Addicted (A Billionaire Romance Novel) by Aubrey Michelle

Audrey said as she noticed him picking at his food.  
     
    “I’m sorry. I just haven’t been myself lately. We’ve got a lot of upcoming changes to our software and I’ve had to reject several of the propositions. I’ve just been so stressed lately.”  
     
    “That almost sounds like it’s one of those ‘it’s me, not you’ talks,” she joked.  
     
    “No, it’s nothing like that. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he said, as he instantly pictured his beautiful daughter.  
     
    “You’re so sweet,” she smiled as she leaned over to kiss him. “What movie are we going to see?”  
     
    “I thought I’d let you pick when we get there.”  
     
    “Actually, there’s this horror movie that’s playing. I checked the times and if we hurry, we can get there before the next show starts.”  
     
    “I better chow down, then, huh?”  
     
    By the time they were on their way to the movie theater, Audrey was feeling relieved about their relationship. It was silly for me to think he was just blowing me off. I should’ve known better. At the movies, they held hands as they stood in line to order buttered popcorn and soft drinks.  
     
    “I don’t know how much of this I’ll be able to eat,” Audrey said as she patted her stomach. “I’m pretty full.”  
     
    “I know, but what’s a movie with no popcorn? I’m sure you can pack a little away, right?” he said as he kissed the top of her head.  
     
    After the movie was over, he drove Audrey home in silence. Taking the long route back to her house, he contemplated telling her the truth and what was going on in his life. He thought better of it as they passed the graveyard where Alex was.  
     
    “That’s the cemetery where Alex is buried,” Audrey pointed out the dark window towards the dimly lit burial grounds.  
     
    “Really? I never knew that,” he said as he began rubbing the back of his neck.  
     
    “Is something wrong babe? You just seem so tense and you’re acting like something’s bothering you. You know that you can always talk to me, right?” she asked him.  
     
    That comment almost made him confess everything to her, but he didn’t have the guts to do so. “I'm okay. Really.”  
     
    She crossed her legs and tucked her hair behind her ear. “If you don’t like me talking about Alex, all you have to do is say so.”  
     
    “Are you talking about the cemetery? That doesn’t bother me. I told you, I’m under a lot of stress right now.”  
     
    “You’re not lying are you?” she asked with a smug look on her face.  
     
    “No, I’m not lying. If talking about Alex bothered me, I’d tell you, but it doesn’t. I actually like it when you talk about him and describe him to me,” he gave her a reassuring smile.  
     
    Pulling up in front of her house, he put his truck in park and walked her to the front door.  
     
    “I had a great time tonight. I’m glad we got to spend some time together,” she said, standing on her tippy toes to kiss him.  
     
    “Me too,” he commented as he bent down to kiss her. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow.”  
     
    “I wish you’d come in and hang out for a little while,” she said, pouting her lips.  
     
    “I wish I could, but I have to get up early tomorrow to crunch some things on the computer and figure out what changes we’re going to approve for the launch of the new software.”  
     
    Ever since he received those court papers, his whole life had been turned upside down. It was driving him crazy. He drove around for a while before going home; he needed to think and clear his mind. The drive was pointless. He was just as confused now as he was before. For a moment, he considered his relationship with Audrey and how wonderful things had been between the two of them since they started dating. Then he mused what having a relationship with Christina might be like. It would be fantastic for Kayla to have both of her parents