Page 10 of Perfectly Wedded

“What’s that?” she asks.

I sink my hands into my pockets and avoid her gaze. If I look at her now, I know I’ll chicken out. “Well, you just need insurance, right? What if you could get it? You wouldn’t need ten thousand a month then.”

“Yeah, well, my insurance doesn’t cover it, so that’s a closed door.”

“Unless . . .” I stop, then turn to her. “. . .you got married.”

A laugh bursts from her lips. “That’s funny, since I’m noteven dating anyone. But I guess it could happen.” She points to the pair outside the chapel. “That couple has only been dating two months.”

“Exactly,” I say.“What if you married someone you’ve known almost two years?” It’s a crazy idea but I have to try.

Her smile drops off her face and her eyes widen. “Are you suggesting...”

I nod.

She gasps and shakes her head. “No, Vale! I could never agree to that. You can’t even say that out loud.Absolutelynot.”

I step closer to her and touch her arm. “Sloan, you know I’d do anything for you. Let me do this.”

I’ve always been her friend, but right now, standing this close to her, I feel something that scares me—something I’ve tried to push aside for too long. I’d have to stuff these feelings away, and pretend it’s just for her sake, but deep down, I’d know the truth.

She springs back, like my hand is burning her. “This is ridiculous. We’re not even dating!”

“I knowthat,” I say. “I’m not asking you to be in love with me. This is a way I can provide for you—as a friend.I have good insurance, better than yours. If we get married, you would have access to it and could get the medicine you need. You told me the doctor says you’ll have to be on it for a year or two. That’s not even that long.”

As I say the words, my heart hammers in my chest. I’m putting everything on the line, not just our friendship, but this fragile balance we’ve built. I know there’s a chance she’ll walk away—that she’ll say no and everything will fall apart. But I have to try. I have to make her see that this could solve everything for her.

She shakes her head. “I couldn’t let you do that for me, Vale.”

“Why not?”

“Because you might miss out on someone else,” she argues.

“Who? I’m not even dating anyone.”

“I don’t know... the woman of your dreams?!”

I drag a hand over my face. “Sloan. Who says I’m going to meet the woman of my dreams in the next year?”

She shrugs. “It’s just a possibility. But I can’t let you take that chance.”

“What if I want to? What if I don’t care about anyone else?” I’m being stubborn, and she knows it.

“Well, I won’t let you not care!” she shoots back. “You might be my friend, but I will not marry you for your insurance. The answer isno.I’ll find another way.” The panic flares in her eyes as she wheels away from me.

I get it. Thisiscrazy. But what terrifies me more than anything is the thought of her saying no. If she doesn’t take the medicine, and her symptoms get worse—then she’ll fall back into that black hole of depression and sickness.

She bolts down the sidewalk, trying to avoid me.

I follow, catching up before she can turn down an alley. I take her shoulders, forcing her to a stop. “Sloan, there is no other way. If we get married here, I can take care of you.”

She finally meets my gaze, her chest heaving from the sprint. “How are we going to explain this to Jaz and Brax? How about your teammates? You don’t think they’ll see through our little charade right away?”

“Not if we come up with a story. We’ll tell them we realized we were in love and decided to go for it, just like that other couple.”

“They’llneverbelieve us,” she says, shaking her head. “Not out of the blue like this.”

“They will if we make itlookbelievable,” I say. “Sloan, you can’t let your doubts stop you. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you and I didn’t do everything I could to help.” I hate that I’m pushing her like this, but this is too important to give up on.

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