Westley frowned, looking at me, confused. “Why would you do that?”
“Because we live in your house. We can’t just move in and not help in some way.”
“Well, we’re married now, so technically it’s our house.”
I crossed my arms. “Westley, it’s a fake marriage. I don’t want us to owe you anything. So, it’s only fair that we do something. Let us buy the groceries or pay the electric bill. We need to help in some way.”
Westley set his bowl aside and pulled himself up. “Why would I make you guys pay for something when I know that you guys need to save your money?”
“Because it’s only fair.”
“What does fair have to do with this?”
I groaned. “Jesus, come on, Westley. Just let us pay for something.”
He shook his head. “I don’t need your money. I bought this house because it was well below what I could afford.”
I didn’t even know what that meant, considering how fancy this house was. Just how much money did he have? “But with us in the house, it’s going to cause you more. We use more water, and we eat more food. We use your electricity. It’s only fair we help with our share.”
He shrugged. “I also use a lot of those things.”
I ran my hands through my hair, gripping at the roots. “Jesus, it’s like talking to a parrot. Are you even listening?”
“I’m listening. I’m just not going to take your money.”
I crossed my arms. “Fine, if you don’t want money, what do you want?” I was expecting something absurd to come out of his mouth. I was surprised when he spoke.
“I want you to act like this is real when we are in public.”
I stared at him, shocked by his words. I wasn’t expecting it. “What?”
“I want you to act like this is real. If anyone finds out that this is fake, it could cause problems. So, we need to act like we are a happy, married couple out in public.”
I laughed. “Are you serious right now?”
He nodded, showing no sign of being funny, which made my stomach drop even more. “How exactly do you want that to happen? Westley, we… we aren’t dating. We aren’t anything, so do you understand how hard that is going to be? I just had lunch with the girls, and damn near choked because I didn’t know how to react.”
“You react like we’re in love.”
I shook my head. “You can’t be serious right now, Westley. People are going to know the truth. Even if we act, they will piece things together. Jade and Nora were both shocked when they found out because we weren’t dating before this.”
He smirked. “Not if we do it right.” I hated the humor in his eyes and the way he was so relaxed as he spoke, like this wasn’t crazy.
I sighed, feeling that no matter how much I argued with him, it wasn’t going to get us anywhere.
“Fine,” I said, crossing my arms.
He walked closer, raising an eyebrow at me. “I feel there is a catch with the way you say that.”
I shrugged. “You act like I plan to see you all the time.”
His smirk fell.
I hardened my face. “I plan to avoid you just as much as I do in this house. So, it won’t be hard to do it out there.”
His eyes darkened. “Is that a challenge, Gabriella?”
I took a few steps closer, looking down on him from where I stood. “I am not a challenge but a promise, Westley. You are not married to someone who will just agree to things. You think you know me, but you don’t.”
