“Y’know.” I hold up my ripped skinny jeans. “Something tells me these aren’t going to cut it.”
“Is there a reason you can’t be yourself?”
“Yes. I told you. I need to play the part of a rich trust fund bunny.” Oh no, my palms are starting to sweat. At that moment, Kismet bounds into the room and darts straight over to me. He winds himself through my legs and I scoop him up, cuddling him into my chest. The warm, soft weight, helps to calm my racing heart.
“Dumb cat,” Gabe complains.
“Not his fault you’re allergic.” It’s lucky for him that Kismet comes and goes as he wants and doesn’t actually live in the house, otherwise Gabe would be sniffly and swollen more often than not.
“Itishis fault he doesn’t like anyone but you.”
I grin. “I’m a nice guy.”
“Or he recognizes a kindred hot mess when he sees one.” Gabe watches me snuggle Kismet for a moment. “I’m worried.”
“Me too.”
The smirk he throws me is a relief because it means he’s letting his lecture go. “That’s basically your natural state. But seriously. You’re more of a wreck about this than your cousin’s wedding, and that was huge for you. Why do you care about this so much?”
I refuse to tell Gabe about Émile’s plan once he gets the money. That’s no one’s business, and I’m kinda shocked he trustedmewith that letter. A guy he just met. And I might not getwhybut I’m gonna prove it wasn’t for nothing.
But Gabe knows me, and he knows I wouldn’t put myself through this unless it was important. I walk over and close my door, deciding to give himsomething.
“This stays between us,” is where I start.
“Yeah, of course.”
“If I do this, he pays off everything. All my debts. Loans, credit cards, everything.”
Gabe’s mouth drops. “For real?”
My chest feels lighter, and Kismet jumps from my arms and walks over to sit by the door. I let him out before leaning against it. “I’m trying not to get my hopes up. Maybe he’s an asshole and he’s lying and won’t even pay.” I don’t believe that for a second. But the thought of all my money problems being solved, just like that, doesn’t seem possible. I’m convinced that no matter how well-meaning Émile is, something will come up that puts a stop to it.
“That’s …Ifit happens, that’s incredible.”
“I know.” My voice breaks with hope, and I try to hide it by turning away and scrubbing my hand through my hair. “Wild, huh?”
“So fucking wild. But I swear to God, if he’s messing with you and you do this and he doesn’t follow through, Iwillstab him.”
“Threatening bodily harm on people.” I hold my chest. “You really do love me.”
“Well, duh,” he mutters, not meeting my eye. “You’re my boy.”
“And I don’t know where I’d be without you. Seriously. If I didn’t have you, there’s no way I’d be where I am now.”
Gabe shakes his head. “That was all you. You don’t need me as much as you think. Like, if I moved out—”
“If you moved out, there’s no way I’d manage.” I shudder. “Don’t even want to think about it.”
“You need to give yourself more credit.”
“I give myself exactly the amount of credit I deserve.”
His eyebrows have pulled together and he’s clearly thinking about something.
“You okay?”
“This is … shit, man. I’m happy for you. I hope.”