The Billionaire's Pretend Girlf - Leslie North Page 0,53

first time in his entire life. When he finally spoke, it was more of a sputter. “What do you think you’re going to do, huh? You think you can walk away from what you’re making here and find it anywhere else? You’re insane. What, you want to start from scratch, like your friend Grayson? Be my guest. Don’t call me when your savings dry up and you need a hand.”

Daniel grimaced. He’d expected this. But it didn’t matter. The worst was over. Now, all he needed to do was figure out a game plan, and take a step forward.

“I’m sorry it had to be like this,” Daniel said. “You’re still my dad. But you can’t be my boss anymore. We need a new arrangement. This isn’t working for me. It hasn’t worked for a long time.”

By the time Daniel hung up, his pulse was racing and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to scream swear words from his balcony or go puke in the bathroom. In the end, he did neither—instead, he paced his penthouse, overcome with freedom and options and wild ideas. It was late, definitely bedtime. But with how he was feeling, he might not sleep for two days.

It didn’t matter. He was a free agent. He had the money to sit back and figure out what came next. And for the first time in his life, he was ready to undertake the challenge of creating something for himself.

And maybe, at the end of it all, Jackie would be there to cheer him on.

But even if she wasn’t, he owed her a big thank you for lighting the fire under his ass.

18

Six weeks after the wedding that changed her life, Jackie was finally heading to her friend Geri’s house to pick up some mail she’d had forwarded there.

It was one of the consequences of being homeless. Using different mailing addresses, depending on whose home she was using between gigs. It wasn’t ideal. In fact, it was the least ideal situation ever.

Still, she tried not to dwell on it too much. To remind herself that her life was no different than before she’d met Daniel. Still broke; still working paycheck to paycheck; still finishing out her last year of school.

But it didn’t feel the same. Nothing felt the same since Daniel, actually. Even though she tried to convince herself otherwise, every day.

“Heeey, there you are!” Geri grinned, wrapping Jackie in a hug as soon as she stepped into her apartment. This place was more like home than anywhere else for Jackie—a lived-in townhouse with comfy couches and lots of natural sunlight. A place where she could just unwind and feel accepted.

“Sorry I’m running late. I just came from my last house-sitting assignment in Marin.”

Geri headed for her living room. “Was it better than the last one?”

“Yes, thank God.” Her first assignment post-Daniel had been a disaster—carpet stains, a tower of dirty dishes, and piled-up laundry while claiming they only wanted ‘light housekeeping.’ “This new family had a smaller house, and the best part? They have a dog.”

“Aww, what’s his name?” Geri settled on the couch and Jackie sank in beside her.

“Henry,” she said, picking at her cuticles. Was it wrong to still wish she could visit Daniel’s fish…and the man himself?

“You don’t seem very happy about the name,” Geri said with a laugh.

Jackie sighed, her head dropping back on the couch. “It’s just that…no. I don’t to want to go there.”

Geri swatted at her friend’s leg. “What is it? You can tell me.”

Jackie frowned. “It’s another Daniel thing.” She hated how many times she’d mentioned this short-lived romance to her best friend over the past month. “One of his fish was named Henry.”

Geri nodded, understanding creasing her expression. “You still miss him, don’t you?”

Jackie covered her face with her hands, groaning. It was so like her best friend to call her out like this. “Yeah, I mean, I guess so? I think I’ll be missing him for the rest of my life. Even though that’s so ridiculous to say.”

“It’s not ridiculous,” Geri said, crossing her legs beneath her. “It sounds like true love.”

Jackie pouted. “I think about him every day. I’m always wondering if he’s taking care of himself; where he’s at in the world; whether or not he’s happy. What we shared happened fast, but god, it was so real.”

Geri squeezed Jackie’s arm. “Sounds like the real thing, hon. We can’t control this stuff. We can only manage the consequences.”

Jackie laughed but it faded quickly. “I’m sure he