“Up to date with what?” I asked, confused.
“Crime Junkie, obviously.” He looked at me as if I’d grown two heads and I remembered how he also loved true crime. How we would watch CSI whenever he stayed over our house and try to solve the crimes as if it was a documentary.
“Of course. I prioritise it over my studies.” He laughed, leaning back against his desk and crossing his arms over his chest.
“It’s going to take you over an hour to get here and then the same back home, right?”
“Technically, but I looked at a few places this morning and put an application in on one. I was going to move here eventually anyway, so I figured whynot now.”
His eyes narrowed into slits as he studied me quizzically.
“I have a proposition for you,” he mused, as if the thought was only just coming to him.
“Go on,” I replied, instantly uncertain. A proposition on day one was not screaming comfort.
“Believe it or not, this is going to be a huge job,” he huffed self-deprecatingly, poking a stack of papers with his foot.
“And I spend most of my time here. Which means my house is often empty and only a short drive away.” He studied me as if he were building to something, but I gave him nothing. No inclination as to how I was feeling or what I was thinking. If I’d learnt anything from my brother it was how to mask my emotions behind a steel cage, although my mind was racing with what I thought was coming.
“I will happily sign that paperwork you sent through and make sure you’re able to do everything required to complete your course.”
“But?” I asked, hoisting my pants up again, angry at the belt which sat on my bed and not around my waist.
“But,” he smirked, before taking a deep breath, “I need a couple of things from you.” He had the decency to look contrite which told me more than I needed. This was not my brother’s friend doing him a favour, this was Cooper happy to help because he also needed something in return.
Excellent. This was a place I found comfort. It was always easier when it was a level playing field. This meant I wouldn’t be wracked with guilt or feel indebted to him. Maybe I wouldn’t be the sad little sister who needed assistance. Again.
“Like what?” I let a teasing note creep into my voice, pushing my glasses back up my nose.
“Well first I’ll pay you,” he held his hand up as I went to protest. “Iwillpay you, Evangeline, because I want you to quit your other job.” I felt my eyes widen as he came and stood directly in front of me.
“I will triple whatever you’re currently making.” He paused, askilled negotiator waiting for me to say something, only I didn’t. Couldn’t. “But I also need you to live with me while you’re working here.”
“What?” I asked incredulously. Why would I possibly need to stay with him? I couldn’t. That was a hard no.
“Hear me out,” he said, crossing and then uncrossing his arms across his chest. “My house is big enough. You’ll have your own space, and I won’t bother you. It’s going to take you a while to work through this and I don’t want you to be stressed about travelling, finding a place or making money.”
My mind was racing, desperate to keep up with everything he was saying.
And from what I could gather, what he was saying was completely logical.
But I couldn’t stay with him. Be in his house. Be near him constantly. Not when I was already going to be working for him for six whole weeks. The effort to maintain this indifferent facade was going to be exhausting enough at work, let alone sleeping under the same roof.
“That makes zero sense,” I protested.It made perfect sense.
“I won’t be stressed about money,” I scoffed.I would most definitely be stressed about money.
“I can’t just quit my job,” I insisted.I could quit my job and would do so happily. In fact, I’d likely take great pleasure in doing so. And for three times the amount of money - where do I sign?
“I absolutely can’t live with you,” I added weakly.I can and would likely enjoy it more than the internship…
He waited for me to finish my bullet point list of why I couldn’t accept before he sucked all the air from my lungs with his final request.
“I need your help, Evy, and if I explain it you probably won’t understand because it’s stupid and fucked up and I’m an idiot. Just, I need you to move in with me while you’re working here. I need you to be here for at least four months, not six weeks, and I will pay you whatever you want, because…” he sucked in a deep breath and all I could focus on was that number. Four. It meant whatever was coming next wasn’t good. But nothing could have prepared me for the words which left his mouth.
“Because I need you to do those things while pretending to be madly in love with me – as my fiancée.”
CHAPTER 7
