5. Chapter 5
Cole
“The gym is on the market,” Nayvee told me over the phone. “It went up faster than expected.”
I groaned. “I wish I could buy it.”
“I’ll give you the money.” She sounded sincere.
“No. I don’t want to owe you. That’s the best way to ruin family relationships.”
“I don’t mind. It’s not like I need all this money Grandma gave me.”
“No. I hate owing family for anything.”
“You could get married and get your inheritance,” she teased.
I took a deep breath. “I blew that this week,” I muttered.
She was quiet for a minute. “What do you mean?”
“I’m kidding. Mostly. I work with a woman who I was trying to talk myself into asking out. Not to get money, obviously, but because I like her. Turns out she lives in the apartment below me, and we’ve been hating on each other since I moved in.”
“Are you serious? That’s crazy.”
“Yeah.”
“And you were ready to marry her?”
I laughed. “No, not at all. We barely know each other, but she could use the money even more than I could.”
“Might as well do it. Our family seems to be crazy that way.”
I wasn’t sure if she was serious or not.
“She hates me now. She even quit her job because of me, which she really needed.”
“Why did you hate each other?”
“I guess when I worked out it was too loud for them, and when she left a note, I might have been purposefully more noisy.”
“Cole…”
“I know. Then her little sister egged my apartment and left some notes and stuff. At least that’s what I’m assuming happened.” I felt so guilty I could barely eat, and I’d probably spend all night staring at the ceiling wishing I’d jumped rope quieter.
I finished the call and got ready for bed. No noise from me tonight.
There was no way Sadie was going to be able to pay her rent. I climbed under the covers and told myself she’d made her choice. It wasn’t my fault. It wasn’t my fault if she lost her place… and Alyssa.
Something else needed to occupy my mind. The gym. Not going to help me sleep. What if someone else bought it?
If I got married, I’d have millions. I could buy the gym and do whatever else I wanted without stress.
It was probably crazier to think of getting married for the money than borrowing it from Nayvee.
Still, I’d seen things like that take dark turns, and I wouldn’t do that to my sister or our relationship.
It would help Sadie. But she hated me. But… she’d have time to relax and have fun every once in a while. I would actually be improving her life. That was the way—make myself look like a hero. Idiot.
Who was to say she would agree? She’d made it clear she was mad today, and I couldn’t see that changing.
I was going to ask. Maybe. Now. It was now or never. I jumped out of bed and pulled on a hoodie because I didn’t have a robe. This was going to be the most ridiculous proposal in history, and if she said no, I would move tomorrow.
Sadie
Sleep wasn’t finding me. I’d quit my job.
Because I was mad. And I hadn’t told Alyssa.
After I got home, I made her go clean Cole’s door, even though he’d already cleaned it, and then we had a quiet dinner and went to bed.
I was going to beg my other job to give me more hours.
That sounded awful, but jobs weren’t easy to get around here.
I worked hard. I was always more productive than the rest of my team. They might go for it. That was what I would do and just pray they said yes.
Someone pounded on the front door, scaring me out of my thoughts. I glanced at my clock. It was after ten. Who would come at this time? I jumped up to get there before Alyssa woke up. When I glanced through the peephole, I saw Cole. I cringed and opened the door a crack.
“Go away, Cole. It’s late.”
“I know,” he said. “Can we talk for two minutes?”
“No.”
“Please.”
I stared at him. His hair was messy, and he was wearing shorts and a hoodie. Odd combination, but still attractive.
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
“I know, but you need me. You don’t have your job, and I can help. Talk to me for Alyssa.”
I grumbled something even I didn’t understand, and opened the door. He came in, but I didn’t invite him to sit. I shut the door and crossed my arms.
“I have a proposal.”
“What kind?”
He gave me an apologetic smile. “An actual proposal.”
I blinked. “I’m not following.”
“Have you ever heard of Vera Hart?”
I thought for a minute. “The billionaire?”
“Yes. She’s my grandma.”
My eyes went wide.
“She wants to give all her grandkids their inheritance while she’s alive, but she has a funny stipulation. We have to get married before we get it, and we only get half up front. Half after being married for ten years.”
“I’m listening.” I wasn’t sure why. Or what it had to do with me.
“There’s a gym that I want to buy in Lansing Falls. I don’t have the money. You need money to take care of Alyssa. You marry me and move to Lansing Falls with me, pretend to like me, and I’ll give you millions.”
My eyes narrowed, and my pulse sped up. I was probably still asleep, having a crazy dream. Cole Hart did not need to beg a woman to marry him. I’d bet they would line up around the corner to audition.
“Why are you coming to me?”
“I feel like I owe you, and you need it as much, if not more than me. Besides, we got along fine until you found out I was the jerk upstairs.”
I chewed the side of my lip. I really needed to change the way we were living. Alyssa deserved more fun, and honestly, so did I. But was comfort worth making such a strange agreement?
I didn’t know.
“Sleep on it,” he said.
I had to make money. I couldn’t let Alyssa feel unstable again. I was scared about our future.
“No, I’ll do it,” I said. “But I have conditions.”
He crossed his arms, mimicking me. “Shoot.”
I swallowed. “I only have to like you in public, and you give me enough money for Alyssa’s homecoming dress. We need that soon.”
“Deal.”
I nodded, feeling like I’d just negotiated some great deal. To anyone listening, I probably sounded desperate. I guess I was.
“Oh, and Alyssa can’t know it’s fake. I don’t want her knowing I’m doing this for her.”
“Fair.”
He held out his hand, and I took his, trying to shake it with conviction. I told myself hand-shaking wasn’t worth the giddy feeling in my stomach.
He left, and I went back to bed, curling up in a ball. I’d regret this any second. What was I even going to tell Alyssa? People didn’t go from enemies to lovers in a matter of days—and she was smart.
Were we enemies? Maybe not. Why was I angry? Because he’d told me about his annoying neighbors. My pride was hurt. If Alyssa was egging his door and hitting the ceiling, what else might she have done that I didn’t know about? The biggest fight had been between the two of them.
So, was I angry or embarrassed? I wasn’t sure. Maybe a little of both. I hated that I’d complained about him—to him.
I barely slept that night.
I didn’t regret my choice. Alyssa needed this. If it were only me, there was no way. I’d do anything for my sister. Even marry the hot, annoying hunk upstairs.
The next morning at breakfast, Alyssa pushed her food around with her fork.
“You alright?” I asked.
“Yeah. I’m just sad I messed things up with Cole. He was actually helping me understand math for the first time in years.”
I rubbed my temples. “Cole came over last night and we talked. I think we’re good.”
“Really? Like you and him are good, or all of us?”
“I think all of us.”
“You think he’ll still tutor me?”
“Probably.” I should have added that to my conditions. Still… I could see past my embarrassment. I might not know Cole well, but I knew he was a good guy. He wouldn’t let Alyssa fail.
“Oh, good.”
I almost told her we were getting her a new dress, but I decided to wait—just in case I’d been delirious last night when Cole came over. The entire thing might be a crazy dream. That would make a lot more sense.
When she was in her room getting ready, someone knocked.
I opened the door and found Cole there.
“Talk yourself out of it?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Not yet.”
He handed me an envelope. “For the dress.”
“Thanks.” I didn’t know how to react.
“Did you tell Alyssa?”
“No, she’s upset. She really likes you and she’s worried you won’t help her anymore, you know, with the math.”
“I’ll help her whenever she needs me.”
I nodded. I knew he would.
“Are you going to tell her?” he asked.
I glanced at her closed door. “I’m not sure what to tell her,” I admitted. “The truth? Then she’ll think it’s okay to marry some rando for his money.”
He grinned slightly. “I’m not a complete rando. We can let her think we fell in love.”
“She won’t believe it. It’s too fast after… everything.”
“So we let her catch us a few times.”
I crossed my arms. “Catch us what?”
His grin grew. “Nothing too scandalous. Is she here?”
“In her room, she’ll be out any minute.”
“Great, come on.” He breezed past me and into the kitchen. I followed, wondering what he was up to. He looked around, then pointed at the counter. “Hop up here.”
“Why?” I asked, setting the envelope down.
“Just trust me. I’ll help you up.” He put his hands around my waist and lifted me.
I grabbed his shoulders in surprise, and he set me on the counter.
“Alright, keep your hands where they are.” He kept his hands loosely around me.
“It’s nothing too crazy, but also nothing people would do unless something was going on between them, right? ”
My heart was beating a little too loudly. “I guess,” I said, trying to look indifferent.
“Try to at least look like you want to be here.”
“I’m no good at acting.”
He grinned. “That’s going to have to change.”
Alyssa walked into the kitchen. “Hey, Sadie—“
My arms slid down, resting at Cole’s elbows, and I hoped my face wasn’t red. Cole just turned casually and looked at her.
“Hi, Alyssa,” he said, lowering me to the floor.
“Hey,” she said, eyes narrowing. “What are you two doing?”
“Talking?” I said, feeling like a liar.
Her mouth twitched. “Okay… you two go on… talking, and I’m going to school. See you.” She grabbed her backpack and hurried out the door. She never left this early.
Cole laughed softly.
“Man, she’s never going to fall for that,” I said.
He grinned and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Oh, I think she did. You had the guiltiest look I’ve ever seen.”
“I don’t like to lie.”
“You didn’t.”
“But if you try to make someone think something, it’s still a lie.”
“So, you trying to make me think you don’t find me ridiculously attractive is a lie?”
My eyes narrowed.
He chuckled. “Kidding. I should go to work. I’ll swing by later tonight and bring pizza.”
I nodded. I told myself it was only because I wanted him to help Alyssa with her math—but I wasn’t sure that was completely true. He really was ridiculously attractive, and I really liked pizza.