“Should we write this down?” he asked. “For legal purposes, of course.”
I blinked. “Like a contract?”
“Exactly.” He reached for a napkin. “Time to make it binding.”
“Do you need a pen?”
He patted down his pockets and held up two empty hands. “I have charm and a wild imagination. Sadly, no ink.”
“Here.” I chuckled, pulling a pen from my bag and handing it to him. “This is insane.”
“Absolutely, and yet, I’ve never taken a napkin contract more seriously.”
After a moment, he pushed it toward me.
Across the top, in all caps:OFFICIAL CONTRACTwith a doodle of a broken heart and a dramatic underline.
I, Sawyer Eugene James, solemnly and enthusiastically agree to enter this entirely legally binding, fake datingarrangement with the stunning Ellie Miles, until the mutually agreed-upon date of March 31st.
Signed,
Sawyer James
“Eugene?” I chuckled.
“Hey, it was my grandpa’s name. Don’t judge.”
I laughed and took the pen, signing underneath his name and sliding it back. He carefully folded it and then tucked it into his wallet.
He met my gaze. “Well…guess we’re official.”
I nodded. “Yep. Signed and even napkin sealed.”
“So,” he rested his arms on the table, “how have you been?”
I looked down, fingers toying with my coffee. “I’m good.”
“Not your go-to media answer. Give me the real one.”
I peered up at him and hesitated—not because I didn’t want to talk, but because most people didn’t ask for the real answer. Something about the way he said it, with no pressure, no angle, made it feel safe. The same steady warmth I’d heard in his voice last night was written all over his face now. Somehow, that made it easier to talk to him.
“Honestly?”
He nodded.
“I’m tired, burnt out, and guilty, even though I know I shouldn’t be.”
“Guilty?”
“For taking a break. For needing one. For getting shot and not bouncing back overnight like I’m supposed to.”
He frowned. “Ellie…”
“I know,” I blurted out. “I know it’s not rational, but this job doesn’t leave much room for recovery. I didn’t even get afull week off before people started speculating if I’d gone off the rails. So…I’m a little exhausted lately.”
He nodded slowly. “I’m sorry. That’s a lot to carry.”
I shrugged. “Part of the gig.”
