The Marriage Contract Natasha Black (top ebook reader .txt) 📖

we came in together. As we neared the building, he took my hand silently. It was part of the act, and I knew that, but it still felt special. I felt like I was his girl. Even if it was all pretend, it filled me with excitement and pride and all sorts of emotions I didn’t know how to process.

I decided to just shut everything off, focusing solely on work. I was getting so much better at the actual job, and I felt proud of myself for it. I was working hard, for the first time in my life, and the accomplishment of knowing I was doing a good job and keeping up with the bar when it got busy and was wall-to-wall people was worth celebrating. My parents had no idea what I was capable of, and it drove me to work harder.

By the time I got a chance for a break, it was late and I was feeling worn down a bit. I looked forward to stepping outside, leaning against the wall, and closing my eyes for a few minutes.

When I got out there, Jordan was already there. He was looking through his phone and sipping on a glass of water. I smiled at him as I sat heavily on the stoop, leaning my back against the wall. He leaned against the far wall from me and stuffed his phone back in his pocket.

“You know,” he said, “I’m really glad you came into my brother’s life. I don’t know if I have ever seen him as happy as he is now.”

I smiled, trying not to let it go to my head. He was referring to the pretend relationship and how Matt was acting. But I couldn’t deny that he made me happy. Was it so crazy to think maybe some of the act wasn’t an act at all? Wouldn’t his brother know the difference? It was one of my main concerns with the plan in the first place. Surely Jordan would figure it out.

“Thanks,” I said.

“I’m just happy as hell that he’s so happy,” he said.

“Well, I should tell you thank you for giving me a job and a place to stay for a bit,” I said. “I came up here not knowing what I was going to do and terrified out of my mind. You guys saved me.”

“That’s what family does. How is living with Matt?”

“It’s only been one day,” I said, smiling. “But it’s been great so far. Amazing, really.”

“Good, good,” he said, then grinned. “Don’t let him hog the remote. He’s gotten used to watching what he wants. Put your foot down once in a while, just to keep him in line.”

I laughed. “Will do.”

“Alright, I’ve got to get back,” he said. “I’ll see you inside.”

He waved and went back in the bar, leaving me alone with my thoughts. My mind raced with everything going on and how I felt about it. I knew something was happening, something more than just two friends putting on an act. But how much of that could I trust? Why did I feel such jealousy at the barest thought of him with another woman if we were truly just pretending?

Why couldn’t I get last night off my mind?

Frustrated that not even the fresh air helped clear my mind, I stood up, brushed myself off, and headed back in. Stopping in the kitchen to wash my hands, Matt and I made eye contact briefly while he fried some onion rings. He smiled, and I returned it. We hadn’t really talked all night. I didn’t know if I could.

When the shift was over, we went home together. I kept the conversation light and focused on the night of work. The jealousy that brewed in the pit of my stomach at the thought of him with anyone else went ignored. With great effort, I refused to acknowledge anything other than our friendship and how tired I was after work.

19

Matt

The alarm was going off on the nightstand, and it woke me up. I kept the volume low, but the vibration was enough to jostle me from my sleep. It had been another dreamless sleep. Peaceful. Restful.

My arm was draped over Chloe, who was curled into me in the bed. We’d ended up there together again, as we had the last few nights. There had been no sex, but we had ended up cuddling as we fell asleep. It was nice, nicer than I wanted to admit, perhaps, and I slept better than I had in a long, long time. I couldn’t ever remember even waking up with my arm draped over someone. I was usually highly protective of my space when I was in bed.

Yet there I was, having to gently lift my arm off Chloe in order to reach back and turn off the alarm on the phone. Just as I moved, she stirred. I tried not to move too much, and she seemed to fall back asleep, curled up with my other arm under her. Now I had to find a way to get that out and not wake her up.

I didn’t know how I felt about us literally sleeping together each night, and what it meant for us in our fake relationship, but I did know I didn’t want it to stop. I found it extremely comfortable to be wrapped up around her, or on one occasion, to wake up with her arm around me. I felt more secure, safer, and slept much deeper.

Slowly backing up on the bed, trying to scoot my arm out from under her, she stirred again and turned toward me. At first, she looked confused and then blinked a couple of times, realization dawning on her face. She rubbed her eyes and pushed hair back away from them.

“Good morning,” she said, yawning.

“Morning,” I said. “Didn’t mean to wake you up.”

“It’s fine. It’s getting late in the morning anyway.”

“Yeah.” I turned onto my back rather quickly, shuffling out of the bed. “I’ll be right