Page 10 of Worth the Vow

“How much did you pay?” he asks softly.

“Only five hundred a month.”

He swears under his breath again. “Yeah, you’re definitely not going to find an apartment for that rate here. Could you look for a roommate?”

“I doubt I can find a roommate in a few days,” I say sullenly. I can feel a sob coming. That awful feeling in the base of your throat where emotion is just sitting. Stewing. Waiting for one stupid thing to set off the tailspin that is inevitable.

“I can check to see if we have availability at the hotel,” Dominic says quietly.

And that does it. I begin to cry in earnest, massive tears cascading across the bridge of my nose and down to my ear, where they drop to the bathroom floor.

“I can’t afford an apartment, and you think I can afford the best hotel in town? I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, Dominic! It’s just been one thing after another for years, and I’m so tired of struggling,” I sob.

“I meant I’d pay for the room!” he blurts out.

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” I wail.

“Well, no, but —”

“Just because some people have money doesn’t mean you should basically wave it in my face, asshole,” I shout.

“I didn’t mean it that way, Katharine, but I have another idea —”

I interrupt him again. “Oh, I think I’m all tired out from your ideas, Mr. I’m So Important CEO with my big house and my nice car and all the nice things. I bet you get out of bed in a suit, don’t you? Your hair probably already in that sexy wave you always have, and you’re good to go.”

“I don’t have all the nice thi — wait. Did you just call me sexy?”

Fucking hell. “No. Technically, I said your hair was sexy.”

Silence.

“Did you hang up on me?” I wonder aloud.

“No.”

“Oh.”

“You were right about one thing in your little monologue, Katharine. I do have a big house.”

I guffaw as I’m ready to rip him a new one. “Way to hit a girl when she’s down!”

“I have a spare guest room, Katharine. It’s in the basement, so it’s not the best. Clearly you’re already used to that, so it shouldn’t be a problem. It would help me out tremendously, as you’d be here to help with the kids when needed.”

I’m so gobsmacked I don’t speak for a solid minute.

“Did you hang up on me now?” Dominic chuckles.

“Uh, no. That surprised me. Not at all what I expected you to say.”

“What did you expect me to say?”

“Not sure,” I mumble, “but definitely not asking me to move into your home. But did you really say I’m used to living in a basement, so it shouldn’t be a problem?”

“Uh, well, I didn’t mean it to sound that way —” he stammers, but I cut him off.

“Kinda think you did, Dominic. You’re just so much better than me, aren’t you? I’m trash, and thank goodness for you offering me your basement guest room! Would you like an award for being so generous?” I sneer. I can almost see his face reddening as he prepares to volley back. Honestly, our arguments and disagreements are a weird kind of foreplay.

Dominic sighs. “You’re absolutely right, Katharine. That was incredibly uncouth of me. I apologize. I only meant that it’s all I can offer.”

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