No.No. Absolutely not. Our relationship was fucked up enough without adding that layer of complication to it. If Billie and I ever said, “I do,” it had to be because she wanted me to be her husband, forever. Not to make me a billionaire.
21
BILLIE
When I walkedinto Ever After Matchmaking’s sunlit office, the first thing that hit me was a cloud of Trevor’s signature cologne—a blend of sandalwood, bergamot, and subtle, mysterious undertones that he claimed made men and women alike “want to inhale me like a pastry.” The second thing that hit me was Trevor himself, six-foot-three, arms outstretched in a grand, swooping hug.
“Good morning, beautiful!” he declared, scooping me in with the same gusto he reserved for extra dirty martinis.
I returned the hug, laughing. “Why can’t you be straight?” I asked a question I’d volleyed back and forth countless times over the years. “You are gorgeous, smart, funny, and you give better hugs than anyone I’ve ever met. And I don’t even like hugs. Also, you don’t even get on my nerves. It’s just rude.”
Before he could reply, Olivia’s cool, precise voice cut through the construction noise from outside and the hiss of the espresso machine. “If he were, I would have put a ring on it long before you met him,” she called from her desk, not even looking up from her double monitor setup. Today, her nails were a pale pink, clicking against the keyboard, while the gleam ofher wedding band caught the sunlight with every movement. “He rejected my lavender marriage proposal on more than one occasion.”
“And I was right!” Trevor seized her left hand and held it aloft as if presenting his evidence. “But look at you now! All wifed up, mother of twins, and still the baddest boss bitch west of the Mississippi.”
If there was one person who gave me hope that I might find love it was Olivia “Man-eater” Bradshaw. It still blew my mind that the divorce attorney was not only married but also a mom to twins.
Bailey’s bestie was a typical type-A, career-oriented, perfectionist. For over a decade she was a high-profile divorce attorney. Her entire life had been built around making partner at her firm before she walked away from it all to run Ever After Matchmaking and now be a mom.
I’dthoughtOlivia and I were two peas in a pod, but now she had two peas in a pod and did seem a lot happier than I ever remember seeing her when she was spending eighty-plus hours a week dissolving people’s marriages.
Would I ever find that sort of happily ever after? I closed my eyes, and my mind went back to Adam kissing me in bed last night. His hands on my?—
“Can I get you something to drink?” Trevor asked, interrupting my instant replay of last night’s activities.
“No. I’m good.”
“Let’s get started.” Trevor motioned for me to sit at Olivia’s desk, and he lowered himself down beside me.
I glanced between the two of them. I’d almost canceled this morning. This weekend was very…eventful. But witnessing Genesis call Adam last night when he dropped me off was a wakeup call.
“Do youbothmeet with all of your clients?” I hated being the center of attention, even if it was only in a group of three.
“Only the VIP ones.” Olivia grinned.
“The difficult ones,” I translated.
“There’s nothing wrong with being selective.” Trevor smiled, showing off his perfect, straight, white teeth. “You’ve already told us a lot of what you are looking for.”
“On the survey.” I’d filled it out right after I agreed to have them set me up at Carly’s birthday party.
Trevor lifted his hand, counting off on his fingers, repeating what I’d said about him. “Gorgeous. Smart. Funny. Someone who doesn’t get on your nerves and who gives great hugs.”
Adam Knight. He was all of those things. He also wasn’t an option for several reasons. Two of whom were five years old and called him “Dad.”
“And we looked over the questionnaire you filled out.” Trevor glanced down at his iPad as Liv stared at her computer screen.
My phone vibrated, and I saw that it was Bailey calling, but I ignored it.
“Do you need to take that?” Trevor asked.
“It’s Bailey. I’ll call her when we’re done.”
I put my phone on silent. I just wanted to get this over with. Rip off the Band-Aid.
“So as far as your dealbreakers, your list is…comprehensive,” Liv commented.
Since that wasn’t a question, I didn’t respond. Some people felt compelled to fill awkward silences, I did not.
