6. Chapter Six
Chapter Six
Ryan
B ella sits across from me at the café, her forehead creased in frustration as she stirs her coffee absently. She’s been quieter than usual, which is certainly cause for concern.
“Alright,” I say, leaning forward, “what’s wrong? And don’t tell me it’s nothing, because you’ve been scowling for a while now.”
She sighs and sets her spoon down with a soft clink. “It’s the apartment situation. Luke and I need to find a new place soon, but it’s impossible. Everything decent is either ridiculously expensive or has a waiting list a mile long.”
“How bad are we talking?” I ask, though I already know Cedar Ridge’s rental market isn’t exactly generous.
Her lips press into a thin line. “Roger—the apartment agent—showed me a place yesterday. Two bedrooms, barely any space, old appliances, terrible decor, water stains on the ceiling, and he still has the nerve to ask for $1,800 a month.”
I frown, trying to keep my voice calm. “$1,800? For a dump?”
“Yeah.” She lets out a humorless laugh. “When I told him it was out of my budget, he was rude and dismissive.”
“That’s ridiculous.” I shake my head. “You’re not taking that place.”
“I don’t have much choice, Ryan,” she says, crossing her arms. “It’s either that or wait indefinitely for something better, which isn’t a feasible solution.”
I drum my fingers on the table, thinking. “What if I covered it?”
Her head snaps up, her eyes narrowed. “No.”
“Why not?” I counter. “Bella, you’re pretending to be my fiancée. If we’re keeping up appearances, you should be in a place that reflects that.”
She shakes her head. “Ryan, I’m not letting you pay my rent. That’s way too much.”
I lean back in my chair, studying her. “Okay, how about this: I’ll cover the rent, but we find something better. Something that’s actually worth the money.”
“Ryan—”
“Think about it,” I interrupt, holding up a hand. “What looks better for my image? My fiancée struggling in some overpriced hovel, or living comfortably in a nice place? People are watching us, Bella, especially since we’re doing this whole ‘engaged’ charade. The least I can do is make sure the story holds up.”
She still looks unconvinced, so I press on. “And I’m not just throwing money at you for no reason. It’s more convenient for me. I’ll be around for a while, so we can ‘cohabitate’ a little when we need to make this more believable. If we’re pretending to be engaged, it’s not a bad idea to have a base of operations. Besides, Cedar Ridge is nice. Quiet. It’s not the city, but I could use the change of pace.”
She blinks at me, her defenses softening just slightly. “You’d really do that?”
“Yeah, I would,” I say firmly. “We need to get you and Luke into a better place. Let me help, Bella. Not because I think you need saving, but because this arrangement works better for both of us if you’re not stressing over rent.”
She leans back, crossing her arms, and eyes me warily. “It’s not that simple, Ryan. Letting you do this—it feels…I don’t know. Like I’m losing control.”
“Bella,” I say, my tone softening. “You’re not losing control. You’re letting someone help you for once. You’ve been doing this all on your own for so long, but I can finally help you. I’m here. Let me do this for you and Luke.”
Her shoulders sag just a little, and I can see the internal battle playing out in her head. “And you really think this is necessary?”
“Yes.” I grin. “Besides, if we’re living close, it’ll make this whole fake engagement thing way easier. You won’t be able to avoid me. I’ll just show up uninvited like an annoying neighbor.”
That earns a faint smile, though she tries to hide it. “You’re already annoying enough without living close by.”
“Then you’ve got nothing to lose.”
She sighs and rubs her temple. “Okay. Fine. But only because it makes sense for the arrangement. And we’re finding something reasonable, not extravagant.”
“Deal,” I say, already pulling out my phone to start looking up listings. Since I just moved into my new place, I have a good idea of what’s available.
As I scroll, she mutters, “I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this.”
I glance up at her, grinning. “You’ll get used to it. Besides, I have a feeling you’ll like what I find. I’ve got good taste, remember?”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t argue further, and I catch her letting out a sigh of relief.
***
The moving truck rumbles down the quiet streets of Cedar Ridge, and I park my car in front of Bella’s new house—a charming white cottage-style home with a wraparound porch and a small garden in the front yard. It’s nothing flashy, but it certainly gives off a warm and inviting aura.
I step out, stretching my legs. Bella follows suit. She looks overwhelmed, standing there with her arms crossed, surveying the house like it’s a wild animal she doesn’t quite trust.
“Second thoughts already?” I call out, grinning as I walk toward her.
She rolls her eyes but can’t quite hide the smile tugging at her lips. “I just…can’t believe this is happening. It feels too good to be true.”
“It’s real,” I say, stopping beside her and gesturing toward the house. “And it’s yours. Well, yours and Luke’s.”
Her expression softens as she glances toward the house again. “It’s perfect, Ryan. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” I say with a smirk. “Wait until we’ve unloaded all those boxes. Then you can thank me.”
She laughs, a sound that immediately lightens the air. “Fair point. I hope you brought your A-game, Blackwood. There’s a lot of stuff in that truck.”
“Oh, I’m ready,” I say, rolling my shoulders dramatically. “Let’s do this.”
The moving truck pulls up and the driver hops out, ready to unload.
I follow the movers to the back of the truck, grabbing the first box I see. It’s heavier than I expected, and I grunt under my breath.
“Careful there, city boy,” Bella teases as she walks past me, carrying a box labeled “Kitchen.”
“City boy?” I scoff, adjusting my grip on the box. “I’ll have you know I’ve got muscles under this jacket. Want me to flex for you?”
“Please don’t,” she says dryly, though there’s a glint of amusement in her eyes.
As the afternoon stretches on, we finally finish unloading the truck. She collapses onto the couch with a groan, leaning her head back. “I’m officially never moving again.”
I sit beside her and stretch my legs out. “That’s what everyone says. Give it five years.”
She smirks, turning her head to look at me. “You know, you didn’t have to help with all this. You’ve already done more than enough.”
“I wanted to,” I say simply, meeting her gaze. “Besides, it’s not just about the house. It’s about you and Luke having a fresh start. That matters to me.”
Her eyes soften, and for a moment, I think she’s going to argue. But instead, she reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Thank you, Ryan. For everything.”
I squeeze back, letting my thumb brush over hers. “You don’t have to thank me, Bella. It’s all part of the arrangement, remember?”
She nods. “Yeah. I know.”
***
I’m sitting in the booth of a cozy little Italian restaurant, loving the smell of fresh bread and basil. Alice is across from me, swinging her legs under the table. She’s humming a tune I don’t recognize as her hands fiddle with the corner of the menu.
I check my watch again. Bella and Luke are late. My stomach twists in a knot, though I tell myself there’s no need to panic. This is just a dinner, just a meeting between our kids. It’s not a big deal.
Except it is.
Alice notices me fidgeting. “Dad,” she says, narrowing her eyes. “Who are we waiting for? You’ve been weird all day.”
I force a smile. “It’s a surprise. I think you’re going to like them.”
Her eyebrows lift. “Them?”
“A special friend and their kid. I think you’ll get along.”
“Is this friend a girl?”
I choke on the sip of water I just took, but I manage to shrug it off. “You’ll see soon enough.”
She grins like she’s onto me, but she doesn’t press further.
The door jingles, and I look up as Bella and Luke walk in. For a second, my breath catches.
Bella is…well, she’s pretty.
She’s wearing a simple fitted dress that hugs her figure without being too flashy. Her hair is styled neatly, pulled back just enough to show off her face. She’s not wearing makeup, but she doesn’t need it. She looks fresh and natural—comfortable, even though her posture says she’s a little nervous.
Luke clings to her hand, his head swiveling to take in the restaurant like it’s the most fascinating place he’s ever been. I can’t take my eyes off the kid. He’s a smaller version of Caleb—same sharp jawline, same messy hair that sticks up no matter how much you try to comb it down. The way he glances around the room with that curious, restless energy? That’s Caleb all over again.
It’s like I’m seeing my brother for the first time in years, and it hits me like a punch to the gut. Caleb left us five years ago, and this kid is all that’s left of him.
Bella doesn’t know I’ve been keeping tabs on Luke. She thinks this is the first time I’ve seen him, but I’ve watched him grow from a chubby toddler into the bright, spirited boy standing before me. It wasn’t hard to find out where they were living after Caleb left. I couldn’t stay away, not when I knew Caleb had walked out on his family like he did on ours.
“Dad,” Alice says, tugging my sleeve. “Is that them?”
“Yeah.” I stand, my palms damp. “That’s them.”
Bella spots me and offers a hesitant smile. I wave her over, and she makes her way to the table.
“Hi,” she says softly, stopping just in front of me.
“Hi,” I reply, clearing my throat. “You look nice.”
“Thanks.” She glances down at her dress and then at me, her smile growing more confident.
I turn to the kids. “Alice, this is Bella and her son, Luke. Bella is…a good friend of mine.” I pause, then add, “She’s my girlfriend.”
Alice’s eyes widen. “Your girlfriend?”
Bella blushes, but she recovers quickly. She looks at Luke. “Luke, this is Ryan. He’s my…boyfriend. And this is his daughter, Alice.”
Luke grins at Alice. “Hi! I like your shoes!”
Alice beams. “Thanks! I like your hair.”
Within seconds, they’re chatting like they’ve known each other forever. They start comparing their favorite video games, and before I know it, they’re giggling over some joke I don’t understand.
Bella and I exchange a look, and she exhales in relief. “Well, that went better than I expected.”
“Yeah,” I admit, sitting back down. “They hit it off fast.”
The kids finish their introductions and ask to explore the restaurant’s little play area in the corner. I nod and watch as they scamper off together.
“She hasn’t been this happy in a while,” I say, mostly to myself.
Bella’s gaze softens. “Neither has Luke.”
I glance at her. “Are we doing the right thing?”
She hesitates, then lifts her chin. “I’m too desperate to back out now. If the kids are happy, then…whatever backlash comes, I’ll handle it.”
“Fair enough.”
A waiter appears to take our drink orders. Once he’s gone, Bella folds her hands on the table. “So,” she says, her voice lighter now. “We should probably talk about the terms of this…arrangement.”
I smirk. “Terms, huh? Doesn’t that make it sound so official? Plus, I believe we’ve said everything that needs to be said.”
She rolls her eyes. “You know what I mean. If we’re going to fake a relationship, we need rules. Boundaries.”
“Alright.” I lean forward and rest my elbows on the table. “What’s on your mind?”
“For starters,” she says as she taps a finger on the table, “are we seeing other people during this?”
I raise an eyebrow. “You mean, like, dating on the side?”
She nods.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I say honestly. “It’d get messy. Plus, people might find out, and that defeats the whole purpose.”
She bites her lip, considering my words. “Okay, no dating other people. Agreed.”
“What about living arrangements?” I ask, and her eyes widen.
“Living together?”
I shrug. “If we pretend to be a couple, people might expect us to share a place. It’d look weird otherwise.”
“I…I don’t know. I mean, I have to think about it. Luke and I are used to having our own space.”
“Fair enough.” I grin. “No pressure. But if you change your mind, my place has a great view.”
She glares at me, though there’s a hint of a smile. “Very funny.”
The waiter returns with our drinks, and Bella takes a long sip of her iced tea before continuing. “What about physical stuff?”
“Physical stuff?”
“You know,” she says, flushing. “Like…holding hands, hugging, kissing.”
I lean back, crossing my arms. “Well, if we’re selling this relationship, people might expect a little PDA.”
Her cheeks turn pink. “PDA?”
“Public displays of affection,” I clarify.
She groans. “I know what it means.”
“Good,” I say, grinning. “So, how do you feel about it?”
“I don’t feel anything about it,” she says quickly. Too quickly.
I chuckle. “You’re blushing.”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
She scowls, but it’s more adorable than intimidating. “Look, I’ll hold your hand if I have to. Maybe a hug here and there. But kissing is off the table.”
“Off the table?” I tease. “Not even a peck on the cheek?”
“Not even that,” she insists, though her voice wavers.
I lean closer, lowering my voice. “You sure about that? Because I think you might be curious.”
Her mouth drops open, and she stares at me like I’ve grown another head. Then, to my surprise, she recovers and smirks. “You’re the one who seems curious, Ryan.”
I blink. “What?”
“You’re the one bringing up kissing,” she says, leaning back with a smug expression. “Not me.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Alright, you got me. But seriously, we’ll keep it minimal. Just enough to make it believable.”
“Deal,” she says, holding out her hand.
I shake it, and for a moment, I feel a spark. It’s probably just static electricity…or maybe not.
“Do we introduce each other to our families?” I ask.
Her smile fades, and she looks down at her drink. “I’m not sure about that.”
“Why not?”
She hesitates. “Because of Caleb.”
Ah . I nod slowly. “I get it,” I say gently. “But you don’t have to worry about him. If he tries anything, I’ll handle it.”
She looks up at me, her eyes searching mine. “You’d do that?”
“Of course,” I say firmly. “I won’t let anyone mess with you or Luke.”
Her lips curve into a small smile, and for the first time tonight, she looks truly relaxed. “Thanks, Ryan.”
The kids return to the table, interrupting our conversation. They’re laughing and holding hands like they’ve been best friends forever.
“Dad, can Luke come over sometime?” Alice asks, her face glowing with excitement.
“Can I, Mom?” Luke chimes in.
Bella and I exchange a look, and I nod. “Sure, why not?”
This may lead somewhere, after all.