Page 15 of Rook

“We’re gonna have to get really good at faking it then,” Rook said.

“I’m sure we can manage.”

Rook nodded at that as he glanced out the window.

“Are there any other concerns?”

“I guess what happens after.”

“We get a divorce. If you’re worried about your money or something, I’m going to assume most of it is untraceable. You don’t have to worry about the courts finding it.”

“It’s not the money. Fuck the money.”

Wow.

What I wouldn’t give to have ‘fuck the money’ money.

“Actually, maybe that would help.”

“What?” I asked, wondering what he and his biker friends were in that he had such easy money. I mean, their clubhouse alone had to cost bank. Then they’d completely renovated it.

Was that drug money?

“If I paid you.”

“You want to pay me to marry you? When I’m willing to do it just for a place to crash? Why?”

Clearly, negotiation wasn’t my strong suit.

If the man wanted to pay me, I wasn’t exactly in the position to refuse.

“Yeah. I think we’d both feel better about the situation if we approached it like a job. I pay you for your ‘work’.”

“What kind of ‘work’ are we talking about here?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

“Not that. Jesus,” he said, looking offended. “I don’t need to pay for it. I strictly mean the show we have to put on for Nancy and the trips to see my ma. Granted, we might have to get a little touchy to sell it to Nancy, but I can’t imagine we’d need to do more than hold hands or have a peck.”

I mean, I could use the money. Not necessarily to sit around on my ass. But if I worked on top of taking his money, if I really got a chance to build up a nest egg…

“I’m fine with casual contact around Nancy or other circumstances where it is important to try to sell our relationship to people.”

“I’m thinking… five grand.”

“For the whole thing?” I asked, seeing dollar signs. No, it wasn’t crazy money from most people. But for someone living in their car, who barely ever had two dimes to rub together her whole life, that was big.

“No, babe. Per month.”

“You want to pay me five grand to pretend to be your wife. Why?”

“Because I’m asking you to put your entire life on hold. You should be compensated for that.”

“Well, I’m definitely not going to turn down the money. How long do you think this will go on?”

“Good question. If we sell this and Nancy backs off and lets me go see my mom myself, I think we can part ways.”

“What if Nancy asks about me?”

“You’re visiting family. Friends. On a yoga retreat. Plenty of excuses to use. As for the divorce itself, I guess as soon as I get off parole, if that works for you. Even if we go our separate ways before then.”

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