Page 13 of Shameless
“I’m beyond bored with this conversation, Mikey.”
I blinked. Britney had never used that nickname, but Americans did tend to shorten first names. I smiled and refused to correct her. I was positive Bernadette would run home and tell everyone I was making horrible decisions—not that I cared what anyone thought of me as I had the cash under my control, and no one would laugh about that.
I said, “Mother and Father will meet Britney soon, but we have to get going.”
As we turned to go, Bernadette said, “Seriously consider signing the contract, brother. Everything will be smoother for everyone involved.”
My sister wanted control of my title. She’d spent years complaining about me, and I was wondering what she would threaten.
In any case, we said nothing else.
Britney stayed next to me. Neither of us said a word till we were in the limo.
She then took off her strappy heels and asked, “So you truly want to marry me?”
Her legs were one of her best traits as she was long and leggy. She’d held me between those thighs of hers, but I ignored how hard I was getting. “I think it’s for the best for all of us.”
She massaged her feet. “I… We really need to figure out a time frame.”
I inched closer to her and kept my voice low. “I’d like at least a year as you are having my future son or daughter and I’d want some say in their life.”
“You do get that even if we don’t get married. Sharing sounds like the right thing to do.”
“You are more honorable than you let people see.”
She sucked on her bottom lip and said nothing. We returned to her building, and as she put her shoes back on, I stepped out first, walked around the car, and picked her up so she wouldn't have to walk.
She laughed, placed a hand on my cheek, and said, “Fair enough, but first, I think we need a month to see if we can pull it off with our friends and our families. If we can navigate the month, then you have yourself a one-year bride.”
I had one month and then one year to convince her to spend our lives together. I pressed the button for the elevator. “One more thing.”
“Yes?”
I waited till the doors were closed and we were alone. “I want to create a trust for you and our unborn child.”
She waited till we were in her apartment and I put her down. Then she took off her shoes as she asked, “Why are we talking about this right now? That seems something for after birth.”
“I said you too.”
“I don’t want your money, Michael.”
“I can’t have you worried about anything. As that blog showed, our lives are changing forever. Money offers some protection.”
"For the baby.” She curled her arms around her waist and asked, “How much are we talking here?”
For having my child and staying with me, she could spend more than either of my parents. For the time being, I gave her a number. “You could live in New York safely with twenty-five million as a cushion.”
She lifted her chin and said, “You do know I’m not poor. I have over a million dollars saved on my own. I was going to move out of the city and live on that.”
The last thing I needed was to upset her. She was, in many ways, my muse. “Now, you can live in the city, near your friends, and we can be together.”
She tapped the seat beside her and said, “I… need to mull this over, but I am not a fan of your sister.” She jumped up to open her pantry and grab a bag of popcorn.
“She was more in-your-face than usual.” I grabbed two bowls and a couple of mineral waters she had in her refrigerator.
She stopped reaching into the bag when I gave her a bowl and a water. “I bring that out in people.”
What mattered that day was for her to get used to the idea of an us. It was past time for me to come out of my shell, and Britney was sweet when no one else was looking. I hoped she would see, in time, that I was dependable and there for her too.
