Page 28 of Rinkmates

I walk up to him and snatch the document from the table. “I can read just fine, thank you.”

There’s an uncomfortable silence, and I notice Riley arguing with him with his hands next to me, but I don’t pay attention to it. I’m used to people like Ethan, judging me based on my tax bracket. There’s a shift and a sudden sweet scent fills my nose. When I look up, Nina is next to me and touches my shoulder. “Sorry. Come on, let’s sit at the counter. Ethan is…well, Ethan. Grumpy.”

“He’s a jerk,” I mutter and move to sit at the marble kitchen counter.

“Help her with the legal jargon, will you?” I hear Ethan growling at us.

I turn around. “Oh, how about you worry about your manners rather than me understanding your damn contract. I did a year in law school. Terms likefiduciary dutyandforce majeurearen’t exactly foreign to me. But thanks for the offer.”

I shoot him a pointed look before sitting down on a bar stool and diving into the contract, determined to make sure I know exactly what I’m getting into.

I’m not sure, but I think I catch Riley smiling proudly.

Eight

RILEY

Isit next to Ethan, watching Liora work through each line of the contract with surgical precision, crossing out words and rephrasing clauses. Nina types away on her laptop, fixing five typos that I couldn’t help but smirk at every time she found one. With each correction, Ethan’s ego deflates like a popped balloon, making him sink further into the couch next to me. Oh, and he’s such an angry grumbler.

“Look at you, getting your ass handed to you,” I tease, raising my beer in a mock salute.

Ethan grunts, clearly not in the mood for my jokes. He takes a long sip from his beer. “I’ve had a long day. All I want is to go home.”

“To your cats?”

“Purrcasso and Moire need me,” he replies defensively.

“Sure they do,” I say, winking. This guy seriously needs a hobby. All he has is me and his cats, and I’m a full-time headache. I think he even said I’m his human migraine once.

“We need to add several things,” Liora says.

I’ve never bothered to read the contract, but Liora’s got it handled. I wonder why she stopped pursuing law; she’s a natural.

“Are you guys finished or what?” Ethan says, slumping even further into the couch.

I nudge him with my elbow. “Cut it, man.”

“Look at you, suddenly caring for someone.”

“Hey, this is my chance of a lifetime, remember?”

“It is…”

Liora stands up, the bar stool screeching as she turns. She saunters over, sitting on the chair opposite from me and Ethan, with Nina grinning proudly behind her.

“We changed a few things,” Liora announces. “I found some issues.”

“Which are?” Ethan asks, his piercing blue eyes locked in a fierce stare down with Liora. I wish I had popcorn.

“Well, I changed some wording, but the legal framework remains intact. Do you need me to read it aloud for you?” she offers, a hint of a challenge in her voice.

Nina and I both suppress a chuckle.

“No. Thank you,” Ethan grunts out.

“Good,” Liora continues. “Let’s review the added rules. Both parties agree to no nudity in the apartment.”

I cough at her wording. “No what? I hate shirts.”

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