Page 9 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

‘I dunno, maybe tell them that you need to discuss this with your girlfriend of seven fucking years?’

I nod. ‘You’re absolutely right. I should have done that, but I didn’t and I’m sorry.’

The way she shakes her head, staring out the windshield, her lips pressed together tightly, visibly pissed, hurts my heart.

Keep talking until you’ve talked your way out of this, Will.

‘Reality TV is hot right now, Berx, and fuck knows what else I’d do with my life. I feel like a total loser living off my parents’ money like some rich brat. Look what Mike’s turned into. I can’t become that guy. I wanted to do something to provide for myself. Forus. And apparently, following around four trust-fund kids seems to be something people want to love to hate, and more importantly I can get paid for it. Alot. It seemed like an easy way to replace my trust before my parents really do take it.’

Her head swivels my way slowly. ‘Youwantpeople to love to hate you?’

‘I don’t know that Iwantit, but—’

‘No, no,’ she says quickly, cutting me off. ‘It’s perfect because it’s exactly what I’m doing right now.’

A disbelieving chuckle leaves my lips. ‘No way do you hate me.’

She shoots me a glare. ‘I don’t understand. Does what I think not mean anything to you?’

‘What you think meanseverythingto me.’

‘We met with a contractor months ago. They’re nearly done with the remodel, William. You wrote him a check in full. Contractors are in the apartment now. I ordered furniture! And now you’re suddenly moving somewhereelse? I guess I’ll cancel all that then.’

‘Do not cancel anything, Berx. You can’t live there the way it is. It’s been vacant for decades. When the show is over, I can still move in. It’s just temporary. I’m not doing this forever.’

‘How long?’

‘Two years.’

‘Twoyears?!’ She stares out the windshield, her face blank. ‘So, I’m just supposed to go on without you and wait for you to become a reality star and then we can get on with our lives?’

It soundssobad. ‘I know, it’s bad, I realized that this morning when they threw another “rule” on me.’

‘There arerules? Like what?’

‘Like, only bathrooms are private spaces. Drama is encouraged. And…’ Fuck. This is why I was fighting with my father earlier. She might dump me for this and I wouldn’t blame her. I’d be heartbroken, but I’d get it. ‘The network thinks the show will be more successful if the four of us go into this… single.’

For a moment she says nothing, just silently seethes. ‘Well, that’s just perfect for your girlfriend, isn’t it? Did you even tell them I exist?’

‘Of course I did, Berx. I begged for you to move in with us, but they weren’t keen on that idea.’

She slaps a hand onto her forehead and groans. ‘My God, I’m an idiot. The love of my life wants to bone other women on camera. I’ll be humiliated.’

‘Bone other women? Are you out of your mind? I may go into this seeming single but obviously you’re still the only girl I ever want to bone.’

Tears slide down her cheeks and she wipes them away quickly, probably hoping I won’t notice.

‘Baby…’

‘Do notbabyme, Adler; you can’t fix this by being sweet. I can’t believe you did this. Do you have any idea what this will do to you?’

‘What do you mean? I’ll still be me, Berx.’

‘No, you’ll be some Kardashian wannabe whose world suddenly revolves around yourself and I’ll become a distant memory. The girl who took your virginity, just like your mom said. Holy crap!’ she says. ‘They did it! Your asshole parents bested us and found a way to control you, make moneyandget rid of me. And you fell for it.’ She drops her head into her hands.

‘I don’t know what to say to make this better.’

‘There’s no words to fix this, William, so to save yourself, I’d shut up.’

---