Chapter 7 #2
“You’d be helping me and helping yourself by saving up a nest egg.” He goes in for the kill. “It’s a win-win.”
A million objections swirl through my mind. It’s too intimate. Too complicated. Too... everything. Plus, my inconvenient attraction to him, which has only grown stronger today seeing him in dad-mode, vulnerable and earnest.
“I don’t know, Jonah.” I shake my head. “Living together, helping raise Eli together... it’s a lot.”
“Just until I get permanent custody. A month, maybe two.”
I narrow my eyes. “And what happens after that? When you don’t need me anymore?”
Surprise or maybe hurt flickers across his face, then it’s gone.
“By then, you’ll have found another job.
You’re talented, Zoe, so I’m sure that won’t be a problem.
You can move out, live wherever you want, keep doing your thing.
Maybe babysit so you stay consistent in Eli’s life.
” Jonah clears his throat. “You’ll have your own bedroom in its own wing—a king bed and spa bathroom. Complete privacy.”
“And expenses?” As much as I hate discussing money, I need to be practical here.
“I’ll cover everything—rent, utilities, food. Plus a salary.” He glances at me. “What were you making at the station?”
I tell him, and his eyebrows shoot up.
“That’s it? For producing entire news segments?” He shakes his head in disbelief. “I’ll double it.”
Now it’s my turn to look shocked. “That’s unnecessary—”
“It is if I want to keep you,” he cuts in, then winces. “I mean, if I want to make this worth your while.”
Double my previous salary, plus living expenses covered.
Holy shit.
“What exactly would my duties be?” I try to sound professional even though I’ve basically just won the lottery.
“Morning routine, getting him to school when I have early practice, being there when he gets home, meals when my mom or I can’t do it.” Jonah ticks off the items on his fingers. “And travel coverage when I’m on the road with the team, unless my parents take him.”
“So basically, everything,” I say, with no bite. It’s what I expected.
“Not everything. I want to be his dad. I just... need help figuring out how.”
Now, he’s all vulnerable again, which does things to my heartstrings. I turn to look out the window, and the storefronts of downtown Dickens blur past. “What about my schedule? I’ll need time to look for a job when this ends.”
“We’ll work around that. Again, you’ll have my parents, and you know Sydney will be around as much as she can. Once Eli’s settled in school, you’ll have those hours free. Plus, I’m home the evenings I don’t have games. Well, and when we’re not on the road.”
It’s starting to sound doable.
“When would you want me to move in?” I stare out the window.
“Tomorrow, if possible.” His answer’s immediate. “The social worker’s coming in three days, and having you already established would look a lot better.”
I whip my head around to stare at him. “Tomorrow? As in, twenty-four hours?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Jonah, I can’t just pack up my entire life in a day.” My face collapses. “I have furniture, clothes, equipment—”
“I’ll hire movers,” he says, like that solves everything. “And anything else you need, we can buy.”
I shake my head, marveling at how the obscenely wealthy think. Just throw money at the problem until it goes away. Must be nice.
“Fine,” I concede, because it is a great deal. “But I want a contract. Something that specifies my duties and compensation.”
“Already texted my lawyer.” Jonah holds up his phone. “He’ll have something for us by tonight.”
Of course he will. Because when you’re Jonah Holt, the world rearranges itself to accommodate you.
I stare at him, still wondering if he’s serious. “You really want me to do this? You don’t know me all that well.”
Jonah stops at a red light and turns to look at me.
“I know you quit your job rather than run a story that would hurt my son. I know you helped me get ahead of the narrative when you could have broken the story yourself. You’re my sister’s best friend in the world, and I know Eli seemed comfortable with you, which is more than I can say for how he feels about me.
” He shrugs. “Seems like enough to go on.”
Put like that, I can’t really argue. The light turns green, and he focuses back on the road.
“So, you’ll do it?” He’s trying to sound casual but not pulling it off.
I take a deep breath. This is wild. Completely off-the-wall bonkers. I’m about to uproot my entire life to move in with my best friend’s grumpy hockey star brother and his newly discovered son.
But then I think about my crappy apartment and the uncomfortable feeling I get at night when I don’t know who’s downstairs, banging around.
I think about crawling back to KBVR, begging for my job back, saving Donny Dexter and his inflated ego.
And then I think about Eli—that lost little boy with anger in his eyes and grief in his heart. About Jonah, trying so hard to be a father with no roadmap to follow. They need help.
And I need a fresh start.
But I remember something. “If we do this, we have to tell Sydney together. In person. Before she finds out from someone else.”
A flicker of—guilt? anxiety?—crosses his face. “Right. We’ll call her together and make sure, okay?”
“Okay,” I hear myself say, “but I have one last condition.”
Jonah raises an eyebrow.
“You can’t fall for me.” I shrug. “It’ll be tempting.”
Jonah bursts out laughing, which is not the reaction I was expecting. A small chuckle, yes, but he found that just a little too funny. His laugh echoes through the SUV, all deep and rumbly. “That won’t be a problem. No offense, Lane, but you’re not exactly my type.”
Ouch. Even though I made the joke, his response stings more than it should. I mean, it’s what I wanted him to say, I don’t want any romantic complications, but did he have to laugh so hard? Like, the very idea of falling for me is hilarious?
“Good.” My voice comes out a little sharp. “I just wanted that clear.”
“Crystal clear.” He pulls up to my apartment, still looking way too amused. “I don’t do relationships—not now, not when I need to focus on my son, and definitely not with my sister’s best friend.”
“Exactly,” I say, though my pride still smarts a bit. “So, we’re agreed. Strictly professional. I help with Eli, look for a job, and we all get what we need without anyone catching feelings.”
“Deal.” He extends his right hand while keeping his left on the wheel, and I shake it, trying to ignore the warmth of his palm against mine.
Great. Perfect. This is exactly what I wanted.
So why does my chest feel hollow?