Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 69910 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69910 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
“If you come with me now, you’ll be safe. That’s why I did what I did.”
“Oh, why thank you, noble knight. God of goodness. Apollo, the hero. All hail to the conquering savior of poor damsels in distress everywhere.”
His eye twitches. Finally. “Not everywhere. Only right here. And not all damsels. Only you. I did what I did because no one should bet their whole life on a card game. It wasn’t right.”
“Obviously! So why didn’t you just laugh it off, get everyone a glass of water, tell them to simmer down, and send my dad on his way home? You could have convinced your dad not to have these silly poker nights anymore. You could have told him that women have rights, and one of our basic rights is freedom, which we cannot fundamentally lose in a card game because life no longer works like that.”
He did always have these sweet golden whirls in his eyes. They look all sunny now, like he’s captured the stuff straight from the sky, and it’s always burning in him. Of course, he’d live up to his name. He’s shattered every other expectation. “I wanted to take you away from all this nastiness.” He lowers his voice. “Maybe we can figure out how to get our dads back on a level where they can talk things out.”
“You’d probably have a better chance trying to get fire and water to finally mix,” I snap, but I’m listening. He’s set the hook, and I’ve swallowed it like the sad, chompy fish I am.
“I’ve seen some pretty amazing things done with that exact concept,” he shoots back cheerfully.
“Of course you have.” There’s no way I’m ever going to be chipper again.
“I have money. I can help you and your dad.”
Oh, so that’s the game he’s going for now. Those are the stops that are getting pulled out. No fucking thanks. I’m not going to be able to stay calm for much longer. I’m going to start losing my shit right away. For real. “I don’t want your crusty blood money.”
“It’s hardly blood money,” he scoffs. “My dad gave me some shares in the company years ago, and when it was doing well, I invested them in something people didn’t know much about at the time. Crypto. Need I say more?”
No. No, he doesn’t need to say more. Even I know what cryptocurrency is.
Does everything this donkey’s ass touch turn to gold?
“You think just because you’re rich, you can bring yourself back here and throw your weight around?” The Apollo I knew was humble. He’d never come back here like this, thinking he was better than everyone else. He’d never think he could buy me.
“I don’t think I’m better than anyone. The only thing I want to be is better than the person I was when l left.”
Ugh, how noble. Barf. Also, he’s reading my mind, which isn’t good. It makes me feel disgustingly transparent. “You were a great person when you left. I’m sorry to say, but I think it’s been a backward landslide since then. The Apollo I knew wouldn’t bet his best friend’s freedom in a card game. The Apollo I knew understood that his best friend had vowed she would never get married at all and that love is just a ridiculous notion.”
“I know. I know all that. I did this to protect you. Truly. The marriage doesn’t have to be real.” He stumbles over that part, rushing like he’s playing a game of verbal hot potato, and those words are burning, burning, burning on his tongue. “I mean, yes, we would have to sign the paperwork and make it legal, but we’d know it was just an arrangement.”
I can’t keep my hands on my hips forever. They’re still there. I really want to lower them and do some wild gesturing that ends in one of the many super creative ways to flip someone off, but I’m afraid I’d just look silly doing it. “To what end? I’m perfectly fine here.”
“You’re not. If we get married, we’ll be in a place where we can maybe get both our dads to see reason. As I said, they need to sit down and talk things out. If their children are married, I don’t think they’ll hate each other that much. I think all this has just been a giant misunderstanding that’s grown out of control.”
“Or your dad has just been a huge dick.”
“Maybe. And if that’s true and neither of them wants to listen to us even if we’re married, and they won’t stop acting like children and start getting along, then I’ll help your dad. I’ll give him the funding I know his company needs.”
I’m suddenly breathless. This is what all the horses feel like when they get that mother-fluffing carrot dangled in front of their poor velvet noses. “Why would you do that?”