“Trust me, sweetie, no one is buying those pics. We discussed this.”
“You know what I mean. I can’t believe you think I’d marry you for money. You must have a really low opinion of me. Well guess what, we’re not taking it, so keep your money. Good luck finding someone to drive you to the sporting goods store, and I hope that you slip and fall down your porch stairs because those shoes are so ridiculous. Good day.”
I turn to walk away just as he calls out, “Are you done?”
“Uh, yeah, that’s what ‘good day’ means.”
“Then can you hear me out first before you walk away?”
“Are you going to tell me that you’re not asking for my hand in marriage?”
“I’m not.”
“That’s what I…wait, what?”
He leans against his doorframe and gives me that devilish smirk of his again. “I said I’m not going to ask for your hand in marriage for the money. That’s not my condition.”
“Oh.” I clear my throat, slightly embarrassed at my outburst. But can you blame me? “Well, sorry about that. I’m a bit stressed, as you can see, and I seem to jump to conclusions. I get it from her.” I point to Aunt Kitty, who raises her hand.
“Guilty,” she says.
Theo chuckles. “Well, let me ease that stress for you. I have no intention of trying to take your hand in marriage or ask for sexual favors, or anything so reprehensible. My only condition is that every morning, while I’m here, you allow me to join you for your walks.”
Walks? That’s it?
Why does that seem like it’s an even bigger angle than I was thinking?
There has to be more, something else that he’s hiding.
“What are you not telling me?” I ask. “There’s something you’re hiding.”
“I’m not hiding anything. I just want to go on walks with you, get to know you. That’s it, but you have to talk to me, you can’t be silent on the walks.”
Damn it.
There goes that loophole.
“You’re not going to propose or anything on the walks?”
“That’s correct.” He shakes his head. “Just two people, enjoying a walk together, getting to know each other as friends.”
“That seems simple enough. We accept.” Aunt Kitty holds out her hand and Theo shakes on it.
“Perfect.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a folded piece of paper. “Here you go.”
Aunt Kitty takes it, opens it up, and then holds it up to me.
I, Theodore Williams, will transfer the amount of 30,000 USD to Renley Lynn Gossage within an hour of receiving bank account details.
Holy.
Shit.
“Ah, one more thing,” he says, holding up his finger. “You have to take me to the store today to get new shoes. My feet will be shit if I walk in these.” He smirks. “What do you say? Do we have a deal?”
He holds his hand out to me, and I stare down at it.
Do I want to do this?
