“If you’d like.” Vincent nods. “Are you hungry yet?”
“I am,” Travis says.
“Seriously?” I snap at him.
“What?” He throws his hands up. I don’t know if I want to laugh or smack him in the back of the head.
“I could eat,” Rae mutters. I hate how sad she sounds.
I also hate that there’s a good chance she’s not hungry but is saying that for Travis’s sake. That’s Rae, though. She wants everyone to be happy, no matter what the cost is to her.
“You ladies take my office. I’ll see about food.” Vincent surprises me when he drops a kiss on the top of my head as he lets his arm fall from around me. I wasn’t expecting that from him. Then it dawns on me that people are lingering in the hallways, and this is part of the act. I hate that thought and push it to the back of my mind.
Rae follows me into the office. “Not you.” I look back over my shoulder to see Vincent’s hand on Travis’s chest pushing him back out. He turns to close the door, shooting me a wink as it closes. My stomach gives a flutter. Not good. I’m so crushing on my fake husband. Why does he have to be so damn handsome and sweet? It's a killer combination.
Vincent isn’t anything like I thought he’d be. Not that I had a ton of time to think about what he’d be like. I mean, a short plane ride and a trip in an elevator really isn’t a ton of time to form a solid opinion about anyone. I guess I was expecting someone more like Lawson. Grumpy and cold. Definitely mad since Travis getting himself into trouble was the whole reason I was asked to come here. But all Vincent has been is kind and even a bit charming.
“This is crazy.” Rae grabs my hand, looking at the ring. “Is that real?!”
“Yes.”
“You could assault someone with that thing.” I laugh.
“That’s the first thing I thought too.”
“Careful when you slap Travis on the back of his head. Could give him a concussion.”
“Maybe he needs one,” I say dryly.
“I know.” Rae drops her head. I can see her chin start to wobble.
“Don’t do that.” I pull her in for another hug. “This is on Travis. Not you.”
“But I didn’t have to call you. And you didn’t have to agree to any of this.” That’s where she is wrong. I did have to do this. When you love people, you do what you can to protect them. She would have done the exact same thing for me. Of that I have no doubts.
“I would have been livid if you hadn’t called me. But do I look livid now?” She lifts her head.
“No, but you never yell at me.” This is true. Imagine yelling at a panda. That’s what it would be like if I yelled at Rae. Who would do such a thing? They’re adorable and sweet.
“Honestly. It wasn’t a hard deal to agree to. It’s almost like a job, and I get to move back here and be closer to you. I would do a lot more than Vincent is asking for that opportunity.” Her eyes light up.
“I don’t know, JJ.”
“Look.” I walk over to Vincent’s desk and grab the contract that’s still lying there. I hand it to her, and we both sit down. I want her to see for herself. I know once she reads over it that she will feel much better about calling me.
“That’s a lot of money,” she whisper-yells. I nod in agreement. “Then again, this is five years of your life. I’m guessing you can’t date or whatever, so your life is almost at a standstill.”
“There’s more to life than dating. It’s not like I’m running around doing that now,” I point out.
“Yeah, because you’re busy, but you and I both know what some of our dreams are.” She has me there.
A family. I think it’s something a lot of people long for that have grown up the way we did. But you also long for the security of a roof over your head and food on the table. It’s why we have worked since we were old enough. I’m not like Rae, though. I couldn’t hack it at the diner. It’s why I’d pushed to go to college.
“I blame this on those romance novels you found in that thrift store for a quarter apiece.” A smile plays on her lips. We’d been fifteen when we read our first one. We’d quickly gone back to the thrift store for more.
She and I could lie around all weekend and read. Rae has always been a bit more of a diehard reader than I am. I don’t think she could go one day without reading. Even if it’s only a few pages. It’s something that helps her forget about the rest of the world and helps with her anxiety.
“Wait. Do you have to share a bed?” I quickly explained to her what Vincent said about that. She gives me a skeptical look. “Wait. Does that mean he’ll be getting it from somewhere else and you can’t date for the next five years?” She’s back to wearing that angry look.