Bet On It: An Age Gap Billionaire Office Romance(63)

I shook my head. "I promise you. I've never ever had any interest in Paul, especially now. I don't think he's good enough for you. Of course he's going to turn things around to save face, but I've got my own man troubles. I don't want to be involved in yours."

She tilted her head to the side. "I've seen those pictures of you with that hockey player. He's not your boss, is he?"

I shook my head. "Bo is just a friend. We’re hanging out because we both needed a friend. But that's it. My man troubles are still with my boss. And one thing that I've learned, Betts, is that the heart can want something really, really badly, but actually having it could be bad for you. I know you love Paul, and you have this whole life with him planned out, but he’s not good for you. He's not good to you. I know that maybe you don't believe me, but—"

"I believe you." She scrubbed a hand over her face, so I wasn't sure I heard her right.

"What?"

She looked up at me and huffed out a breath. "I believe you. The signs were there, but I just didn't want to believe it."

"What signs?"

"The secret calls he would take. The business trips at all times. He doesn't think I notice, but I still see him looking at other women. And not in the way that anyone might look at an attractive person. He looks in a way like he’s mentally taking note to get her number later. To be honest, the last big red flag came the night of our engagement when you stormed out of the house in your pajamas and slippers. You said you had to work, and Paul said he didn't know why you'd run off. And when you didn't say anything after that, I just figured it was my imagination."

Guilt burned like a boiling cauldron in my gut. I rose from the chair and went to the couch to sit next to her, taking her hand. "I am so sorry that I was such a coward. I’ve learned that about myself lately. I'm a big, fat coward."

She shrugged, leaning over and resting her head on my shoulder. "I get it. I suppose if it were reversed, I’d have a hard time telling you as well."

I shook my head. "No, you wouldn't."

She lifted her head, and for the first time, she smiled. "You're right, I would tell you. Next time I date a cheating jerk, I expect you to tell me."

I squeezed her hand. "I promise. Does that mean you forgive me?"

"Yes, I forgive you."

I put my arm around her, giving her a hug. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you as my friend."

"You'll never have to know."

I sat back on the couch. "So, where are things with you and Paul now? Did you break up last night?"

She shook her head. "No. I said I didn't want it to be true, and he spent the whole night saying all the right things. Making all the right promises. But I've had all day today to think about it, and if I'm honest with myself, I know you’re the one telling the truth. Then I was peeved at you because you hadn't told me sooner. Because that was why you ran out the night of the engagement, right?"

I nodded, wondering how I could make this up to her. "So, what now?"

She pulled her phone out of her lounge pants pocket. "Now I call Paul and break up with him."

“Do you want me to leave the room?"

"You don't have to, but if you wanted to go get ice cream and wine to celebrate my newfound freedom, I wouldn't mind having that at the ready once I finish this call."

I grinned and patted her knee. "Ice cream and wine coming right up."

I hurried into the kitchen and opened the freezer. Two pints of ice cream sat unopened. I decided we didn’t need bowls. I grabbed both containers and two spoons, setting them on a tray. Then I pulled out a bottle of wine from the refrigerator and two glasses.

I carried the tray into the living room just in time to hear Betts say, "You know, Paul, you're not as great as you think you are. I've had bigger dicks in my life. And I don't mean dick as in asshole. You win that contest. I mean I’ve had bigger penises. In fact, yours is the smallest." She poked the Off button and tossed the phone on the couch.

My brows were lifted as I set the tray on the coffee table.

"Asshole." She grabbed one of the containers of ice cream and a spoon.

"Is that true about his dick?"

She looked up and grinned. "Oh, yeah. It's true what they say, love is blind, because clearly, I decided his tiny dick wasn't important. I’d known from the start because his hands are pretty small."

I let out a laugh as I screwed the top off the wine and poured us each a large glass. "I always thought that was a myth. Now I know differently."

I sat on the couch next to her, and she looked at me with her head cocked to the side. "Do you have personal experience in debunking that myth?"

I couldn't hide my grin, and the way my cheeks warmed, I knew I was blushing. "Oh, yeah."

"I realize that in all this marriage excitement, I don't really know what's going on in your life, Analyn. If you have met a man with large hands, I need to know about it."

Betts and I spent the rest of the night eating ice cream and getting drunk on wine. We laughed and we cried, and our friendship was restored. To make up for my waiting so long to tell her about Paul, and knowing I would probably be hung over, I suggested we call in sick the next day and spend it together.