“Yeah…” He’s staring straight ahead like he’s contemplating his life’s purpose. “So, what do you say?”
I scratch the back of my head, feeling utterly perplexed. “I get they want to keep it in the circle, but why don’t you just tell your parents you don’t want to marry Flor?—”
“I can’t. There’s a lot at stake. Too much I’ll lose,” he explains vaguely.
For a long moment, I say nothing. I get where he’s coming from—kind of. My parents, at least Mom, liked to control every aspect of my life until I decided to shut that down, but doing that caused me to lose them and their help. I can’t begin to imagine what’s at stake for him.
Still, I don’t have the time to play pretend. I’m past thewe don’t know each otherhiccup because we got matching tattoos and have opened up to each other. Despite that, I have to work and have my own things to figure out.
“I’m sorry but I have to work and?—”
“I’ll pay you.”
“For fake dating you?” He nods. “No! That’s weird.”
“I’m going to sound like an ass, but weren’t you just freaking out about your rent?”
I’m taken aback. “How long were you outside?”
He stretches his long arm along the back of the sofa. “Long enough to know you need money.”
I stand, irritation clouding my thoughts. “No. I’m not going to be your fake girlfriend for a few dollars.”
He rises to his feet, removing his beanie to drag his fingers through his hair. “You didn’t even ask how much I’m going to give you. And just so you know, it’ll be enough so you won’t need to work next semester.”
“Get out of here.” I may be overreacting, but this has got to be some kind of prank. I step back, feeling nothing but annoyed.
“Why are you mad?” He wrinkles his brow, face twisted in bewilderment.
“Why am I mad?” I scoff. “You can’t be serious.”
He nods like that should be obvious.
“Is this another thing rich people do when they’re bored?” From the way he acted the night of the auction, I understood I needed to play along. His dad was intense. But this can’t be real. Enough I wouldn’t need to work? Yeah fucking right.
“I’m serious, Anna. You really think I’d come all the way over here just to fuck with you? Yes,we rich people do weird shit,” he sardonically remarks. “But we also don’t like to waste our time. I really need your help and, yes, I’m going to compensate you, although it’ll probably never feel enough considering you have to put up with my parents.”
I fold my arms against my chest. I don’t know why, but I know he’s not messing with me. Still, this feels so bizarre. “And what happens when they want to see me again? How long do we need to keep this up for?”
His lips quirk up. “You keep playing along until the end of next semester.”
“So, I’m supposed to drop everything for you?”
“No. Noteverything.”
My teeth clench. “This isn’t funny.”
“Never said it was,” he reasons. “I’m paying you—shouldn’t that be enough?”
“God. Everything is so easy for you people, huh?” Maybe I’m being irrational, but what if he decides he doesn’t need me? Or what if he falls in love with Florence and all of this is for nothing? There are many more things I could list, but I’d give myself a headache over it.
“Some things are.” He shrugs unapologetically. “I get all of this is hard to believe and maybe I’m coming off as an asshole. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to spring this on you, but I’m going to pay you. And don’t act like it’s wrong that I am because it’s not. It’s money for fake dating, not for sex.” He’s not smiling, but there is a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “Unless…”
That makes me feel hot…makes me feel… “What do I look like? What’swrongwith you?”
He places his beanie back on his head. “That’s why I didn’t include it in the proposal.”
I swallow hard. “So you thought about it?”
