Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 147545 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 738(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147545 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 738(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
He shakes his head. “I’m not a coward. We’ll have Terry draw up a contract before we leave. I’ll make sure you’re protected. Next issue.”
I think about it for a moment, but I don’t think there are any other issues. It’s just that this is a big one. I don’t love approaching him about money like this because I know we’re on opposite ends of that spectrum. I know he has a lot of it, and I’m not sure exactly how much, but I’m afraid asking about it is icky. Maybe that’s silly because Tor knows I’m not interested in him because he has money—if anything, his money pisses me off sometimes—but it still makes me self-conscious to bring it up.
It is a fact of life, though, and something I need to consider if I’m really going to quit my job and follow this man to another state. I won’t have any kind of safety net in Boston. I’ll only have him.
We haven’t been dating for long, but we have been through things together that other people couldn’t even imagine, so I feel like we’ve definitely tested out our compatibility and commitment to one another.
It’s just that the cost of being wrong about this would be a steep one.
His contract offer is reassuring and obviously generous. Still, I can’t quite silence the little voice in the back of my mind telling me his joke about using this to trap me is only a joke because I don’t seriously want out of this relationship.
What if I did?
I don’t see that happening, but I don’t know everything about Tor. We’ve been dating for like two weeks, and if I’m extremely honest with myself, I know sometimes my body feels doubts about him that my heart and brain don’t understand.
Obviously, I can’t say that. I don’t want him to think I doubt our future because I don’t. I just want to make sure I’m being smart and careful. I’m vulnerable with him in a way he would never have to be with me, and I don’t want to end up in a bad situation.
“I don’t think I have any other concerns,” I tell him, since I can’t put any of that into words. “Do you have any?”
“Nope.”
I crack a smile. “I’m glad you gave it such careful consideration.”
“I got here before you did,” he reminds me. “I wasn’t joking about it before. I’ve already considered all this. You’re just catching up.”
That reminder does reassure me, and I know Tor is careful and thorough, so I don’t need to worry about him not thinking things through.
Sighing, I give up worrying about this and curl close to his warm body. “I think we’ll have a nice life in Boston.”
His arms tighten around me, and he kisses my forehead. “I know we will.”
CHAPTER 37
CASSIE
I spend the morning at the lake house making lemonade.
I double strain to get all the strawberry seeds out, so it’s quite the undertaking. A lot of people are coming to the party, but there will be plenty of other beverages, too, so I fill up one big glass dispenser and call it a day.
When I serve this lemonade, I like to pour it over a heaping portion of crushed ice, but I’m not sure how we could keep the ice from melting on the back deck where the drinks will be set up, so I decide to forgo that part for the party guests.
Realistically, I don’t like any of them anyway.
Tor said I could invite Shaley if I wanted so I’d have at least one friend here, but she’s working for me so I can attend the party.
Initially, I figure I’ll hang out with him all day, but as soon as people start showing up, I remember that I’m dating a golden god of Holbrook. A Walters. He’s busy fielding guests who want to talk to him about football and college and business, and god knows what else, honestly, because I make it through about four before I tell him I’m going to get a drink, and I don’t come back.
I didn’t fully consider the social demands on Tor as a member of the host family—especially the only surviving son, and so recently after his brother’s death… and with his brother’s accuser here as his party date.
Tor is very much in demand today. People are curious.
Even before the catastrophic Tim stuff, I wasn’t a social butterfly, so in the aftermath, I’m certainly not equipped for it.
I’m also still a spectacle to most of these people. Tor lent me some credibility by announcing our relationship, so no one is rude to me when I’m standing next to him, but when he’s off talking to a group of his dad’s friends and I’m all alone, I feel the stares, and they bring me right back.