The Billionaire’s Girlfriend Bet - Leslie North Page 0,51

best friends hadn’t showed up.

Grayson and Daniel jostled him out the front door and toward Daniel’s sleek Porsche waiting for them at the front of the building.

“This is going to make you feel better,” Grayson promised, squeezing Blake’s shoulders from behind Blake’s seat as Daniel sped off down the road. “You’ll forget all about everything.”

“You mean forget how I fell in love with a woman who won’t even answer my phone calls?” Blake scoffed. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to forget that.”

“Are you sure it’s not just because you’ve never been heartbroken before?” Daniel asked, but when Blake didn’t grin, or even muster a grunt in return, Daniel elbowed him in the side. “I was trying to lighten the mood a little.”

“I don’t need to have this happen ever again,” Blake said. “Once is enough for me, thanks. Taught me all I needed to know.”

“And what is that?” Grayson asked.

Blake lobbed a sigh. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Come on. Share your secrets,” Daniel encouraged.

“Fine.” Blake crossed his arms, staring out the window as Daniel pulled onto the highway. “I realized there are fewer trade-offs than I thought.”

“Trade-offs in what?” Daniel asked.

“In being with someone. Having an actual relationship.” He drew a breath, trying to ignore the painful wrench in his gut that had accompanied him throughout his days for the past week. “I thought that being with someone was pointless, and that if it happened, it would require me to sacrifice myself. But that’s not the truth.

Grayson grinned, shaking his head. “Nope. It’s not the truth at all.”

“What gets sacrificed are just little pieces of me—pieces that I don’t need anymore,” Blake went on. “And what I get in return is…” He shook his head, sighing. “It’s the best thing I could ever hope for.”

Daniel reached over and squeezed his shoulder. “Damn. You’re about to make me cry.”

“Can’t believe the world’s biggest playboy is saying all of this, but here we are,” Grayson teased.

“Says the IPO-obsessed man who gave it up for Mila,” Blake said, before turning to Daniel to add, “And before you say anything else, let me remind you what an unhappy workaholic you were before you decided to give it all up and adopt a dog with Jackie.”

“Hey. I still work. It’s just from home,” Daniel said, the grin curling at his lips.

“Right.” Blake moved his attention back to the window. Daniel was passing all the other cars in the fast lane. But that’s how it always was when one of them drove—eager to win. “Though I’m pretty sure I remember a time when you swore on our lives that you’d never be caught dead working from home.”

“Guess that just shows how much you can believe me,” Daniel cracked.

“And what we’re worth to you,” Grayson added.

The trio joked and chatted until they pulled into the gated lot of the luxury car dealership. Daniel must have called ahead to organize the event, because a salesman greeted them as soon as they stepped out of the Porsche, leading them to a matte red Ferrari waiting nearby.

“This is some curbside service,” Blake said as the salesman passed the key to him. The friends settled into the lush interior of the car, outfitted with butter-soft black leather seats and a touch screen display that encompassed nearly the entire dashboard. “I’m in the driver’s seat today?”

“Of course. We’re here to make you feel better,” Daniel said.

“Getting to ride along is just a benefit,” Grayson said.

“No burnouts,” the salesman warned as Blake settled into the front seat. He just grinned as he beheld the fully manual luxury sports car. This thing would help take his mind off things for a little bit.

He turned the engine, which roared as much as it purred. A thrill of excitement shuddered through him. He didn’t exactly need a new car right now, but maybe he could swing something like this.

Blake couldn’t hide the grin as he maneuvered out of the parking lot. Daniel and Grayson whooped as he gunned it out onto the open road.

He laughed alongside them, but after a few moments driving seventy in a 50-mph zone, he glanced into his rearview mirror.

Mollie would need the booster seat back there.

His good spirits went tumbling to the ground. Because who was he kidding? This car wasn’t going to pick up his spirits. Not in the long run. Even though Blake himself would have suggested a purchase like this two months ago as a way to feel better about his world, now he