Tapping The Billionaire (Bad Boy Billionaires #1)(73)

I shook my head, more than ready to meet the notorious Thatch. I’d heard enough stories to understand he was an infamous jokester and a ton of fun to hang out with, but Kline and I had yet to get around to hanging out with him.

“Well, follow me, ladies.” Will gestured toward the bar. “Your boyfriend’s been wondering where you were. I told him you guys probably stopped for shots and dancing at Barcelona before heading this way.”

“That sounds like nothing we would do,” Cass disagreed, hiding her smile.

“Uh-huh,” Will said, grinning. “I’m sure you didn’t get Harry Potter shots and request the house band to play Britney Spears either.”

I shook my head, biting my cheek. “Nope. Definitely didn’t do that.”

We totally did.

It had taken a round of beers for the band to play Cass’s request, “I’m A Slave 4 U,” but they’d done it, and we’d danced like fools. It was an ongoing inside joke when we went out together. If we were going to request songs, it had to be a cheesy pop song. We loved seeing the reactions of the patrons in the establishment when our ridiculous request started to play—annoyed, groaning, cursing our names—but like clockwork, by the end of the song, everyone would be singing and dancing along with us.

“Yeah, no way we did that,” Cass agreed, laughing quietly.

As we walked toward the bar, I caught Kline’s reflection in the giant mirror accented by liquor bottles. My gaze moved to the attractive guy sitting beside him and déjà vu hit me full force, damn near knocking me to the ground.

Holy shit.

I stopped dead in my tracks, holding on to Cass’s arm in a viselike grip.

“What the hell?” She turned toward me, confused.

My hands shook as I realized why I knew the guy next to Kline.

It was Ruck.

Oh, no.

Ruck was here and he was sitting beside Kline, chatting like they were the best of friends.

Oh. Fuck.

I pulled Cassie away from the bar.

Will turned toward us, hands pushed out in a what the f*ck? gesture.

“I forgot I need to go to the bathroom!” I called over my shoulder, damn near dragging Cassie across the floor.

“Holy hell, what is going on?” she questioned as I pushed through the crowd.

I didn’t answer her until we were safely tucked inside the ladies’ restroom.

“Oh my God, Cass!” I groaned, my voice echoing in the dimly lit room.

“I’m so confused,” she muttered. “What is going on?”

“I know that guy next to Kline.”

“Because he’s Kline’s friend Thatch, right?”

I shook my head, pacing the confined room like a caged animal.

“Are you going to give me a hint here or do I need to keep guessing?”

“He’s Ruck.”

“Huh?”

“Ruck! TapNext Ruck!” I stopped, my arms flying out in front of me.

She tilted her head. “The guy who sent the Hunchcock?”

I nodded maniacally. “Well, it wasn’t really his Hunchcock,” I started to explain, but realized we really didn’t have time for that.

“I think I’m still missing something? I’m not really understanding your panic here…” She paused, waiting for me to give an explanation.

“Well, I never really stopped talking to him,” I muttered, feeling ashamed to admit it out loud.

“Excuse me?” she asked, her eyes popping out in shock. “You’ve been talking to him this whole time?”

I nodded.

Cassie shook her head like she couldn’t process it.

“Listen, I’ll tell you all of the details later, but you need to act like you’re familiar with him.”

“With who?” She was still not catching on.

“Ruck!”

“Wait…who’s Ruck again?”

I was about three seconds away from pulling my hair out.

“Kline’s friend, Thatch! That’s Ruck!” I whisper-yelled.

“Okay, okay.” She gripped my shoulders. “Just take some breaths, G. Everything will be fine.”

I took a few cleansing breaths, calming my racing heart down.

“Just tell me one thing. Why do I need to act like I know him?”

I sighed, staring down at my feet.

“Georgia?”

“Because you’re still my profile picture,” I whispered in a rush, hoping she wouldn’t understand.

She started laughing and shaking her head in disbelief. “Remember this moment.” She pointed a finger in my direction. “Because you owe me. Big time.”

I nodded. “Anything you want.”

“When we get home, you’re going to explain why you’re still talking to other guys when you’re very happy with Kline.”

“I swear to you, it’s not like that.”

She quirked a brow.

“I promise. I really like Kline. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize that. Ruck is dating someone. I’m dating someone. And we never make plans to meet in person.”

“Okay, I believe you.” Cass pulled me in for a hug. “Who knows? Maybe he won’t even know it’s you…well, me…f*ck, this is confusing.”