Page 21 of Grasp The Moment

She stares at me plainly from across the table, and I know that I have to save this marriage before she can deny us the chance to get somewhere.

“My inheritance is fifty million dollars—you joked about it last night, but that’s what it is. I earn money from doing faceless cooking content on social media. I cook for Deli and theguys most times. I know people in the fashion industry and do brand deals frequently. Help me, and I’ll help you. I won’t force you to do anything—ever. What’s minewillbe yours.”

“So I was right? You’re filthy fucking rich…” she jokes, gnawing at her bottom lip. I watch as she thinks over what I’ve told her, her eyes closed before she sighs deeply, nods, and then shrugs.

“Okay, we’ll stay married, but if we’re to do this, we have to have rules, Derek. I don’t want to lose you as a friend if this all fails.”

Tilting my head, I narrow my eyes at her. “Failure isn’t an option.”

“Very caveman of you, indeed. Now, I know it’ll be hard considering I’m the most gorgeous woman you’ve ever met, but please… Don’t fall in love with me, Mama Bear,” she says, and even though she’s smiling and her tone is light, there’s an edge of seriousness to her.

Licking my lips, I grin.

“Firstly, you should be telling yourself that, Blondie. I’m amazing. Secondly, I’m starting to regret letting you and the guys call me that…” I chuckle, thinking about the rancid nickname I’d been tossed last year after the guys got me an apron with the saying “Mother knows best” on its chest.

“Har har,” she mocks. “Anyway, rule number three, we never go to sleep mad at one another.”

Gulping, I nod. Her sudden seriousness sends my hackles rising.

“Four, we’ll keep this between us for a while…” I say as she nods and takes a bite of her food.

“Sounds good to me. Five, if you want to have a one-night stand or?—”

“I’ll stop you right there; you’re mine. As soon as you agreed to be my wife five minutes ago, you becamemywife. I’m not sharing. And you don’t have to worry about me because I’ll be yours. But I will say, rule number four is that we must stay married for six months. I just need six months of your time, and then you can be rid of me, G.”

Georgia’s eyes snap up from her plate as she furrows her brows.

“I won’t?—”

Our phone’s buzzing cuts her last sentence off, clogging my throat.

What was she going to say? She won’t leave? Won’t wait six months to find love? What?—

“Shit…” she curses under her breath, running a shaky hand through her hair.

“Zola just posted the wedding and tagged us...”

9.Georgia

Derek isa man who has seen better days. As soon as I dropped the news that Zola posted our wedding, he got a call from his mom. Rolling my lips in, I watch his retreating back as he heads outside.

Taking a sip of the lemonade he’d ordered for me, I try to make sense of the past few hours—and I honestly can’t.

Help me, and I’ll help you.

Help me, and I’ll help you.

Help me, and I’ll help you.

His words replay in my mind on a constant loop.

Can I truly get everything that I’ve ever dreamed of if I marry him? Will I be able to open up my own fashion house one day? Will I finally have something to call my own in this world?

Will I be happy?

A family walks past the window beside me: a mom, dad, and two girls, both toddlers. The little girls are giggling, holding one another’s hands as their parents smile atthem.

I frown.