Chapter 14 #2
I gasp and start writing on the paper. “Rule number four, no winking.”
“Does that need to be its own separate rule? Or can that fall under rule number three, no flirting?”
“It needs to be defined.”
“Then why don’t we make it rule number three, subsection a, no flirting?”
“Are you really going to be that technical about it?”
“Just trying to make this official, Gossy.”
“Fine, no winking is filed under rule number three, subsection a.”
“God, I love a good subsection.” He stares off into space longingly and then shakes his head. “Okay, so nine visitations.”
“Two.”
“You can’t go back down after offering three.”
“You went back up after offering eight.”
“Because I enjoy your company. Is that too much to ask? I find you charming.”
“Rule number four, no compliments.”
“Oh come on,” he grumbles. “Offering compliments is just being a good neighbor, and I’ll be damned if I go through this summer not being a decent neighbor to the girl who turned down my proposal.”
“Fine, but rule number four, no talking about the proposal anymore. I’d like to forget my mistake ever existed and that instead, some random British guy just happened to rent the house next door because you wanted to know what Massachusetts was like, nothing else.”
“I can agree to that. But where do we fall on the visitations?”
“Fine…five, and that’s my final offer.”
That stupidly handsome grin crosses his lips. “Deal. Anything else?”
“Well, we already have no buying things for us, visitation five times a day, no flirting with a subsection added for no winking, and no talking about the proposal anymore on the list. I think that’s pretty solid on my end. Oh, wait, rule number five, no more proposing.”
“Oh, you don’t need to write that down. I’m over the whole proposal thing. A guy can only be turned down so many times.”
“Uh-huh…” I start writing on the paper. “Rule number five, no more proposing.”
“Have it your way, but that’s a two-way road. You can’t propose either.”
I scoff. “Trust me, that won’t be a problem.”
“I don’t know.” He twirls a piece of his hair. “After five visitations a day, you might be singing a different tune.”
“They’re not required visits, it’s just a limit. You don’t need to fill the quota every day.”
“Oh, hold on, one of those visitations is required given our previous agreement. I’d like a subsection added. Rule number two, subsection a: at least one visitation is required a day, and both participants must engage in conversation.”
“Yes, but conversations must be normal. No leotards or guinea pigs should be mentioned.”
“What if they’re mentioned accidentally? I won’t lead with such topics, but if I visit a pet store and happen to see a guinea pig, I think that’s fair game to mention.”
“We don’t have a pet store here.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Fine, but if you start talking about guinea pigs wearing leotards, then you lose all visitation rights.”
“That’s fair. If I start talking about guinea pigs in leotards, then I lose all visitation rights with myself.”
Don’t laugh, even though that’s kind of funny.
Don’t want to make him think that I think he’s mildly charming.
Mildly.
“Well, if that’s it, then I think we can sign and—”
“Uh, I have some rules.”
“You have rules?”
“Yeah, I do.” He clears his throat. “For the record, I’m here for the summer, and I have an agenda, and that’s to get to know you better.”
“Why?”
“Because I came here for you, and my father claims I never see anything through, so I shall see this through. You might not want me proposing, but at least I can get to know you to the point that when I go home, I can tell my father that I spent the summer getting to know someone pretty amazing.”
Well that’s…that’s really…wait a second.
“Hey, I said no flirting.” I point my pen at him.
“I’m not flirting.”
“That was blatant flirting. That was a really nice thing to say, which means—”
“I’m a nice guy who says nice things. How did you ever get the impression that I’m anything but that?”
The tone of his voice, the inflection in his words…he actually means that.
Which makes me feel guilty, because if I really think about it, when has there been a time in the past two days where he hasn’t been a good guy?
My annoyance doesn’t necessarily come from him, but rather the situation and the way he was brought into my life.
Swallowing my pride, I say, “You’re right. You’ve been nice and I’ve been irritable. Not that it’s an excuse, but I feel a lot of pressure right now and I think I’m stressed and taking it out on the people around me.” I look him in the eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“Thank you, Renley. I appreciate it. But no need to apologize. I understand pressure and stress. I’m in the same situation.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, but nothing you need to worry about.” He shifts on the couch. “But since we’re being honest, I should make my intentions known.”
“Yes?” I drag out, skeptical.
“I understand the rules that we set forth, but I have a rule of my own. While I’m here, you’re not allowed to date anyone.”
Date anyone?
Why would that be a rule of his?
“For the record, I don’t have time to be dating anyone at the moment, but I don’t believe you should be able to ask for that rule.”
“I should, because I understand the rules we’ve laid out today, but what I need you to know is that I’m not done with this—with the possibility of us.”
Groaning, I say, “Theo, this, us, it’s not going to be a thing. It was a mistake. I’m not looking for a fiancé; I’m not looking for a relationship at all. I don’t have the time to make something work right now, not when I’m trying to make something of myself.”
“I understand that and respect it, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up. If I have to go about getting your attention in a roundabout way, then fine, but I want you to know, I will continue to pursue you.”
“Why?” I ask, so confused about this entire situation. “You don’t know me.”
“I don’t, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to get to know you.” He leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “I came here for a reason. I’m here for the summer and I’m going to make the most out of it.”
“So that’s what all this is about—you give me money for my candy store and you’re attempting to get your way now? I told you I wasn’t going to do anything romantic for money.”
“I’m just asking for you to give me a chance, to get to know me. I’m not all that bad.”
“I don’t think you’re bad, I just think we’ve led two completely different lives.
You’re from what seems to be some sort of high-society world in England where money isn’t something you stress over but rather just have.
I come from a situation where we’re scraping every penny we have to make ends meet, picking up odd jobs where I work with my hands to gain just an ounce of respect from the people I live near.
You have a title; you’ve naturally, by birth, gained that respect.
We’re…we’re different, Theo, and I know this might feel like a strange project on your end, but this is my life and I’m not about to mess around with it right when I can see light at the end of the tunnel, taking me into a new chapter, one where I’m actually doing something that I love. ”
He slowly nods, looking like he’s thinking over everything I just said. After a few seconds, he says, “Teach me.”
“Huh?”
“You’re right, I haven’t worked a day in my life.
I’ve earned the respect of the people around me by doing absolutely nothing and I hate it.
Despise it, actually. I have a desire to do so much more, but I’m not offered the opportunity.
And that might sound entitled and like a rich-arse complaint, but I’ve been conditioned my entire life to not lift a finger.
To let others do the work. I don’t want to be that person. ”
The sincerity in his voice and the way his eyes gloss over when he speaks hit me harder than I expected. Because I can understand the preconceived expectations that others have of you. Where he might be looked at as someone who holds status, I’m someone who holds none.
I can relate—on a different scale, but I can relate.
And therefore, I say something that I don’t actually want to say.
“I can teach you.”
“Really?” he asks, perking up.
Yeah, really, Renley?
Are you sure you know what you’re agreeing to?
Not like you can get out of it now.
“Yeah, but I don’t want it to be a thing, like where I’m your mentor. I have a lot going on and I don’t have time to watch over everything you do.”
“Then let me help you. You’re going to need help at your sweets store, right? I can be helpful.”
“Can you? You just told me you haven’t worked a day in your life.”
“But I’m a good listener and learn quickly and most importantly, I have good intentions.”
“Yeah, trying to propose to me.”
He smirks. “Is that so bad? I mean, sorry that I want to marry you. Pardon me for attempting to spend the rest of my life with you.” The sarcasm is thick.
“You don’t even know me.”
He laughs. “Come on, what do you say? Let me help while I attempt to pursue you.”
“You have lost your mind if you think I’m going to let that happen.”
“Then just ignore the pursuit. I can do that on my own time. But you’ll let me help you, teach me how to be a real human?”
That unfortunately makes me laugh, which of course makes him perk up. “Are you asking me to show you how to be a real boy?”
His smile stretches from ear to ear. “I am.”
I sigh and look out the window. How did I even get here?
A few days ago, my biggest worry was if I was going to win the bid for Rudder’s.
Now I have some random stranger attempting to marry me, thirty thousand dollars to invest in said store, and a man asking me to teach him real-life things.
This is not what I expected going into this summer.
But from what it seems, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to shake him. So…might as well just deal with it.
“Fine, we need more ground rules.”
“Lay them out for me, Gossy. I’m all ears.”