Page 53 of The Husband Contract
“I mean you take a very hands-off approach to the B&B. I'm not complaining, but I'm just not sure what use you would be. Anyway, I know I'm being rude, but I can't help myself.”
“I'm going to ignore that, Willow, because obviously your brain has been affected by your sickness. But do not bother me unless the B&B burns down—and then, if it burns down, you better hope that you die in it, as well."
"Really, Charlotte? That's horrible."
“What's horrible is the fact that—hold on.” I can hear her giggling and talking to someone. I wonder why she's going to France. Is she going on vacation, or has she met another man? I wonder if she'll see the Eiffel Tower, a place I've always wanted to see in real life. I wonder if she'll take a trip to Versailles, walk in the gardens, and appreciate the French baguettes and croissants. "I have to go now."
"Okay, enjoy your time in France.”
“And you enjoy your time sitting on your fat ass, watching TV and eating ice cream, while I pay you." I listen to her rant and rave, and I keep my mouth shut. Sometimes I really hate her. I don't really understand what I did to make her talk to me this way. I don't understand why she's never been able to treat me like a sister, an equal. But I know deep in my heart that neither she nor my aunt has ever loved me. It's weird living with people for most of your life, hoping for a bond, a connection, and it's sad once you acknowledge that it's never going to happen.
"I gotta go now," I say, and she just hangs up. I try not to feel sad. I'm used to our relationship. It is what it is. I have my family. Katherine and Brielle are my family. We aren't blood-related, but we love each other. We fight for each other. We support each other—and that's what real family does. I knew I can count on them for anything, and they can also count on me.
I sit back, my mood slightly diminished, but I try not to let Charlotte win. I look over and see Sebastian staring at me. His eyebrows are furrowed, and he’s taken out his earbuds. I hope he hasn’t heard much of the conversation I’d had.
“Is everything okay?” he asks as he shifts closer to me in the back of the limo.
“It’s fine. Thanks for asking.” I feel his hard thigh pressed against mine, and it’s warm. I place my hand on his knee and squeeze. He really cares. He’s a good listener, and I’m not used to that.
“Who was that?”
“Oh, my cousin, Charlotte,” I say, trying not to grimace.
“Oh, I haven’t met her, have I?”
“No, not yet.”
“Maybe when we get back to Whispering Haven, I can meet her—or does she happen to live somewhere else?”
“She does live in Whispering Haven most of the time, but she is about to go on vacation. But yeah, maybe you’ll get to meet her someday, though." The fact of the matter is, I don't want him to meet her. Charlotte is everything that I'm not. She's tall and confident, with huge boobs and a small waist. She looks like a supermodel, and she does her hair and makeup perfectly. She's confident. She can get almost any guy she wants—and she wants them all, especially the ones that I like. Anytime I liked a guy in junior high or high school, she'd deliberately go after them just to show me she could get them. And I don't want her to do that with Sebastian. I don't want her to come on to him. I don't want her to come between us.
I trust him. I don't know why, but there is something about him that tells me he won't cheat. Still, I don't want to give her the opportunity.
"I was thinking that once we get to the hotel, maybe we could get something to eat and then gamble a little," Sebastian says as he squeezes my hand. I feel his fingers running circles on my palm, and I look up at him with a small smile.
"That sounds fun. What sort of gambling will we do? I have to admit, I've never really gambled before."
"I don't know. Blackjack's fun for beginners. We could also do Texas Hold'em, or maybe some roulette."
"Ooh, I've seen all of those in movies, but I guess I've never wanted to waste my money." I stare at him and then blush. I don't want him to think that I'm asking him for money.
"You won't need much, just some cash for chips," he says with a warm smile.
"Oh, I don't have any cash on me." I wrinkle my nose. "I guess maybe we can't gamble, then."
"Don't worry. There are plenty of ATMs in the hotel. We can stop by when we get there."
"Oh, great," I say, my heart sinking. “That will be really great.” I bite my lower lip. I don't want to take out any money from the bank to gamble. I have so little of it as it is, but I can't tell him how broke I am. I don't want him to think that I expect him to give me money. I don't want him to think that this is a free ride—that would make me feel horrible. I will withdraw a little bit and then hopefully win it back.
We pull up outside a grand hotel, and my jaw drops as I stare at the water fountain.
"Welcome to the Bellagio," he says as he slides out of the limo and opens the door for me.
"Wow, this is amazing. I guess we're not in Whispering Haven anymore," I say, giggling as I look around.
"Yeah, maybe one day you'll have a hotel like this."
"I doubt it very much," I say, laughing and shaking my head. "This is far too grand for someone like me. I much prefer my properties to be quaint and my locations more picturesque." I suddenly realize that he might think that I'm complaining, and I don't want him to think I'm not enjoying being here. "I mean, not to say that this isn't amazing," I add quickly. I don't want him to think I'm unappreciative. "This is really cool.”
