She didn’t want my money?
Her grandma needed help?
Refusing half my money seemed a wild request to make.
None of it made sense, so I started with the most farfetched portion of her list. “Why is that even in question?” I asked. “Of course I’d provide for my children.”
She lifted her chin. “Far too many men have children and leave the responsibility with the mother. Men get away with it every day with far fewer resources than you have at your disposal.”
That’s all it took to have me including that line in a memo to my lawyer requesting an amendment. It was the easiest clause I’d ever agreed to, because I was going to be the kind of man she could count on. I prided myself on that. I always wanted to be agoodguy, and I surrounded myself with the best men out there. None of us would let the others get away with something like that.
“I’m okay with all of that,” I told her, feeling a strange mix of hopeful and sad. “Anything else?”
“Just one more thing,” she said.
So far, her requests had been easy to accommodate. But the way she set her shoulders, I feared this one might not be so simple to agree to. I arched an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.
She took a breath, flattened her hands on the table. “If we’re going to do this, I’d rather get it over with before I have a chance to second-guess myself.”
I studied her, realizing she was just as uneasy with this situation as I was. “You don’t have to do this,” I reminded her.
But she shook her head. “I want to.”
It was a small comfort. Finally, I replied, “How is three months from last week?” That’s what the other founders and I had agreed to.
A nervous look flitted across her features. “That’s too long.”
I understood where she was coming from—three months gave us plenty of time to come to our good senses. So I asked her, “When do you suggest?”
“Next week?” She let out a half-hearted chuckle. But I couldn’t tell if she was joking.
Her hand shook on the table, and I reached for it on instinct. Her skin was cold underneath mine. “I know it doesn’t seem like it, but marriage is important to me. It doesn't just affect you and me. It affects everyone around us—your grandma, my dad, my siblings, my nieces and nephews, our friends. I want them to get a chance to meet you and fall for you too.”
Her gaze snapped to mine. “You’ve fallen for me?”
I rolled my lips, deciding that I was going to be one hundred percent honest with Jada. I didn’t want a marriage built on more secrets and lies. “I started falling the moment I saw you—I’m still waiting for that crash landing.”
She studied me a moment, then finally said, “I’m not sure how I feel.”
“Then why are you agreeing?” I asked, slightly wounded. I knew it was too soon for love. But I hated the idea of marrying someone who couldn’t grow to love me. “Is it your grandma?”
“One thing about me,” she said, “I’ll do anything for the people I care about.”
She and I had that in common.
“So you’re in?” I asked. “If I agree to help your grandma?”
She nodded. “And my other conditions.”
“Then we should get a calendar and map out a plan. I want my family to believe us too.”
“Okay,” she rasped quietly, almost in disbelief.
Me too, Jada. Me too.
I got up and went to my desk, pushing the intercom button. “Maya, please come in with my calendar—and Jada’s drinks.”
When the intercom wasn’t connected anymore, I asked, “Still planning to throw one at me?”
