Page 1 of Kiss Me, Mr. Bridge

Chapter 1

Lucia

The envelope feels heavy in my hands, like it’s weighed down by the dollar amount I know it contains.

You see, I already know what’s inside. Still, I stare at it, wishing it would disappear, but I know it never will.

I’ll have to open it and face the harsh reality of my finances—or serious lack of—and with a deep breath, I tear open the seal and pull out the statement. My eyes immediately land on the bold, glaring number:

One hundred and two thousand dollars.

“Fuck! I’m sure it’s more than last year,” I groan, tossing the letter onto the coffee table in frustration. “How the hell am I ever going to pay this off and live?”

My roommate, Amelia, looks up from her laptop, brow furrowed with concern. “What’s happened, Luce?”

“My student loan bill.” I run a hand through my tangled hair. “It’s over a hundred grand. I’ll be paying this off until I’m fifty.”

Amelia winces sympathetically. “Ouch. That’s rough.” She reaches over and gives my arm a gentle squeeze. “Sorry Luce. Can your dad help?”

I shake my head. “I’m an adult now.” Letting out a humorless laugh, I add, “I have to stand on my own two feet,” I parrot what my father told me and sigh. “Maybe I should have just skipped law school and worked at Walmart. At least then I’d be debt-free.”

“Hey, don’t say that.” Amelia shifts closer, her hazel eyes intense. “You’re an amazing lawyer. You work your ass off and you’re so good at what you do. This debt is just a temporary setback, okay? You’ll figure it out.”

I want to believe her, but the weight of my financial burdens feels suffocating. “Easy for you to say. Your dad paid off your loans.”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, I regret them. Amelia’s face falls slightly, and guilt washes over me. How could I even consider being jealous after what her father offered me two months ago?

The “arrangement” he suggested would solve all my financial problems, but it would destroy Amelia if she ever found out. I could never hurt my best friend like that, no matter how desperate I am.

And I’m not sure I can be the one to satisfy her father.

“I know, and I’m so grateful for that.” Amelia’s gaze drops to her lap. “But things aren’t exactly perfect for me either. Garrett and I...we’ve been fighting a lot lately. I’m not sure if he’s being faithful to me. And then I don’t actually earn anything from being an influencer. Yes, I get nice things sent to me, but they don’t pay the bills.”

Good job you have a trust fund.I keep that to myself. Amelia doesn’t know how good she has it.

Yet, my heart sinks for my friend. Not for the trust fund but she has been through so much heartbreak already. She’s just lost her grandmother and now her boyfriend is cheating. “I’m sorry, Amelia. What a mess we’re both in, huh?”

“Tell me about it.” She lets out a humorless laugh. “At least we’ve got each other, right? Do you want to go for a drink tonight?”

I glance back at the statement on the table, that six-figure sum screaming at me. One hundred and two thousand reasons to stay in and save like crazy.

Who am I kidding?

And then there’s the same amount of reasons to consider the unthinkable. I sigh deeply, feeling the weight of impossible choices pressing down on me.

I manage a thin smile. “Yeah. We can get miserably drunk.”

My head is still bouncing from the alcohol I consumed in my despair last night. And I’m grateful that my office is private and I can wallow in my own misery.

I stand, shifting on my feet while I glance at the white walls, then at the corkboard pinned with family photos.

My parents.

My sister with her new husband. And his father standing proudly beside him. The glow of the morning sun spreads over them from the closest window.

My belly rumbles and I check my watch. Nearly time for lunch, though I can barely afford it.

When I have days like today, I wish I had the nerve to follow my friend Violet. Join the website she’s on and find myself a discreet sugar daddy. Someone who can make it all disappear.

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