Obsession After the Drop

At our college reunion, I let slip about the three great catches I was dating online.

One ran a successful law firm, the other was a researcher at a leading institute, while another was an up-and-coming tech mogul on the Forbes list.

My so-called best friend, Cassie Young, paused halfway through her plate of ribs. Giving me the side glance, she voiced her sarcasm.

“I feel sorry for your future husband. Of all the women he could have, he had to marry someone with a rich history.”

I took a sip of my juice and responded, “Honestly, I’m pretty stressed about the whole thing. They are all amazing. I can’t decide between them. Cassie, does anyone tickle your fancy? You can have one.”

As her cutlery clattered on the table, Cassie widened her eyes.

“A-Are you for real?”

As Cassie Young’s mind went blank, a barrage of comments burst across an interface feed midair.

[Holy cow! Has the side character lost it? She’s basically giving away three elite boyfriends to our heroine!]

[Don’t hesitate, girl! This is a godsend. Cassie will be set for life just by snagging one of them. No wonder Poppy Stait’s the extra. She doesn’t know what she’s throwing away.]

By the sparkle in Cassie’s eyes, it was clear that she was hooked on the offer. Still, she stared at me warily.

“Let’s get one thing straight. Once you hand these guys over, they are mine to keep. No take-backs!”

“Duh.”

I nodded and smiled harmlessly.

“You’re my best friend. It wouldn’t feel right to keep all the good things to myself.

“Relax. I’ve met the tech guy, but the other two don’t even know what I look like. Just keep your story straight, and everything’s golden.

“The question is—who are you picking?”

[Talk about the dilemma of the century. How do you choose between a legal heartthrob, a research titan, and a billionaire CEO?

[Why choose? Cassie is the heroine. With her main character's privileges, she can sweep them off their feet.”

Cassie licked her lips, her eyes gleaming with greed.

“Why should I settle for one? I want all three of your boyfriends.

“You have plenty going on for you anyway, Poppy. It’s not like you’re short of options.”

Her answer didn’t surprise me in the slightest. With a smile, I held out an open palm to Cassie.

“Sure. That’ll be a million bucks for each. Are you paying my commission by card or cash?”

Startled, Cassie turned ashen.

“I thought we were besties. Why are you asking for money?”

“It’s better to keep things clear even between friends. I mean, I invested a lot of time and effort into vetting and bonding with these guys.”

I pouted as if my feelings were hurt. “If you believe I’m asking for too much, let’s just forget the whole thing. I’d hate for money to come between us.”

“No, it’s not that. A million dollars is a lot of money. Where on earth am I going to find that kind of money?”

Before Cassie could get another word out, the bullet chat jumped in with advice.

[Don’t be silly, girl! It’s just a million. Sell your property, and you’re good. You’re going to regret it if you let those billionaires slip through your fingers!]

[The side character is just a bimbo. Her looks are the only thing she has going for her. She thinks she’s making a killing, but the three guys are the main characters. They are worth way more. Just wait until she realizes what she lost!]

[Can’t wait for our baby girl to bag all three of them and come back to humiliate the side character.]

Cassie stared at the virtual screen with a deluded smile as if the fantasy was within reach.

“Fine! You’ll get the money.

“I’ll get the funds. Make sure you hold onto them. Don't give them away to someone else.”

After much thought, Cassie added with a straight face. “And stay in your lane. Keep your hands off my future husbands. I don’t want something that’s already been around!”