Charming Like Us (Like Us 7)

“No, like really rich, Oscar.”

I pause for a beat. “How rich are we talking about?”

“You know Charlie’s apartment in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood?” he breathes. “I could buy one of those.”

Holy.

Shit.

Shock is a lump in my esophagus. I’d love to tell him that I don’t care, but I really wish he felt like he could trust me with this sooner.

Jack rubs his jaw, set in a wince at my silence.

Little things are making more sense. Like why he got so upset when I paid for temp security to protect him when he has a lot of money.

I wipe up a melted puddle of Rocky Road. “So while you’re taking all of my clothes, you could probably just buy the department store?” My eyes meet his. “That’s what you’re saying?”

He nods slowly. “It’s inherited money. I have a trust fund. My parents are real estate developers.”

“Millionaires?” I ask.

“Billionaires.”

I choke on more surprise. Fucking shit. A billionaire. It doesn’t change how I feel about him. It might change who’s picking up the bar tab. Again, though, I can’t believe it took him so long to tell me. Was he that nervous?

I ease into my feelings. “Did you ever tell the famous ones?” I ask first.

“Not until recently, I told Moffy, Jane, and Sulli,” Jack admits. “I didn’t feel like money is who I am, so there was no reason to talk about it. It’s a trust fund. But my parents are proud of their successes. And I don’t want to be ashamed of what they’ve given me. Plus, I eventually want you to see where I grew up, and my house in Long Beach is really nice.”

“That has to be an understatement.”

His smile flickers in and out. “I just want you to know everything about me. Sorry it took until now.”

“Why is that?” I question. “Did you feel like I’d overreact?”

He pauses, gathering his thoughts. “I feel like…I missed the chance to come clean, and then after a while, it felt like something that could tear us apart.”

I lean back and turn more to him, arm on the booth behind his shoulders. “I’m glad you told me now, but Highland, I’d much rather you trust me sooner than later. Don’t be afraid to tell me anything. I want all your skeletons. Even the scrawny ones.”

He lets out a soft laugh, then nods. “I’ll save the scrawny skeletons for you, Os.”

I grin. “Thank you. For the scrawny ones and for opening up now.” I realize that Charlie’s docuseries Born into Fame really is a passion project. There is no monetary reward for Jack. He doesn’t even need his salary on We Are Calloway, which means that his career is so much more about the art.

Art is attached to the soul, and I don’t want anything hurting him that deeply.

Jack grazes a hand along my neck, rising up my jaw. Our eyes dance over our features. We’re about to go in for a kiss, and I swear to everything holy that cellphones are the toxin of my romantic existence.

His phone buzzes.

And his face falls. “It’s the execs.”

His job.

Where’s Jack Highland going to land?

In my arms, probably.

34

OSCAR OLIVEIRA

The sports bar is packed tonight for a Phillies game, and Jack and I barely got a table, but it’s squeezed right in the center of the room. Three TVs are in view, so I’m flying high tonight. I’m not even sweating pushing my way through the crowd as I return to our table with two mojitos.

“Bartender was not happy about making these.” I slide my boyfriend his drink. “If it tastes like piss, tell me and I’ll go have words.” I sink down next to Jack and he wraps a casual arm over my shoulder.

He smells his drink and eyes me in a growing smile. “By all means, you can sip it first. You’re older and hotter, so…” He pushes my glass closer to me. “Age and beauty first.”

I crush some of the mint with my straw. “Flattery gets you everywhere.” I grin just seeing his happiness. His honey-brown eyes smile a flirtatious, charismatic smile. We have reason to celebrate tonight.

Highland is still an exec producer. Production agreed that he’s essential to the docuseries, and it’d be wrong to fire him over online hatred and trivial “integrity” issues. Who knows what really swayed them? Could’ve been the famous families vouching on Jack’s behalf. Could’ve been Jack’s own reasoning during the meeting.

In the end, he still has the career he spent so much time working towards. Clinking his glass in cheers, I take a sip from the drink. It’s not too sour. “Not bad, actually. Some bartenders are way too pissy about making mojitos. You’d think I just ordered a fucking espresso martini.”

Jack takes a giant swig from the drink.

I grin. “You looking to get wasted tonight, Long Beach?”

“Maybe.” He smiles. “We’re celebrating, right? For you and me. Your newest temp trainee finished her last course of training. She’s fully-certified for temp bodyguard duty because of you.” Training the temp is also why I have the night off, but I have to be back at work bright and early tomorrow. A few drinks won’t hurt though.