Chapter 5
FIVE
Lilou
When I first wake up, I think that me signing myself up for an arranged marriage is all some crazy dream.
Then I check my computer and realize that it was very much real.
And that I’ve been bought.
Holy crap.
I’m getting married.
The email has an attachment that has all of my new husband’s information, apparently, but I can’t bring myself to open it and check. Not just yet.
I stare at the email, at the winning amount, and my mind races. It’s so much money, more than I expected to get. It will be good for my grandpa. I’ll be able to afford his care for a long while and at a great facility.
He’s going to be okay.
I take a deep breath and double-click on the attachment. The first page is a reminder of the rules and information about how and when I’ll be paid.
The second page is the good stuff.
I scan my new husband’s information.
Milo Wright.
I frown as I read the name, wondering if it could possibly be the Milo in town. My Milo.
There’s no way. I would have heard if he was looking for a wife, and he definitely wouldn’t need to pay for one. He could have any girl that he wanted.
I scroll down further, and my heart starts to race as I read his information.
He’s a firefighter.
Just like my Milo.
He was born in Chicago.
Just like Milo.
He lives in Wolf Valley.
“Oh my gosh,” I whisper.
It is my Milo!
I can’t believe it. Why would he buy me? Why was he on an arranged marriage auction site? Why?
I have so many questions, and I can’t seem to wrap my head around the fact that Milo won me and I’m about to be his wife.
I grab my phone and dial Lymric. I need to talk about this with someone, to work through it all. The phone rings and rings, then gets sent to her voicemail, and I sigh and hang up before I can leave a message.
I climb out of bed and head out to my living room. I start to fuss with my plants as I think over everything that’s happened in the last twenty-four hours. I fill my watering can and smile as I go around the room, picking up a few dead leaves as I water the plants. This has always been my happy spot. I got it from my grandpa. My grandma was really into plants and gardening, and after she passed, my grandpa took it over, and I helped him.
I spent so much time out in flower beds, pulling weeds and watering. He taught me a lot about it, about how to care for different types of plants. It became our thing.
What am I going to do about Milo? I still can’t figure out why he bid on me. There were other women up for auction too. Why would he pick me?
What am I supposed to do now?
I need to see him. We need to talk.
I finish with my plants and then head into my bedroom to get dressed. It’s cold this morning so I pull on my favorite blue sweater and dark wash jeans. I need to be at the bookstore later today so I’ll have to hurry if I want to catch Milo before I head to work.
I grab my things and head out the door. I’m not sure where Milo might be. I don’t think that he’s at the fire station today, but I could be wrong.
I head towards the fire station when Milo’s black truck drives by me and then slams on his brakes. He pulls over to the curb, and I turn to face him.
“Lilou,” he says and for a moment, we both stare at each other.
He smiles at me as he closes his door and heads my way, and I look around, trying to figure out a good place to have this conversation.
He stops by my side, and I grab his hand and drag him around the corner to a side street.
“So,” he starts, and I swallow hard.
“Why are you doing this?” I blurt out, and his smile falters.
“Doing what?”
“Why are you marrying me?” I clarify.
“I’m not about to watch you be someone else’s wife.”
My heart kicks hard against my ribs, but I try not to read too much into his words.
“What do you mean?” I ask before I can get ahead of myself or start fantasizing about this being more than it is.
“You can’t marry a stranger. The guy could be a weirdo or dangerous. You shouldn’t have been on that site,” he tells me, and I relax.
See, he’s not into me. He’s just a good guy who was trying to protect me. That makes sense.
It still hurts, though.
Just remember that this is an arranged marriage.
I didn’t want to admit it, I guess, but I was secretly hoping that he wanted me too.
“Why do you want to marry me?” I ask him.
“I,” he starts before he trails off. “I have my reasons.”
I want to press him and find out why he needs a wife and why he picked me, but maybe it’s better if I don’t know.
“I need to get to work soon,” I tell him, and he nods, stepping back from me.
“I’ll walk you.”
I nod and we start to head towards Shelf Indulgence. As we walk, I try to secretly study him out of the corner of my eye.
He’s so handsome…and he’s about to be my husband.
This is crazy. I should tell him to forget about the whole thing and find a different way to cover the costs. Maybe there are payment plans or something. Although, I might not qualify for them.
“What are you thinking?” Milo asks as we walk, and I blink, looking over at him.
“That this seems crazy,” I admit.
“Crazy how?”
“It’s just happening so fast. I…you don’t think this is crazy?” I ask him, and he shakes his head.
“No, I know you, and if you’re nervous, then we can go slow. I want you to be comfortable with me. I’ll give you the money now. There’s no rush.”
I melt a little bit for him right then and there. I already had a crush on him, but now I think that I might be dangerously close to falling for Milo.
“We do need to figure out a few things,” he says, and I frown.
“Like what?”
“Well, a wedding date at some point, and all that goes with that. But also, where you want to live. Our schedules, I guess.”
“I…” I start, feeling overwhelmed.
“Let’s start easy. We don’t need to figure it all out right now,” he says softly, and I nod, stopping outside of the bookstore to face him.
“Where do you want to live? I have a place a few miles north of here. It’s a house, there’s more than enough room for you.”
“I don’t have a car,” I whisper. I wouldn’t be able to get to work.”
“Okay. Your place it is. We can look at getting something bigger when you’re ready or getting you a car.”
“Okay,” I agree, and he smiles.
“Alright, you get to work. I’ll pick you up later.”
“What are you going to do?” I ask him, and he smirks.
“Go home and pack. I’ll be by later to grab your key so I can move my stuff in.”
My head is spinning, but I nod.
“Okay.”
“What time are you off?”
“Six.”
“I’ll pick you up then.”
“Okay,” I say again.
“See you later.”
He leans down and kisses my cheek, and then he’s gone, headed back towards his truck. I watch him go until he disappears, and then I turn and head into work.
I try to clear my head as I get to work, but it’s no use. All I can think about is Milo and our upcoming wedding.