Page 33 of Falling for the Wrong Billionaire

I give a nervous laugh. "I sure can now, it's everything and more just as everyone has been describing it."

He tips his head, grinning. "You haven't even started enjoying the best parts of it."

We keep walking, weaving through the crowd, and I let myself look. Really look.

It’s everything I’ve never had. Families, friends, neighbors, greeting each other like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Like they belong to each other.

Something twists in my chest.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wondered what it would feel like to grow up like this. To belong to a place. To a people.

It’s more beautiful than I imagined. And harder.

Because I can’t keep it.

I glance at Liam again. He’s taller than most in the crowd, his hands shoved in his pockets, easy in his own skin. Everyone calls his name as we pass, nods, waves. This town is his life.

And I, I’m just passing through.

I force a smile when I feel his gaze on me again.

He stops at a booth selling fresh lemonade and buys two, hands me one.

The quiet between us isn’t uncomfortable, exactly. But it’s thick. Heavy.

We wander to the edge of the fairgrounds, where the crowd thins out, and find a quiet little patch of grass under a tree.

Liam lowers himself to the ground with the kind of lazy confidence I’ll never understand. He gestures for me to sit.

I set the carrier down and do the same. Pip pokes his head out immediately, sniffing the air. Nibbs soon follows. They tumble onto the grass and begin exploring like the world belongs to them.

I watch them for a moment, grateful for the distraction. Then I feel Liam’s eyes on me again.

"You’re quiet," he says softly.

I shrug, keeping my eyes on the ferrets. "Just… taking it all in."

He nods like he understands, though I doubt he really does.

After a while, he speaks again. "I told you Ocean Bay was special."

"You did," I say, smiling faintly.

"It’s… old. Older than gold, some say. Most of the families here have been here for generations. Nobody really wants to leave. Why would they?"

His voice is so full of pride it makes my chest ache.

I glance sideways at him, teasing, because I need to break the heaviness building between us. "That explains why you and your billionaire friends are still here. Even though you could live anywhere you wanted."

He smirks faintly. "We could. But this? This is home. Always will be. The town… it’s our whole life."

I nod slowly. "It’s beautiful."

My voice cracks just a little.

"I wish…" I stop.

But it’s too late. He’s already looking at me closely, his head tilting slightly.