Page 27 of The Wrong Date Deal

He winced. “Maybe a little bit.”

“Ford—”

“It was just a quick nap.”

August shook her head. “When was the last time you slept properly?”

“Uh… It’s been a couple of days.”

She put a hand on his arm. “Ford, why?”

He attempted to wave the question away. “One of my roommates is struggling to make rent, so I’ve been working a bit more to help cover the bills.”

“That’s not your job.”

“I know, but it’s not her fault and I can’t afford to get kicked out and have that on my record.”

August looked at him. He was such a good guy, trying so hard to look after everyone around him, no matter what it cost him. People took advantage of that. “You could have just asked. I’d have given you the money.”

He shook his head and went to tidy his books. “No, August. That’s not your job. I chose to do this, I can handle it.”

“I know you can, but you don’t have to.”

“I do. Mom and Dad don’t want me leeching off them and I won’t come leeching off you.”

August groaned. They had no idea what they’d done. “It’s not leeching if I’m offering.”

“I’m pretty sure they’d still say it is.”

“I don’t care what they say.I’msaying it’s not, and I’m the only one who gets to decide that.”

“It’s really fine. I just have to work two more extra shifts this week and I’ll have enough to cover it all.”

August dropped into the second seat at the dining table. “And what about next week, Ford?”

He bit his lip and looked up. “I’m… not sure. She’s looking for work, she is. She just wasn’t expecting to get laid off. And she’s genuinely stressed about it.”

“Right. So are you. And maybe so are your other roommates. I can help take the pressure off for a little—from all of you. Give her a month to find something new and get back on top of things.”

Ford shook his head. “You don’t have to do that. It’s way too much.”

She reached out and took his hand. “Ford, if the roles were reversed, would you do it for me?”

He looked at her. They both knew he would. He’d do it for anyone—including a roommate who thought he was an on-demand home chef. “Maybe. If you weren’t being annoying.”

She laughed. “You’d do it even if I’d been the most annoying person on the planet.”

“Eh. You got me,” he said, deflating slightly. “I just want to prove I can do this. That I can handle everything.”

“I know you can. You don’t have to prove you can. And I know that I like it better when you have enough time to show up and annoy me. Consider it payment for that.”

He laughed before looking at her seriously. “I’ll pay you back.”

“Nope.”

“August—”

“You can pay me back by choosing the restaurant we’re ordering from tonight and telling me the best three things to order.”

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