Page 23 of How to Train Your Billionaire

We spend the following day at the neighborhood beach club. It’s a short golf cart ride down to the water. Malachi and I took the bikes so there was room for Olivia to ride down with Francesca and Charles.

Olivia suns herself in a barely there bikini, and Malachi and I spend most of the afternoon surfing.

Francesca seems attentive to my uncle, which is good to see. I honestly wasn’t sure. They spent the morning playing a very relaxed game of pickleball, then they competed head-to-head in something calledWordle, and now they’re doing a crossword puzzle while she sips a mai tai.

“Should we get some lunch?” I ask.

Olivia pops one earbud out. “Did you say something?”

“Lunch?”

She nods.

“I’m in,” Malachi says.

“Charles?”

He exchanges a look with Francesca and frowns. “You should join them. I’m going to nap right here.” He pats the lounge chair and leans back, placing a large straw hat over his head.

Francesca hesitates, but I nod my approval. “You’re more than welcome.”

“I’ll bring you back something,” she says to Charles, who only waves her off. He does seem quite tired, and I’ve got to say, this is probably a lot of activity for him. Though I do think it’s good for him. The man has worked long hours for decades, ensuring the family trust funds are performing above market expectations. He deserves some R & R.

It’s a short walk to the beach bar, and after Olivia dresses in a long flowing white dress, we set off.

I follow Malachi and Francesca, walking barefoot along the shoreline with Olivia at my side. The waves roll in lazily, licking at the sand before retreating. It’s perfect and beautiful here, but something feels off between Olivia and me.

Inviting her on this trip was a bit impulsive—which isn’t like me. I guess I wanted to see if there was more beneath her perfect exterior. We’d been dating for a few weeks, but the more I got to know Olivia, the more doubts I had.

“Pretty incredible out here, huh?” I say, motioning to the water. The sunlight glints off the waves, casting everything in a golden glow.

She follows my gaze, squinting behind her shades. “Yeah, totally. I mean, the light is amazing. Imagine how good a photo would look here. Do you think the lighting would hit me right if we faced that way?” She gestured toward the setting sun.

I stop walking and stare at her, half expecting her to be joking. She isn’t.

I nod slowly.

“Good, because I was hoping to do a little photo shoot. If you’re up for being my photographer later?” She pouts slightly, tugging her sunglasses off and hooking them in the neckline of her bikini top. It feels like a practiced move—calling attention to her breasts in order to get what she wants.

“Uh, I guess so.”

“What? I’m just saying, it’s good content. Not everyone gets to be here, you know.”

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. Olivia seems to have a way of making me feel like I need to loosen up, to stop overthinking everything and just be cool. More laid-back. More like her.

After that we walk in silence for a few minutes. Malachi and Francesca seemed to be deep in conversation ahead of us. Malachi lets out a deep laugh at something she says, and they’re both nodding and chuckling now. Francesca’s beachwear leaves a lot to be desired—instead of Olivia’s matching bikini and cover-up, fashionable sun hat and shades, Francesca is wearing a simple one-piece black suit and an oversize T-shirt, which she manages to pull off, honestly.

Realizing that Olivia is still talking, I try to focus.

“And when we get back, I hope you’re ready for a night of the most ridiculous people you’ll ever meet,” she said. “The gallery crowd is so over the top.”

I glance over, realizing she’s head down as she walks, scrolling on her phone. “Gallery?”

She looks up. “My friend Gianna is having this exhibit thing when we get home. It’s all, like, made out of recycled trash. Very trendy.”

“Sounds interesting,” I say, stepping over a sand castle that some kid has abandoned. “What’s the theme?”

She waves a hand dismissively. “I don’t know. Something about consumerism? Honestly, I don’t even get half of what she does, but it makes for good Instagram content.”