Chapter 10

The conversation split naturally after lunch. Alan, his brothers, and his father disappeared into business talk while his mother and grandmother started arguing over the wedding guest list.

Alan had been clear that, excluding his immediate family, only twenty relatives were allowed. His grandmother and mother were having a hard time deciding which twenty made the cut and which branch of the family tree was getting pruned.

My eyes wandered across the room and landed on Lory. She immediately mouthed, "Come with me."

She tilted her head toward the hallway. I glanced at Alan. Lory responded by making a face that very clearly translated to ignore him.

Then she picked up her phone and started typing. She set it face down on the table. About a minute passed before it started ringing. She cut the call without looking at it. It rang again. She cut it again.

The third time, her mother looked up. "Lory, either answer that phone or turn it off. It's distracting."

"Sorry, Mum." She pushed her chair back. "Excuse me."

Flashing me a smile, she walked out. It was then I realized what had just happened. That was her exit. And she'd built me one too.

I leaned closer to Alan. "I need to use the restroom."

He pointed down the hallway without breaking conversation. I quietly excused myself and followed the direction he'd indicated. Barely had I turned the corner when a hand came out of nowhere and covered my mouth.

The scream that tried to leave my body had nowhere to go.

Lory pulled her hand away, already shaking with silent laughter. She grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the staircase, moving fast and light-footed.

She dragged me into her room and bolted the door behind us. Then turned to me with a grin. "That was smooth.”

"I nearly had a heart attack," I told her.

She waved that off and pulled out her phone. "Give me your number. We don't have long before someone notices."

We exchanged numbers. Then she grabbed my wrist again and pulled me toward the bed, dropping onto it cross-legged and patting the space beside her.

Her room looked like something straight out of a home magazine, only warmer, colorful, and full of personality.

"Your room is beautiful."

"Thank you." She smiled, then tilted her head. "So. You and my brother."

Opening my mouth, I realized I had no idea what to say.

She laughed. "Don't stress it. I know it's an arrangement."

"Does it make you look at me differently? Like I'm some kind of gold-digger?"

She snorted. "If it were Colby, maybe I'd worry. But Alan?" She shook her head. "He can smell that type coming from three cities away. Trust me, if you were after his money in that way, you wouldn't have made it past the front gate."

She squinted at me. “Do you find my brother attractive?"

"No." My answer came out fast.

"That was quick. Alan is a catch. Unless... you're not into men?"

"I'm very into men. I literally just got out of a four-year relationship."

The joking tone vanished. "What happened?”

Exhaling slowly, I replied, "I got played. He proposed to me and I found out that same night that he already had a real fiancée."

"Okay." She held up her hand and started counting on her fingers. "I need his full name. Home address. Office address. A photo of his car if you have one."

"Why?"

"Because his tires could mysteriously go flat. There could be an unusual amount of dirt appearing in his front yard on a regular basis. His performance reviews at work could start looking very different very suddenly."

I let out a short laugh. "He's not worth it."

"You're the peaceful ex, I see."

"What kind of ex are you?"

"The petty kind. One time my boyfriend cheated in high school. I dated his best friend."

"How did that end?"

"He relocated. Anyway, to the real reason I wanted to get you alone. Are you sure about this? Marrying Alan?"

"Why does it feel like you're trying to convince me not to?"

"I'm not," she said. "I'm just a girl's girl. Everyone in this family is happy Alan is finally doing this. Me included. I just wanted to make sure you're walking into it with your eyes open. I love my brother, Nora. He's a good man. But he isn't always the easiest person to live with. I just don't want you finding that out the hard way."

I took a moment to think about that before answering. "Truthfully, I had doubts. I'd be lying if I said I didn't. But after meeting everyone today, and you trying to look out for me, I don't think I'm worried anymore."

She smiled. "Aww.”

"Can I ask you something?"

She nodded. "Sure."

"Why did it have to be an arrangement?" I asked. "Why couldn't he just..."

A knock at the door cut through my words. Lory got up and opened it. Colby was leaning against the frame. His eyes moved to me. "They're asking after you downstairs." Then, to Lory, "Stay."

Lory opened her mouth to say something.

"Stay," he repeated.

She threw me a look behind his back that said she hadn't forgotten where that conversation was going and signaled that she would call.

Following Colby out into the hallway, he took a different route back than the one Lory had brought me up. I didn't think much of it at first, just assuming he knew a shorter way.

He stopped in front of a door that wasn't near the staircase. "Before we go back down." He turned to face me, his voice dropping. "I just want a quick word, if you don't mind."

"Sure."

"You're pretty."

"Thank you?"

"Let me just get straight to it. I like you.”

Something about the way he said it made me uneasy. "I don't think that's appropriate," I replied, "given the circumstances."

"I know what the circumstances are. I'm not saying don't marry Alan. All I'm saying is... be mine on the side. I'll pay double whatever Alan's giving you. More, if that's what it takes. Nobody has to know anything."

My hands curled into fists. "I don't know what gave you that impression, but I'm going to pretend this conversation never happened. For your sake, don't bring it up again.”

"I'm not asking for an answer right now. Take your time. Think about—"

"Stop talking. Just stop talking and take me downstairs. Now. Before I do something I'll regret."

The door beside us opened and Tristan stepped into the hallway.

Colby looked over and grinned. "She passed."

My head snapped toward him. "Excuse me?"

Tristan walked over and placed a light hand on my shoulder. "Welcome to the family.”