Page 19 of Just My Fake Husband

“What is she watching on her iPad?” Then she laughs. “That actually sounds adorable, though.”

I’m at a stop sign, so I briefly close my eyes. “It was. It was totally adorable. It made Skye’s day.”

Jana laughs. “I’m trying to figure out why you’re so upset. Did you turn him down for the job but now you’re regretting it?”

“I’m not regretting it. Not exactly.”

Since Jana’s sort of all I’ve got, I decide to just be out with it.

“Jana, he asked me to enter a marriage contract.”

She snorts. “What does that even mean? And please say you said yes.”

I give her a withering look through the phone. It’s too bad she can’t see it. “He only asked me because he thinks being married will help him get his job back. I basically kicked him out of my house.”

She gasps. “But why kick him out? He’s . . . he’s a Tate! And not just any Tate. He’s the cutest, nicest one. Not that looks matter that much. I’m just saying, in the hierarchy of Tate men’s outer appearances, they go from smokin’ to gritty to beautiful. Gabriel’s on that end of the spectrum.”

“Can Markus hear what you’re saying?” When she only giggles, I go on. “And how do you know he’s nice? Have you ever talked to him?”

I had her there. “Well, I don’t have to. I know what they say about him.”

“Well,theyare wrong. There’s nothing special about Gabriel Tate. He’s human like the rest of us.”

Something in my tone gets her fired up. “What did he do?”

“Nothing.” I wave her away like she’s got it all wrong. She doesn’t. But it’s best if I only tell her the most necessary facts. Nosense in spreading rumors. I wouldn’t gossip about stuff like this even if I wasn’t in PR.

“He did get fired recently.” I figure this information is vital to Jana’s comprehension of the gravity of the situation.

“Doesn’t he work for his dad?”

“Yeah. It’s complicated. Anyway, his dad wants him to prove himself trustworthy and principled again.” I shrug. “So he’s asking women to marry him so he can show he’s a committed, responsible member of society. I don’t know. I don’t understand rich people and their rules.”

“Well, neither do I, but this is cray-cray. Women? He’s asked multiple?” I can hear her sipping her nightly cup of chamomile tea.

“No.” But then it hits me. I don’t know. Maybe he’s been asking people all month long and no one’s said yes.

It all just points to the fact that I know almost nothing about this man. I thought I did, from a hazy, rose-colored distance. But I don’t.

I drive in silence. It’s cathartic, driving on quiet roads. Then finally I say, “He offered to pay for Skye’s care. And it would only be until his dad gives him the job back. He’s supposed to take over the whole company when his dad retires.”

She gasps again. “He’s paying for Skye to go to Caring Souls?”

“Well, if I’d said yes, then yeah, he would have.”

“Call up that golden man right now and say you’ve changed your mind.”

“Jana!”

“He’s a great guy. He’s handsome and rich and he’s offering to pay for your sister’s care. The marriage is only temporary. There are zero downsides to this. Except maybe that the marriage is only temporary.”

“I’d have to pretend, though. Pretend we’re in love. And what about Skye?

She got attached instantly. Like, she started asking about him the moment he left. She’d be so sad when we split up.”

“Maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll live happily ever after!”

“Just because you’re happily married doesn’t mean that’s for everyone else, too.”

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