Page 9 of Famous Last Words
She flashes me a wink and continues back out to the bar. And, with a deep breath and a quick mental pep talk, I plaster on a smile and follow her out there, ready or not for round number two.
Two hours into my shift, my phone vibrates against my hip for the fifth time. I’m not sure what is so damn important, but a group of businessmen from Texas walked into the bar half an hour ago, and they’re tipping like crazy with every round we deliver to their table. Vera and I are tag-teaming, and I really don’t want her to have to cover for me again, but it might be Andy Hoffman. What if Robbie Mason actually wants to put in an offer?
Sneaking into the break room, I pull my phone from my apron and glance down at the screen to see five new text messages, all from an unknown number.Weird. I take a seat on one of the plastic chairs, gasping at the first message that displays on the screen.
Unknown: Hey, it’s Robbie.
What the ever-loving fuck is Robbie Mason doing texting me? I thought that’s what he had Andy for; I didn’t know I’d be forced to associate with the cretin.
Unknown: Mason.
I roll my eyes. No shit, genius.
Unknown: You’re seriously ignoring me?
God, even in text format he’s an arrogant jerk.
Unknown: K, well I guess you don’t wanna sell an apartment then…
Oh God! No. I almost hit the call button, but then I read the next message, and I pause.
Unknown: I have a proposition for you.
A what?
Sufficiently confused, and definitely not wanting to miss out on the opportunity to prove myself to Tony all while sticking it to stupid Tadd, I hit the call button, my pulse thrumming in my ear so loud it almost drowns out the sound of the ringing tone.
“Well, well, well, look who’s come crawling back…”
I swear, it takes everything I have not to hang up on his ass. But I’m reminded of my predicament; I need to sell this apartment, and the ass-face on the other end of the line really is my only option.
“Sorry,” I murmur.
“Okay, so here’s the thing,” he starts. “I’ll give you a full-ask offer, all cash, no contingencies, quick close.”
I squeal. I actuallysqueal. In fact, I’m so loud, I hear someone on the other side of the door drop a glass. I slap a hand over my mouth.
“Jesus Christ!” Robbie barks. “Are youdone?”
“Sorry,” I mutter, my mouth full of my own palm.
With an exasperated huff he continues. “I’ll sign the offer and you’ll have it in your inbox first thing in the morning…but?—”
My skin pricks at the warning tone in his voice, and I sit up a little straighter, my stomach suddenly in knots. I don’t like the sound of that “but.” Buts are only ever bad. Buts suck. I swallow hard, waiting for the blow.
“I have one condition.”
“You want the furniture? Another parking spot? What?” I rack my mind, wondering what strings I might be able to pull to give him whatever the hell it is he wants. But Marie’s already come down a quarter of a million dollars. It’s unlikely she’s going to want to move much more.
Robbie chuckles.Chuckles. I’m barely breathing, and he has the audacity to laugh. He is such an asshole. My teeth clench in an attempt to contain the vitriol threatening to spew out of me.
“On the condition that you—” he pauses suddenly, and I hear him clear his throat. “That you… pretend to be my… mygirlfriend.”
I blink once, twice, three times, slowly processing exactly what he’s just said.
Shaking my head in an attempt to snap myself out of the daze I’m in, I snort. “Sorry, I think I just blacked out for a second. Did you just say you want me topretendto be yourgirlfriend?”
“Yes.”
