Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“That all makes sense. Don’t worry. I’m a hard worker.”
“I know. I’ve seen it, but I need you to understand why I’m being so specific here. Simon will be scrutinizing our every move. If we aren’t careful, if we slip, he’ll catch it and find a way to fuck us both over. Understand?”
“Yes. I understand.”
I’m sure he thinks he does, but I wonder if anyone besides me can really understand just how calculating and manipulative Simon can be. Jonas doesn’t know him like I do. Simon is clever; it won’t be easy to outwit him.
“Also, if we’re doing this…” I can’t believe what I’m about to say. “It’s not going to be believable if we’re a serious item and still using condoms. But that’s how serious we’re gonna have to be if you want this to work. Are you comfortable with that? We can’t half-ass this.”
His gaze shifts before he nods. “Yeah. We’ve both been tested, and I don’t know…could be fun.” He makes eye contact again, this adorable smile slipping across his face as he shrugs.
It’s fun. Flirtatious.
And now I’m chuckling.
“Maybe,” is all I’m willing to concede.
I can disguise just how much fun I had the other night from him, but not myself. And since then, my mind has crafted other equally fun and fulfilling scenarios with the two of us.
Playing. Fucking.
The heat, the rising intensity.
Now that I know what our bodies feel like against each other, it’s gonna be tough to keep from getting a semi around the yard.
“If there’s anything else we need to discuss or that you’re concerned about, bring it up now. We won’t have many chances after this.”
“Why is your brother doing this?”
“Still haven’t figured that out.” I’m being honest with him, but my answer is misleading. No, I don’t understand exactly why, but I know it has to do with our brother. Some kind of twisted revenge.
But why he would set me up with a Kieran look-alike, that I’m stumped about. And intrigued.
Jonas says, “I know I look like this guy Kieran, but neither of you explained who this guy is. Or why he means so much to you.”
There it is.
That hot tension in my chest returns.
“Jonas, I understand why you want to know. I do. But I can’t share that with you. Not yet.”
Maybe because I’m so used to keeping this family secret.
Or maybe because I fear that once I share it, the past will all come back, haunting me. Every memory, from the most pleasant to the most horrifying.
“I’m sorry, Jonas, and if that’s not satisfactory to you, I understand. So, you still want to give this a go?”
“I’ve already made my decision,” he says without hesitation.
I’m glad of that, and not just because I want to mess around with him again. I want this to unfold, if only to expose Simon’s wicked plans.
9
JONAS
“The doctors sounded really nice,” Charity says, which makes me tear up.
Simon was true to his word, and by Wednesday morning, Aunt Amy and Charity already had a Zoom meeting with her new doctor.
“Aunt Amy says we’ll be flying to New York on Saturday. We’ve never been there before! I wish you could come.”
“I wish I could come too.”
She frowns. “Jonas, I miss you.”
“I miss you too.” I wipe the back of my hand across the corner of my eye, where a tear nearly escapes.
“Aunt Amy wants to talk to you again.”
“Okay, I love you, Cherry Berry.”
She snickers. “Love you too, JoJo.”
I smile at the nickname as she hands the phone to Aunt Amy, who relates more details about Charity’s new arrangement. She looks around uneasily, then whispers, “Jonas, I didn’t push before, but now there’s no pretending you’re doing yard work.” Her tone is full of concern.
“Starting today,” Simon says, “your sister will have the best care money can buy, but that comes at a cost.”
“Can we not discuss this with Charity around?” I press.
“She’s in the other room.” She keeps her voice low. “Just tell me, is it drugs?”
“Not drugs.”
“Firearms?”
“Wrong again.”
Her forehead creases. “It’s illegal, though, isn’t it?”
Technically, I figure I’m a sex worker, which is illegal but certainly not the worst of crimes I could be committing to make all this happen. Still, it’s not something I have any intention of ever revealing to my aunt or sister.
“Just helping some outrageously wealthy people, Aunt Amy. That’s really all I can say.”
“If you back out before September, for any reason, your sister and aunt will be sent back home, and you will have to make do with the fifteen thousand you already received.”
“September just seems so far away, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. She needs this, but she needs you back in one piece. So just be safe, okay?”
“I will. You make sure she has an easy transition. Sounds like a lot’s about to happen really fast, and it’ll be very different in New York. Now just give the phone back to Charity so I can say bye, and I’ll call you after work tomorrow.”