was grateful to have the aisle seat with only Wes beside me.

I enjoyed the service. It was a lot like the church I usually attended—minus the tropical temperatures. Most of the songs were the same, though some of the tunes were different. The pastor gave a good sermon on faith from Luke chapter seventeen. It left me with a lot to think about. So many people used the mustard seed in their sermons—or their inspirational faith memes—but I appreciated that the pastor focused more on how we weren’t meant to have faith in our faith, but that we were to put our faith in Jesus and be obedient to Him.

I saved the notes I’d taken in my app and flipped my phone cover closed so I could stand with Wes for the benediction. When it finished and an upbeat Christian song began to play, he turned to me.

“What’d you think?”

“I liked it. A lot. I see why you chose it.” I reached for his hand.

“Are you nervous?” Wes’s eyebrows drew together. “We can skip lunch with the crew if you want.”

I shook my head. “No. We don’t need to do that. In fact, I think that would be a bad idea. I want to get to know them. I—they’ll be my friends, too. Like you said.”

Wes leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “Thanks.”

“Where are we eating?” Megan bounced on her toes.

“Someone decide fast.” Kayla was already unwrapping a granola bar. “The pregnant lady is starving.”

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