Page 23 of Cut Off
“You’ll have time to look for another job. My parents will be around all the time to help.”
“That’s an incredibly generous offer, but—”
“You’d be helping me and helping yourself by saving up a nest egg.” He goes in for the kill. “It’s a win-win.”
A million objections swirl through my mind. It’s too intimate. Too complicated. Too... everything. Plus, my inconvenient attraction to him, which has only grown stronger today seeing him in dad-mode, vulnerable and earnest.
“I don’t know, Jonah.” I shake my head. “Living together, helping raise Eli together... it’s a lot.”
“Just until I get permanent custody. A month, maybe two.”
I narrow my eyes. “And what happens after that? When you don’t need me anymore?”
Surprise or maybe hurt flickers across his face, then it’s gone. “By then, you’ll have found another job. You’re talented, Zoe, so I’m sure that won’t be a problem. You can move out, live wherever you want, keep doing your thing. Maybe babysit so you stay consistent in Eli’s life.” Jonah clears his throat. “You’ll have your own bedroom in its own wing—a king bed and spa bathroom. Complete privacy.”
“And expenses?” As much as I hate discussing money, I need to be practical here.
“I’ll cover everything—rent, utilities, food. Plus a salary.” He glances at me. “What were you making at the station?”
I tell him, and his eyebrows shoot up.
“That’s it? For producing entire news segments?” He shakes his head in disbelief. “I’ll double it.”
Now it’s my turn to look shocked. “That’s unnecessary—”
“It is if I want to keep you,” he cuts in, then winces. “I mean, if I want to make this worth your while.”
Double my previous salary, plus living expenses covered.
Holy shit.
“What exactly would my duties be?” I try to sound professional even though I’ve basically just won the lottery.
“Morning routine, getting him to school when I have early practice, being there when he gets home, meals when my mom or I can’t do it.” Jonah ticks off the items on his fingers. “And travel coverage when I’m on the road with the team, unless my parents take him.”
“So basically, everything,” I say, with no bite. It’s what I expected.
“Not everything. I want to be his dad. I just... need help figuring out how.”
Now, he’s all vulnerable again, which does things to my heartstrings. I turn to look out the window, and the storefronts ofdowntown Dickens blur past. “What about my schedule? I’ll need time to look for a job when this ends.”
“We’ll work around that. Again, you’ll have my parents, and you know Sydney will be around as much as she can. Once Eli’s settled in school, you’ll have those hours free. Plus, I’m home the evenings I don’t have games. Well, and when we’re not on the road.”
It’s starting to sound doable.
“When would you want me to move in?” I stare out the window.
“Tomorrow, if possible.” His answer’s immediate. “The social worker’s coming in three days, and having you already established would look a lot better.”
I whip my head around to stare at him. “Tomorrow? As in, twenty-four hours?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Jonah, I can’t just pack up my entire life in a day.” My face collapses. “I have furniture, clothes, equipment—”
“I’ll hire movers,” he says, like that solves everything. “And anything else you need, we can buy.”
I shake my head, marveling at how the obscenely wealthy think. Just throw money at the problem until it goes away. Must be nice.
