Page 56 of Terms + Conditions
There’s that too. Nina and Ric have not been the same since Haven. It’s not entirely Nick’s fault. Nina knew the risks of lying to her dad about her new relationship, but she did it anyway.
“Besides”—he glares at me—“you’re the one who told me not to tell her—”
“No.” I stop him. “I told you to be ready for the consequences when youdotell her. To be ready for everything to come out, and you weren’t. You made a decision—the wrong one, in my opinion—and that’s on you.”
“I’m just trying to protect her.”
“And look how that turned out.” I grip his shoulder when he lets out a heavy sigh. “C’mon, let’s get a beer.” I try to guide him towards the bar, but he pulls away.
“I’m just gonna go.”
“Nick—”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He turns away, swimming back through the crowd to reach the exit.
“What the fuck is going on?” I turn to find Elizabeth staring up at me. “You know something.”
“I don’t know anything.” The lie flows easier than it should. I hate lying to her, but I know that I can’t tell her this. She would never be able to keep this from Nina, or Ric for that matter. Hell, I don’t want to keep it from them, but it’s not my place to inform them about Brina’s extracurricular activities—that’s Nick’s job. And I can’t betray Nick’s trust because, at the end of the day, he’s the one who is going to be there when this all comes to an end.I can’t risk blowing up the Villa family—the only family she has left. Despite how screwed up their family is, it’s still family.
Not to mention, we’re already on thin ice after Ric found out about me and Elizabeth. I don’t know how, but he found out the truth about our upcoming nuptials and now he and Brina aren’t coming to the wedding.
Alaric Villa has always been a kind and gentle man, but sitting across from his desk two weeks ago after he found the truth was a place I never wanted to be again. I was sure this was going to be over before it even started.
“Can either one of you give me one reason I should allow this to continue?” he asked, his hands folded neatly on top of his desk.
Brina rolled her eyes from the corner of the room. “Dear, I’ve already told you—”
“I didn’t askyou, Bri,” Ric said, cutting his wife short. “I might have expected this from my other two children, but never from you, Elizabeth. What in God’s name could have possessed either of you to enter into an arranged marriage? I can only assume you have a good reason for going along with this nonsense.”
“Yes, sir,” Elizabeth said, adjusting in her seat.
“And that is?”
“Well, my parents put certain stipulations on—”
Ric scoffed. “I see. So, this was all about your inheritance?”
“And being able to choose my own future. They had my whole life planned out for me. This was my chance to do what I wanted.”
“By entering into a contractual marriage? Doesn’t sound veryfreeingto me.”
“With all due respect, sir,” I jump in before Elizabeth can respond. “This relationship has given us both an opportunity that we wouldn’t have had without it.”
“Oh, I’m well aware of your situation, Joshua.” Ric’s fury turned on me. “I just never took you for an opportunist.”
There was no way he was going to keep it a secret. If it wasn’t for the contract we signed four years ago, I’m sure he would’ve canceled the whole thing. After we left, Elizabeth and I waited all night for a phone call from Nina, but it never came. I guess that was one benefit of the aftermath from Haven. The truth about Nick and Nina’s relationship was far worse than the truth about ours—“hiring” someone to be her boyfriend wasn’t exactlyVillabehavior. I suppose this anger towards Nina was justified to some degree, but it put a huge rift between them, something that had never happened before. Thankfully, Ric’s focus was on what he did wrong there, instead of what he did wronghere.
Elizabeth stands before me with her hands on her hips, glaring at me. “Josh.”
“Elizabeth,” I say in a warning. “Let it go.”
“If we’re going to be stuck together the next six and a half years, we might as well get used to sharing secrets,” she pushes.
“You first.”
Her eyes narrow, and her lips pull into a firm line.
“Now.” I wrap my arm around her hips and lean down. “Give me a laugh and kiss because everyone is watching.” After a brief moment of consideration, her face falls, and she takes a breath. She laughs (it’s not as good as it could be) and she grips my chin to pull my lips to hers. “Good girl,” I mumble against her lips.
