He shot me a look, but there was no denying the smile that crept in again. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And yet,” I said, my grin widening, “you’re still smiling.”
He gave up, letting the full smile break through. “Yeah. I guess I am. Actually, I’ve been doing some of those relaxation exercises you suggested. And, you know, they’re helping. That and the sleep... my headaches are getting better.”
“Really? That’s great.”
Topher nodded. “I guess you’re good for me.”
His words landed softly, but they struck me. My heart skipped a beat.Good for him?I scrambled to respond and could feel a slight flush creeping up my neck, my pulse quickening in a way that surprised me. Was he serious? Was this still part of the whole fake relationship thing?
There was a part of me that wanted to freeze the moment and examine every piece of it. But another part, the one I wasn’t quite ready to admit to, wanted to savor it.
Pull it together,I reminded myself. This was just Topher being...friendly, right?
But before I could dwell on it, I remembered something I’d heard about recently, a perfect diversion. “Hey, speaking of good... I heard about this great cause. They’re raising money for a foundation called Bright Futures. It provides scholarships to kids who’ve lost their parents. Helps them get an education without being buried under student loans.”
Topher scoffed, shattering the softer moment. “Scholarships? Why not teach them how to invest early on? That would have more of a lasting impact than just handing them money for tuition.”
I rolled my eyes, the warm feeling from before evaporating as quickly as it had come.Of course.Just when I thought I saw a decent side of him, he doubled down on being an uncaring jerk. “You wouldn’t just be handing out money. It’s an application process: deserving students would have to apply and be chosen.”
“Giving away money doesn’t solve anything,” he said, his voice slipping into that too-familiar, business-like tone. “It just creates dependency.”
I shot him a look. “You think everything’s about investments and returns.”
Topher paused, maybe realizing he’d gone too far, and ran a hand through his hair. “Okay, maybe I didn’t say that right.” His tone shifted. “It’s not that I don’t think scholarships matter. I just... I think there’s more we can do to help people long term, you know? Set them up for real success.”
I blinked, surprised. For once, it didn’t feel like he was talking down to me.
I relaxed a little, my irritation fading. “It’s not just handing out money. It’s giving people a chance, giving them that first step.” I smiled and paused. “Kind of like howyouneed someone like me to help you smile. Some kids need that same kind of help to get through school and have a shot at a future without being buried in debt.”
Topher looked at me closely, a flicker of something almost concerned in his eyes. “Is this about you?” His voice was softer now, without the usual edge.
The question caught me off guard, and before I could stop myself, the words started pouring out. “It’s notaboutme, but I know what it feels like. You have these dreams, all these plans for your life, but then the bills pile up, and suddenly you can’t breathe. It starts to feel like no matter how hard you push, you’re just stuck. Like your dreams are slipping away.”
I wasn’t sure why I was opening up like this, but I couldn’t seem to stop. Despite all my rules, all the walls I’d built to keep anyone from getting too close, the words kept coming. Maybe it was the way he was looking at me. Like he wasn’t judging, like heunderstood. “Sometimes it feels like no matter how hard I push, I’m just running in place. I start to wonder if I’ll ever catch up, if it’s even possible to get ahead. Or if I’m just destined to fall short, over and over again.”
I could have told him everything in that moment—about the debt, about my parents. The words were right there on the tip of my tongue. For the first time, I felt like I couldtrustsomeone with the mess that was my life. Like he might understand and not look at me differently.
But before I could say another word, the sound of hurried footsteps on the porch made us both turn.
Gladys rushed out, her face pale, her voice trembling. “It’s your mom. She collapsed.”
13
It pays to have a chauffeur.But itreallypays when that chauffeur happens to be a war-trained driver who can weave through traffic like he’s dodging landmines. And it’s especially helpful when your bodyguard is trained in first aid and immediately starts working on your mother in the backseat.
While Topher’s assistant called ahead to make sure a room was ready, the car raced through the city. Forget waiting for an ambulance. We got to the hospital in record time.
As soon as we arrived, Topher’s mother was whisked into a hospital room. Topher and I were all alone in the waiting room, the hospital eerily quiet. Topher sat beside me, staring down at his hands.
I shifted in my seat. “You know, she’s got a lot of strength. Whatever happens, she’s not the type to give up easily.”
Topher exhaled, still not looking up. “Yeah, I know.”
There was a pause before I added gently, “It’s okay to feel worried, though.”
He hesitated, his gaze still fixed on his hands. “I’m not worried.” The crack in his voice made it clear he wasn’t convincing either of us.
