That’s not enough time.
When Mitchell doesn’t respond after half an hour, I try again.
Jordan
At least give me five days.
Mitchell never answers my pleas.
“We’ll give Adam another day, and then we call in the big guns,” Libby says, pressing her lips into a displeased line.
I sigh in frustration. “I’m sorry about this, Libby.”
Libby bursts into a laugh, then stands and throws her arms around me. Hugging her back is automatic.
Keeping her arms on my shoulders, she leans back to look up at me. “This is definitely not on you. This is on Mitchell Hurst. Like I said before, I’m not surprised people are coming after you for quick cash.” She reaches up and takes my face in her hands. All her movements seem automatic—natural gestures between two people falling in love. I don’t know if she even realizes what she’s doing. I won’t stop her. These are the things that remind me that sheisfalling, just like me. That we have a future. “This will probably happen again.I’msorry, Jord, for roping you into this marriage and everything that’s coming with it.”
I rest my hands lightly on her hips, though I want to grip them and pull her closer to me. “I’m not sorry, even a little bit, about that,” I say in a low voice. “Worth it.”
“Only because you know I’ve got the cash,” she teases, but her voice is soft and her face comes closer to mine.
No kissing, no kissing, no kissing, I remind myself.
“Do you know how much a billion dollars is?” I quote her. She’s wanted to pay Mitchell all along. She laughs, and her breath feathers across my lips. “You’re killing me,” I whisper.
“I know,” she whispers back. “I’m sorry about that too.”
“Worth it,” I repeat.
She smiles, then tilts her head against my chest for a moment, taking in a long breath and then breaking away. “Okay. Back to work.”
The next night, we have date night with Ellie and Will. Though Libby and I prefer to stay at home and hang out with each other, since we can be completely real, Ellie insists that going out is important for couples too. Social media is already used to our usual lack of serious PDA. We hold hands, and I put my arm around her, but nothing more. There will always be comments about if our relationship is failing, but in general her fans come to our defense.
Libby is a total professional. She’s not going to make out with her husband for the paparazzi.
Libby almost squealed with glee when she saw that comment. It’s the exact way she wants her fans to see her, and with the first episode ofBeing Libby Bennetcoming out in a couple weeks, she’s confident taking back the narrative on her image is a success so far.
We’re deep into a conversation of Will lamenting that Kat wants to join a dance class instead of the flag football team he wants to sign her up for, when Libby gets a text. She flips her phone over to check who’s gotten through the Do Not Disturb setting she has on for dinner. A glance shows me Adam’s contact.
“What is it?” Ellie asks.
Libby opens her phone and reads the text. “Adam found something. It’s not big, just interesting.” She hands me the phone for me to read the text.
Adam
Managed to chat up a woman Mitchell’s been dating for a few weeks, getting an idea of his behavior. Says he’s been texting a lot with a number not saved in his phone. Said she got suspicious a few nights ago because she happened to see a text that said they’re not going to pay when he left his phone at the table at dinner while he went to the restroom. Pretty sure someone else is involved.
“Time to use our secret weapon,” Libby says when I hand the phone back. “I’m calling Caleb.”
CHAPTER 34
JORDAN
Sitting in the stands next to Libby and watching the team participate in a clinic for elementary school kids should be fun. Actually, I should be down on the ice helping out, but I’ve been hovering near Libby all morning. Caleb promised her an update this morning on what he’s found out about who might be working with Mitchell, and I want to be nearby when he calls.
Still, I’m about to get up and tell her that I’m going to grab a snack, just to get up, move my legs, and get out of my head, when her phone rings. I look over at her as she reaches for it.
“Caleb,” she confirms. She taps to answer on speaker. “Hey, give us a second. We’re heading into my office now for privacy,” she says.
