His Off Limits Best Friend - Vivian Wood Page 0,54

keep the terms of the contract?” he asked.

She realized she had some leverage here. She sighed, and knew she could get out of the contract at this point if she really wanted to. In fact, maybe that was what he wanted. Or did he expect her to ask for more money now? There was no way in hell that was happening.

“I keep my word. No matter what,” she said. But she couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eye. She was afraid she’d cry, or worse. The last thing she needed was to flip out on him.

Connor got up to leave. He didn’t say a word.

She once again opened her mouth to say something. Wasn’t he at least going to give her a ride home? Sure, she’d taken an Uber to the airport, but she’d thought—fuck. She was a goddamned idiot.

Sam powered up her phone and ordered an Uber. It was ten minutes away.

As she waited in the private area of Reagan, she couldn’t believe it. She kept going over the weekend in her mind, looking for some kind of clue. What did she miss? Did he really feel so little for her? Obviously. He made that quite clear.

The Uber driver tried to make conversation on the way back. “I’ve never picked up anyone from that part of Reagan before!” the man with dreadlocks to his mid-back said. “You famous or something?”

“Or something,” she said quietly.

He eyed her in the rearview and tried to make out who she might be. “I don’t recognize your name,” he said, and he held up the app. “You one of those millionaire YouTube beauty vloggers or something? You look like you could be.”

“No,” she said. “I just work for an asshole rich guy.”

“Oh, I get you,” he said. “I get some of those sometimes in my car.”

When she walked into her home, it felt stale and foreign. Some of her houseplants had wilted already. Usually she’d ask a neighbor to water them, but Connor’s request had come so fast—and early—she hadn’t had time. “I’m sorry,” she said to her plants as she watered them and situated the ones that liked it closer to the sun.

You just going to up and leave your life like that whenever he calls? But she’d meant what she said. She would fulfill this contract no matter what. It was a matter of pride at this point. And she’d just have to forget what had happened in Monaco.

She reached for her phone and texted Jenny. Hey! Happy Fourth. Weird question, are you still on that dating app?

Jenny replied immediately with a series of firework emojis. Yes on the app. Why? You thinking of signing up?

Was wondering if I could just check it out. Can I login as you?

Sure, haven’t been on in awhile. Might be a ton of messages, just ignore them, she replied, along with the login information.

Sam downloaded the app. Her heart pounded as she logged in with Jenny’s information. She hadn’t been joking. There were over 200 unread messages and a slew of other notifications she didn’t understand. Curious, she clicked on the fire icon.

Jenny had an impressive amount of matches. She’d matched with Connor just nine hours ago. Of course, it wasn’t his real name, but Sam would know that photo anywhere. She’d taken it of him on the beach not even three days ago.

Sam slammed the phone down on the couch and tucked her knees under her chin. I will not cry. I will not cry, she told herself. Is that what he was doing whenever we weren’t fucking? Setting up hookups and dates for the minute he got back?

She felt like the biggest fool. Worse, she hated herself for feeling anything for him at all. How could she be mad at him? He’d never pretended to be anything other than what he was.

Still, as she thought about the last four days and how over the moon she’d been, the tears started to fall. They were ugly, the kind that left her breathless.

Sam curled up onto the couch and let it all out. She wanted to hate him, but couldn’t. This had all been her doing. She should have seen the signs.

When the doorbell rang, she quieted down and hid deeper into the couch. Heavy footsteps could be heard on the porch. It rang again. If that’s Connor, I don’t even give a shit. I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.

Her hurt had turned to rage, and she stomped toward the