Fated (BBW BWWM Billionaire Romance): A Second Chance Novella (Tied to Him: My BFF Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

later.
    Right now, as we head to my car, I’ll do as she instructs and follow her directions to her job.
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    “ S o you did it —you’re a teacher!” I say once we’ve settled into a proper speed. “Just as you planned.”
    “And you’re obviously a big-shot businessman, just as you planned. Is this a company car?”
    Boy, she really hasn’t been keeping up with me.
    I’ve avoided media attention, sure, but surely we have a mutual acquaintance who would have filled her in a bit?
    But now that I’m thinking about it, even if she had been keeping her eyes open for news about me, things didn’t really skyrocket for me until about two years ago, and by that time, she had probably long given up hear from or about me.
    “It’s one of my personal toys,” I admit. “A little something to impress the ladies with.”
    I smile wide as I glance at her, and again she gives me nothing.
    I was joking, of course—I don’t need the car at all to impress chicks.
    “Kidding,” I say and she shrugs like she doesn’t care.
    I realize my light-hearted approach is not working, but I don’t know how to turn this mode off; I’ve never had to seriously address anything personal between us.
    I’ve come to her with serious issues before, but they were always outside of her—girl problems, forgotten paper due imminently, conflicts with my exacting, overbearing father—Nina has talked me through all kinds of things.
    And now that the problem involves the two of us this time and she’s all tight-lipped, I don’t know how to do this.
    I let out a breath, all humor finally leaving me.
    “My dear friend, Nina,” I begin, the heaviness of my voice surprising me. I’m unable to hide from her—or myself—how much I mean every word; she is indeed very dear to me. “I missed the hell out of you,” I finish.
    Encouraged by the slight softening I detect in her demeanor, I continue, “I don’t know how to make up for what I did, and I’m not going to ask you to tell me how, but I would like to start somewhere in rebuilding our relationship. You mean a lot to me, and I don’t want to lose you again.”
    I can feel her softening more, but she remains silent.
    When we pull up to her school and I find a parking spot, I turn to her and say, “Agree to have dinner with me tonight—as friends obviously. We have a lot more catching up to do.”
    I swear I hear her grumble, “You don’t know the half of it,” as she starts to exit my car.
    “Fine,” she says before slamming the door shut. “But remember, I don’t have a clue how to reach you since you cut me off so completely.”
    “How about this,” I say, an idea occurring to me. “You obviously need a ride from work—I can pick you up and take you home and perhaps wait for you there as you get ready. Then we can head…”
    “That won’t be necessary,” she says.
    Her eyes had grown the size of saucers and she’s trying to hide her alarm now, acting like she hadn’t just looked like she’d seen a ghost.
    Why the heck did the idea of me going to her place worry her so? Did she think I’d try to seduce her again?
    Then another possible reason made its way to the front of my mind.
    I feel a familiar resentment start to grow in me as I figure it must be a man she’s worried about. Does she live with someone?
    “I just…I have a few other things I need to take care of and I need way more time to get myself together, and I don’t feel comfortable…”
    “Okay, okay, I get it,” I say, holding up a hand to halt her babbling. “So it’s not an ideal plan for you right now, but I’m not letting us drift apart again, Nina; I must see you again. Very soon.”
    “Don’t you have a Stacey or Becka or someone to be more concerned about? How would they feel about you going to dinner with…with…?”
    She’s obviously struggling with the words she wants to say. Someone I fucked , is it, dear Nina?
    “Nina, I have no such obligation at this time.” Heck, I