Page 73 of Hopeless
“You should,” I agree.
The hush of the quiet night stretches between us.
“How’s the job hunt going?” His unwavering gaze never leaves mine. I’m not dumb enough to think he doesn’t know how it’s going. I’d tell him if anything came of it and me never bringing it up is a dead giveaway.
“It’s going.” I refuse to be all woe is me about it.
“I think we need to go out. Be seen together more. We kinda hide out at the bar and at our house.”
Ourhouse startles me.
“It’s not enough. We need to sell it.”
“But you’ll win the bet if I don’t get a job.”
“What bet?”
My eyes roll. “The one where you bet me that being associated with you wouldn’t help me get a new job. You knew then I was a lost cause. It’s looking like you were right.”
“I don’t remember that.”
His intentional ignorance irritates me, and my hands swish through the water, pushing a wave of it at him. “The bet? The deal? The fake engagement? Thewe’re not having sex? I’ll take you to a hospital if you keep floating there, pretending you don’t remember.”
“I remember it differently. I remember thinking that you didn’t need my name or my association to get a job because you were smart and capable and qualified on your own. I remember thinking there’s no way people would hold your family name against you that thoroughly. Now I know that this town is a lost cause and you’re too good for it.”
My chest goes tight, and a prickling sensation takes root beneath my eyelids. No one has ever said anything like that to me.
Ever.
I clear my throat. “Okay, well, be that as it may, you must still want to win the bet.”
He waves me off casually, even though the words he says next feel anything but casual. “I’ve never wanted to lose a bet so badly in my life. Is it even a bet, Bailey? What were the terms? What did I get if I won?”
I blink, trying to think back. Was there really nothing in this for him? That couldn’t be.
“Well, you said you wanted your family off your back.”
He laughs wryly, looking away as his big, strong hand combs through his wet hair. “They’re gonna be right back up in my shit the minute you break up with me. Possibly worse, actually.”
Panic surges in me, and where I was borderline cold, I’m suddenly very, very hot. “So this is just … a pity arrangement?”
“No, Bailey. It’s not that.” His voice went from cool and collected to rough gravel with a hint of steel.
“What is it then? You playing hero with my life?”
“I’m here because I want to be.”
My head shakes. “There isn’t even sex in this for you. You made it clear you didn’t want any more of that, so—”
He cuts me off. “I wanted more.”
My heart goes from thudding loudly, drowning out all other sounds, to still and silent. “What?”
“You shouldn’t lose your virginity during a bet. I don’t want that for you.”
“I thought it wasn’t a bet.”
His jaw works. “It’s a glorified bet.”
