Marry Me for Money (21 page)

Am I? It’s not real. It’s just a contractual agreement.
“No, I’m not dating him,” I told him.

He squinted at me as the elevator door opened. “I don’t believe you.”

My heart dropped at his words. He walked in, and I stepped inside right behind him. “You have to believe me because it’s the truth. I’m not really dating him. It’s all for show. It’s not real. I’m dating you and only you, no one else.” I looked to him for understanding, but what I’d said didn’t even make any sense.

His face showed no emotion, and I knew he still didn’t believe me. The look in his eyes told me he didn’t want to know anything further. If he walked away when the elevator opened on the first floor, I knew I’d never get a chance to tell him my side of the story. Then, I would always wonder about the what-ifs between us. I watched the numbers decrease with our descent, and I made an impulse decision. I lunged myself toward him, hugging him with my head on his chest.

“Please, please, please believe me. It’s only you. I wouldn’t play you or anyone else for that matter. Give me a chance to explain. Please,” I begged. Squeezing my eyes tightly, I was hoping he wouldn’t push me away.

He didn’t.

After a second, I felt his body loosen in my embrace. The doors opened, and I released him. I met his eyes, and his face turned serious.

“Fine. Explain.”

Sitting in a small pizza joint, I stared at the sugar in front of me. Brian had ordered us drinks, not dinner, which didn’t look very promising on my end.

Not making eye contact gave me more strength to get the story out right away. In the end, I couldn’t tell him the truth. I just couldn’t tell him about my pathetic childhood. I didn’t want to delve into my deadbeat mother who had put me into this mess. Maybe I wanted to seem like I had it together, that my life had been just like his while growing up. I didn’t want him to look at me any differently. I wanted him to see me—the girl I was today, not the circumstances that had gotten me here. I decided to tell him as much of the truth that I felt comfortable with.

“I’m a victim of identity theft,” I said, reaching for the pepper shaker. “Someone used my social security number to rack up debt in my name.” I stole a glance as he observed me, and my eyes dropped again to the pepper shaker on the table. “I’ve tried to contest it, but it’s going to cost me money that I don’t have. In the end, I’m in a lot of debt, but it’s not my fault.” I exhaled a heavy sigh. “It’s not like I can tell you these things when we just started dating.” I said, peeking up at him.

Brian’s face turned sympathetic. “I wish you felt like you could tell me anything.”

I didn’t want his pity. Moving to this big city, starting over, and meeting this great guy were the most normal things that had ever happened to me. My life was just beginning to fall into place.

“I know. It’s just that we’re not there yet, Brian. We’re in the new, exciting stage of dating. I’m supposed to wait to dump this stuff on you in stage two of the dating phase,” I said, meeting his eyes. “Plus, I don’t tell everyone my problems. The only people who know are Kendy, Kent, and now, you.”

Brian’s face blanched at the mention of Kent.

“Now, on to how Kent is involved…” I looked to my entwined hands gripping the pepper shaker.
Get this all out and then be done.
“He’s going to help me with my debt problem, and in return, I’m helping him.”

I dared to glance up to gauge his reaction, but he gave none.

“His parents want him to get married or else they will take away his trust fund. I’ve agreed to marry him—on paper only—so he can access his money. Then, after a month, we’ll get divorced, and he’ll pay off all my debt,” I revealed, releasing everything in one breath.
There, it’s all out.

I tilted my head to look at Brian.

“That’s crazy,” he said incredulously. “Don’t do it.”

I let out a long sigh, thinking of everything I’d overcome to get here. “I know you’ve lived a normal, stress-free life, but you have no idea what I’ve been through or what I’m going through right now. Every day, I have creditors calling me. The worst part of this all is that none of this is my fault. I didn’t cause this, but I’m the one suffering.

“I’ve done all I can to get myself far from Bowlesville. I’ve worked so hard at random jobs through college to get here and into One Financial. I really do make good money for a new graduate, but it’s not enough. I will move up and make more money. I know I will. I’m determined to, but that’s going to take time.”

“I don’t want to lose you over this, but right now, Kent is giving me an out, and I’m taking it,” I said in finality.

“Does he want more from you?” Brian asked.

“No, I told you, it’s not like that.” I shook my head. “This is only an arrangement, a one-month arrangement. It’s purely platonic.”

Of course Brian would be jealous. I would be, too, if our roles were reversed. This situation was far from ideal, but I was born into an abnormal world, so I should be used to it. Still, every part of me wondered if I’d had done something, committed some crime in another life that had doomed my future, and complications were just part of my life now.

He looked at me and smiled.

“What?” I asked, confused by his amusement. This situation, my life, was no laughing matter.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you so intense.” The corner of his mouth lifted. “He doesn’t want you?”

“I told you already, no. He said we could date whom we want and do what we want. The show is really for his parents. I mean, everyone else has to believe we’re dating, too, but it is only temporary. A month after we’re married, we’ll file for divorce.” I grimaced at how ridiculous that had sounded. Using marriage and divorce in the same sentence should be banned.

He placed his hand over mine on the table, startling me, as he leaned in. “I don’t like your arrangement, and I can’t tell you where this, where us, is going,” he said, looking at his hand on top of mine, “but if this is what you have to do, then it’s what you have to do. I believe you when you say nothing is going on between you. Still, this situation is just plain weird. You know what I mean?”

I nodded in agreement as I bit my lower lip. My whole life fell in the bucket of weirdness.

“I haven’t met anyone that I was this into. I like you, Beth, and I want to see where this goes. Maybe we should take it slow until this arrangement is over,” he said. “Even if it looks, sounds, and seems crazy.”

I looked down at his hand on top of mine, thinking he was seriously a godsend. “I’m glad,” I said softly as the tension in my shoulders finally relaxed.

He chuckled with amusement.

“What’s so funny?” I looked up at him.

“You’re cute when you’re serious. That pouty lip of yours is irresistible. I’ve never seen you like this before.”

“I guess that means we’ve moved up to stage two of dating.” I placed both of my hands in his.

“One month?” he asked.

I nodded at his adorable face. He leaned in for a kiss, and I gave him a peck on the lips.

“So, what else does this movement to stage two entail?”

His look was devilish, and I laughed at the look he shot me.

“You’ll find out after we leave.” I gave him a longer kiss on the lips, reveling in their softness.

He pulled back to look at me. “How do I get to stage three?”

“Don’t push your luck,” I whispered.

“Okay, I was just asking,” Brian said, playing innocent. He pulled his wallet from his back pocket. “Drinks are done,” he said, raising his hand to our waiter. “Check please.”

It was a typical evening in Barrington as Kent and I sat on opposite ends of the couch. A week had passed and we were coming to his parents’ house almost every other day. We were watching TV while we waited for his parents to come home. As soon as we heard the front door open, Kent startled me by grabbing my hand, jerking me forward, and pulling me onto his lap. I laughed, hit him, and moved away, but he gripped my wrist and pulled me back.

“Get over here,” he said as both dimples appeared.

“Stop,” I said playfully, shoving his hands away.

I tried to maneuver away from his grasp, but he linked his arms around my waist, pulling me to sit on his lap. I pinched his hands to release me, and he just laughed it off while using a strong hold to draw me closer against him. I couldn’t help the laughter that escaped my lips as I tried to break from his tight grasp. Amusement crossed his face as he used all his might to keep me still. I wiggled in his hold while pinching his wrists.

“You think you’re funny,” he said, whispering in my ear.

“Very,” I replied, leaning forward to bite him to let go of me.

His chest moved up and down in laughter as he gripped me tight, while he moved his arms lower, so I couldn’t get a good direct bite. When his parents strolled into the family room, I stilled and pushed myself off of Kent’s lap. My cheeks warmed from embarrassment as if we had been caught doing something inappropriate.

“Hi, Mrs. Plack. Mr. Plack,” I greeted, briefly looking at each of them.

A beaming grin appeared on Mrs. Plack’s face. “Call me Karen. And Beth, I’m glad to see you again. You guys are too cute.” Her eyes lit up as she headed toward the kitchen, tugging Mr. Plack behind her. “We’re having steak today,” she called from the hallway.

Mr. Plack chuckled softly, also entertained by our show of affection.

“You!” I scolded, pointing my finger at Kent.

He nipped at my finger, pretending to bite it, and I pulled my hand back, laughing.

Dinner was exceptional. I learned that even though they had help, Mrs. Plack cooked dinner most nights unless she had a late-night charity function. We continued to sit at the table as Mrs. Plack talked about Kent’s childhood. By the end of dinner, she had the whole table laughing.

“Jack, do you remember when Kent ate dog food?” Tears from hysteria formed in her eyes as she recalled the story.

“It was a dare, and for your information, I won a dollar,” Kent said, feigning boredom. He tried not to smile but failed.

“You’ll do anything for money,” I said, joining in.

He swiftly kicked me under the table and his eyes widened when I kicked him back even harder.

“Tell me, Kent, what did it taste like? What was the brand, Kibbles ’n Bits?” I asked, playfully poking at his side.

Everyone erupted into laughter.

“Funny girl.” He gave me a sly smile as he pinched my leg under the table.

The conversation continued with Mrs. Plack reminiscing about Kent’s high school years. I chimed in with snide comments every once in a while. Most of the time, Mrs. Plack and I were hysterical with laughter from making fun of Kent. The men, not even close to our level of giddiness, looked at us in amusement.

Mrs. Plack rubbed her eyes. “Sorry, there are only a few times when I get to relive Kent’s younger years. So, Jack, how was work?” She laughed at herself for trying to change the subject into a more serious conversation.

I reached for my glass of water and took a sip as I attempted to compose myself.

Mr. Plack filled us in on Plack Industries and their overseas operations. I watched as Mrs. Plack looked to her husband in approval. Her eyes never strayed from his and he drowned in her attention.