Page 109 of Fake it For Good
“You were amazing,” I told him on the drive back to his house. “Four hours and you changed lives.”
“I don’t know about that, but I’m glad I got to be a part of that,” he said. “I think it changed my life. It’s an experience I think everyone should have.”
“I’m glad you weren’t scared away by it,” I said. “Because that is my life. There are going to be more days like this. I might have some really long days and they aren’t always good. Some days are horrible. Some days you want to just give up and walk away so you never have to see another child cry.”
“I’ll support you in whatever you do,” he said. “Hard days or easy days, I’ll be there.”
“Thank you.” I leaned back and smiled. I couldn’t stop smiling. “You know, I think I might just have to cash in on my contract after all.”
“Nope, sorry,” he said. “Too late. You missed your window. There was a statute of limitations and it has expired.”
I laughed and slapped at his arm. “Stop it.”
“I gave you the best sex of your life. That’s your payment.”
“Twenty-five-grand worth of sex?” I scoffed. “I’m not sure about that.”
“I didn’t say I was done,” he said. “We have tonight. And tomorrow. I think I’m going to give you your money’s worth and then some.”
“I think I’ll be the judge of that,” I teased.
“But seriously,” he said. “You deserve that money. You earned it. I want you to have it. All joking aside, it was a contract and you followed through. Don’t make me the one that welches.”
“I think it would be too weird. It would be like actually taking money for sex.”
“No,” he said. “It would be you taking money for doing a job.”
“We’ll talk about it later,” I said. “Tonight, I want to enjoy our first Christmas together. I just wish I knew we were going to be together. I would have gotten you something.”
“We’re together,” he said. “That’s the best gift ever.”
39
CANE
The sound of feet running down the hall outside my office made me smile. “Benji, no running,” I called out from my desk.
“Sorry!”
He wasn’t sorry. I didn’t care. Noelle popped her head into the office. “Sorry. Did he bother you?”
“Nope. Are you guys going to the playroom?”
“We are,” she said. “I’m going to get him situated and then I’ll bring your lunch.”
“You don’t have to make me lunch,” I insisted.
“I already made it and we are having lunch together,” she said. “We agreed we were going to do lunch and dinner together as often as we could.”
“I love you,” I said freely. There was no hesitation.
“I love you. Now, you finish that P and L.”
She closed the door behind her. She made me happy. They both did. Three months ago, I had asked her to move in with me. It just made sense. We spent all our time together. Having her in the house made it a home. We were getting to know each other a little better. Every morning I woke up next to her, I knew it was going to be a good day.
Noelle returned with a tray. There were two sandwiches and some carrot sticks. “That looks good,” I said and got to my feet. We sat in the two chairs with the small table between them. “Thank you for doing this.”
“I like doing it,” she said. “I like making you a sandwich.”
