hapter 20 Chapter 20 Few hours later . Because of course - hell loves drama . ) ) ( 71 EL 55 vouchers And just as I was enjoying my mimosa , basking like a sassy queen in her Dior armor , my hips singing praises to the gods of swimwear , there she came . Luciana . The British Bitch Barbie . Sashaying down the beach path in six - inch wedges ( who the hell wears wedges on sand ? ) , with her oversized floppy hat , red micro bikini that screamed " starvation , " and matching lipstick that probably cost more than my kidney . " Stevie ! " Oh no . No no no no . She called him Stevie . I swear I felt Regina's eye twitch from across the brunch table . Steven , to his credit, looked like someone just tried to serve him lukewarm tea at a royal banquet . " What the hell are you doing here ? " " Darling ," she purred , gliding across the sand like she was allergic to it . " I heard from our mutual friend that you were celebrating . I thought ... perhaps it's time we reconnected . You've been healing , haven't you ? " Healing . HEALING ?! Girl , this man was about to do cartwheels in the sand if we let him . With me . With my mangoes . With my sass . She looked at me then . A full up - and - down scan like she was checking for fleas . " And you must be ... the assistant still playing live - in nursemaid ? " she asked sweetly , tilting her head . I blinked . Sipped my mimosa . Looked down at my bikini . Looked at her bikini made of floss and tears . Oh , baby . Came . On . " I must be ," I said with a smile . " Though he prefers therapist - slash - dietary goddess - slash - sanity preserver . And you must be the one who returned the engagement ring faster than it took to fake that orgasm . " 11:31 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 20 Regina spit out her champagne . : Luciana gasped so hard I thought she might inhale her personality . Steven , meanwhile , looked between us like he wasn't sure if he was terrified , turned on , or both . " You - how dare- " 71 55 vouchers " Oh no , " I said , taking off my sunglasses slowly like the main character I was . " You don't come into someone else's beach party , uninvited , dressed like a rejected Bond girl , and try to insult the woman who's been with Steven through actual healing . You walked away when things got hard- " " That's not true ! " " Really ? Because the tabloids say otherwise . And they're usually wrong , but in your case ? Girl , even Google Maps wouldn't find your loyalty . " Luciana's nostrils flared . " You think he'll actually choose you ? " I smiled wider . " I don't think . I know . " I leaned in with the quiet venom of a cobra in a crown . " Because I'm not a phase , sweetheart . I'm the plot twist . " Steven was speechless . Regina had tears of joy in her eyes . Probably already texting the baby name registry again . Luciana stared between us , furious , seething , and for once - silent . And then she turned , huffed dramatically , and stormed back toward whatever Uber - for - evil bitches she crawled in from . Regina raised her glass . " To the plot twist ." Steven wheeled over , jaw still slightly slack . " Remind me to never get on your bad side . " I sipped my mimosa again . " Too late , McLeon . You're stuck with me . Sassy , savage , bikini - clad , and flawless . " And that , darlings , was the day Luciana left the beach defeated , and I claimed my throne under the sun - with my billionaire , his abs , and the world's sassiest comeback . You're welcome . Regina , glorious goddess in chiffon and gold bangles , clapped her perfectly manicured hands together like a judge at a fashion show that just witnessed the finale walk - off of the century . " Bravo , " she beamed , still sipping champagne like it was gossip fuel . " That was Oscar - worthy . I've seen less drama in Cannes . Luciana who ? That woman left like she'd just been slapped with a reality check and a tax bill ." She turned her head , looked between Steven and me with the knowing eyes of a mother who knew too much . Chapter 20 55 vouchers " I'll leave you two good friends alone , " she purred , with a wink and a smug little smirk that said babies are coming whether you like it or not , before floating away to her beach lounger like a victorious CEO of Chaos . I turned , still riding the adrenaline high of verbally annihilating a British rom - com villain , when I heard him say it . Casually . Like he was commenting on the weather . " You handled that well . And ... I mean , we're not just PT and client anymore . We're good friends , right ? " Good . Friends . Good . Freaking . FRIENDS . WHAT IN THE SOGGY CHICKEN SALAD WAS THAT ?! My brain did an emergency shutdown . My soul rolled its eyes and applied for early retirement . My body stayed calm , but my inner sassy woman was screaming into a pillow . I didn't let it show . Nope . I lifted my sunglasses , gave him a look that could kill and revive a man in one breath , and said : " Wow . Friends ? Is that what we are now ? Did I just dream about nearly mouth - to - mouth resuscitating you with a banana smoothie for nothing ? " Steven blinked . " What ? " I leaned forward , putting all my sarcasm on the table . " So glad we're friends , McLeon . I love platonically oiling your shoulder blades at 6 a.m. while you complain about your protein shake . That's definitely what my guidance counselor meant by ' meaningful career path . " " He had the audacity to smirk . " I'm serious , " he said . " You're important to me . More than you know . " I raised an eyebrow . " But still a friend , right ? Just a little ol ' buddy who wipes your sweat and gets death threats from your ex while you compliment my cooking and ogle me in a bikini ? " He had the nerve to look amused . " I mean , you do look good in a bikini ." " Good ? " I echoed . " Sir , I look like a Dior - wearing storm sent by the gods . " He laughed . And that was the problem . 11:31 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 20 71 E55 vouchers Because it was the kind of laugh that curled around my heart and made me wish he said anything but good friend . о But whatever . I flipped my hair , grabbed my mimosa , and strutted back to the brunch table with a sass that said " Good friends ? I'll show you good friends when I win a husband Olympics wearing heels on sand ." This war wasn't over . Steven McLeon had no idea who he was friend - zoning with . And oh , sweetheart , he'd regret that title soon .