Page 323 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 1

"Did they invite you?" I asked James.

"I haven't gone since I broke it off with Isabella."

I just stared at him. That didn't answer my question.

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Yes, they invite me every year. But they never extended the invitation to you."

"See, they're the worst," Mason said. "They try to control everything James does. They're just pissed that he chose you without their approval first. If I was you, I'd skip the partytomorrow night just to spite them. Throw the whole thing in their faces."

"Mason, you're not really helping," Bee said. "And I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Penny. I just didn't know what to say. The whole situation sucks. I didn't think telling you I had met them would help anything."

"It's okay, I get it." I hated the way I was feeling right now. "So, they're perfectly nice?"

"I don't know," Bee said. "They were polite to me. I don't really know them, though. Well, besides for the fact that Mason doesn't like them and they refuse to meet one of my best friends. I was just trying to make you feel more optimistic. But clearly they're the worst. Sorry, James," she quickly added.

James laughed. "You all already know how I feel about this. As far as I'm concerned, you guys are my real family."

I smiled. That's what Mason's parents had said in their letter to me. Our friends in New York had become part of our family. I loved that James had taken that to heart. He wasn't good at letting people in. But he was opening his heart so much easier recently. When we had first met he seemed so cold. I liked this new warmer side of him.

Mason lifted up his mug. "Here's to the start of a new chapter in our lives."

"Didn't you already start that chapter when you turned 30?" James said and clinked his glass against Mason's.

"I'm only a few months older than you, asshole. Next month you'll know how it feels."

James laughed and took a sip of champagne. "Well, right now, I'm still in my 20s, so I get to tease you for another month, old man."

Mason sighed.

"Speaking of new chapters in our lives, does that mean the two of you have news?" James and I always joked around with Bee and Mason about getting engaged. They had been dating for almost as long as James and I were engaged.

"Unfortunately, Bee has major commitment issues," Mason said.

Bee lightly nudged his shoulder. "Yeah right."

Mason smiled at her. "I'm sure we'll make it official soon."

Bee's cheeks turned even rosier.

"Well, you're not getting any younger," James said.

"Ha. Ha. Let's talk about your bachelor party. We're running out of time, so we need to decide soon. If you want something more traditional, we could do Vegas. Strippers, sex, cocaine, that empty feeling you get inside when you..."

"Whoa," Bee said. "Nope. Mason, you're not planning his bachelor party. There is a zero percent chance that's happening."

James laughed. "Really, none of that sounds appealing."

"What empty feeling are you talking about?" I asked.

"You know...like when you hook up with someone and the next day you wake up realizing how depressed you are that you have nothing real in your life."

"No, I don't know about that."

"You've never had meaningless sex?"

"No?"

Mason shrugged. "Girls from Delaware are so tight laced. Well, until you awaken them."