Page 7 of Grumpy Billionaire Seeking Wife (Billionaires Seeking Wives Club #1)

Chapter Five

S abrina

"Repeat after me, Sabrina. Tonight is going to be amazing.

" Erica grabs my hands and squeezes. Her eyes are alight with anticipation, and her mind is racing.

After I'd told her about the offer from Rudolpho, she'd been trying to think who his celebrity friend was.

She thought it was someone really big, but they didn't want to be outed on the site, so they were using Rudolpho to meet girls. I wasn't so sure about that.

"Tonight is going to be amazing," I say dutifully and down another shot of tequila. "I mean, he does seem like he's fun."

"He sounds like he has a great sense of humor." She throws her head back giddily. "Plus, he’s cute, and from the things he's been saying, he's loaded. And he wants to spoil you."

"I guess so." I think about his last messages and how he said he wanted to take me to Vegas for twenty-four hours of fun, but I’m not sure if he meant shows and nice dinners fun, or just crazy sex. I’m still not 100 percent sure I know who Rudolpho is as a person.

"What if it's Liam Hemsworth?" Erica fans her face. "I would die."

"I mean, maybe." I nod slowly. "Seems unlikely, though."

"Oh, my Gawd, what if it's Channing Tatum? Didn't his engagement just break up?"

"Umm, I don't know, but you can ask Rudolpho tonight if it's him."

"If it's Michael B. Jordan, I'm going to ask him if I can have a role in his next movie." She giggles. "After I give him the best night of his life."

"Girl...." I press my lips together and just shake my head. "I wouldn't get your hopes up."

"I know, but just think, tonight might be the first night of the rest of our lives. What if tonight is our last first date ever? What if we marry best friends? That would be so cool."

"It would be cool." I'm starting to get caught up in her chatter.

What if Rudolpho is the man who sweeps me off my feet?

What if he's the one? I'm not sure if the universe is convincing me of the possibility or alcohol, but Erica's excitement is infectious, and I can feel myself loosening up and feeling joy for the first time this evening.

“Tonight is going to be the first night of the rest of my life.” I squeal as I walk around the large, sunlit living room, pretending to be a supermodel.

The living room is twice the size of my studio apartment, and I feel like I'm on an episode of The Real Housewives of New York , with the view of Central Park right outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.

“Erica, I finally read that book you got me last year, and I am manifesting that my date tonight is going to be the man of my dreams, so I might not even need these photos we're taking for the apps.” I stare at the natural light pouring in and shiver.

This really is an amazing apartment. I can't believe that Wes lives here. My heart races at the thought of him.

“I know. I’m feeling good about my date, as well,” she squeals in response as she runs over to me and grabs my hands. We jump up and down like giddy school girls and then calm down. “I can feel love in the air tonight. I think tonight is a full moon.”

“Is that a good omen?” I ask her, not really knowing anything about celestial signs. “Also, is it weird that we’re going on a double date?”

“No clue, if I’m honest.” She giggles and taps her forehead, and I can’t help but laugh at her antics.

Erica has been my best friend for years, and she truly is someone I can share everything with—at least everything I feel comfortable sharing.

“All I know is that these dates will be great fodder for our podcast.” She beams and clears her throat.

“We’re young. We’re allowed to experiment with dating. ”

“I just hope we’re not being too na?ve." I sigh as harsh reality hits my brain. "Like, should we be studying for finals tonight as opposed to going on this date?"

"Sabrina Fillmore, stop it right now! You work hard and study all the time. And you look after your mom. You have to allow some time for yourself. Whether tonight is amazing or not, we both still need the break. Hold on, I’m thirsty, let me grab a drink from the kitchen.”

“Okay,” I nod, watching as she walks into the kitchen.

I take a few deep breaths and rub my forehead.

I want to enjoy tonight. I want to enjoy my youth while I still can.

I know I've let life impact the carefreeness that comes with being young in the city, and I don't want to wake up one day and regret that.

I spin around the room and hum the words to “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone.

The song always makes me happy. Nostalgic in some ways.

Hopeful in others. I just want a man who loves me so much that he can't imagine life without me.

Though sometimes, I'm worried that it won't last even then. It didn't for my parents.

“This may be the last first date of my life,” I shout out to Erica as I continue to dance around and attempt to block out thoughts of my parents.

Of the dad I barely remember. My heart thuds painfully.

How could he just walk away? “Of both of our lives,” I add loudly, though I’m still slightly skeptical about the double date.

I need to stop thinking of Dad and the way he abandoned us.

I know it wasn't my fault, but there were moments when I just wondered if it was me.

Maybe I wasn't lovable. But maybe Rudolpho will show me that I am.

Maybe this crazy experience is going to be for a reason. It is unusual, for sure. I matched with a man on a dating app, and he asked if I had a friend for his friend. Like, that was weird. Normally, I prefer one-on-one first dates, but I am trying to be more open to other options in life.

I clap my hands together lightly to clear my mind of doubt and do a happy dance as I walk over to the floor-to-ceiling windows and look out at the breathtaking view.

“Hey hey.” I pretend that I live here every day and look out at the plebians walking down the street.

I stand there, just staring at the people, wondering who they are and where they're going.

If my dad is among them. I close my eyes for a few moments as I press my forehead against the glass.

I allow myself to just be. To breathe. To relax.

To process all the emotions running through me.

And then I takea gigantic deep breath and smile.

"Tonight is going to be a good night," I tell myself as I go see what Erica is up to.

I run my fingers down the side of my hips and spin around, my earrings jangling with the movement. I scream as I see a tall, large body standing right behind me. A body that is not Erica’s. A body that is tall, dark, and handsome. He towers over me, and all I can do is shiver.

“You’re not wearing that outfit on the date, are you?

” The questioning dark brown eyes accompany loud laughter, and my entire body freezes as I take in the muscular body of Wes, Erica’s oldest brother.

His tie is tousled, and his white shirt fits him like a glove.

Why does he make me tremble so? He's too handsome.

Even more handsome than he was the last time I saw him and made a fool of myself.

The sound of his laughter makes me stop in my tracks, and my heart pounds so loudly that I’m positive he can hear it.

I didn’t hear him come into the apartment, and I’m annoyed by the fact that my face is turning bright red at his assertive gaze.

He looks amused as he stands there, with his cocky smirk and laughing dark brown eyes.

I haven't seen him in over a year, but he's just as gorgeous as I remember him being. Gosh darn it!

“Who do you think you're talking to?" My hands fly to my hips as I jut out my chin. I am not going to let him intimidate me or make me feel guilty for parading around his apartment like I own it.

“I’m speaking to you, Sabrina.” The words slide out of his full lips smoothly, and I resist the urge to poke him in the chest—hard.

I don't want to have to beat him up, especially since I'm in his apartment.

Uninvited. If my mother finds out, she'll be so disappointed. She loves the Carrington family.

“Excuse me.” I try to speak in a haughty tone, but instead, I sound like a squeaky mouse.

Darn my nerves. There is something that happens to me when I’m around Wes Carrington that turns me into a fool.

Wes Carrington has always made me self-conscious and irritable.

I’ve known him since I was thirteen, when Erica and I became best friends.

He’s six years older than us, so he never actually spent any real time with us, but I spent enough time in their home, ogling him from afar, for most of my high school years.

Not that he's ever really noticed me as more than Erica's best friend.

I finally got a quasi-boyfriend when I was a senior in high school and attempted to dismiss Wes from my brain.

There was one instance that I went to him for advice about my relationship, and ever since then, he's acted like I'm some sort of doofus, while he's some sort of wizened sage that knows everything.

Just because I asked him if I had a right to be angry at my boyfriend for getting head from Amber Davidson at a football game while I stayed home to study.