1.No Funny Business:Hand holding, touching, and normal couple things are permitted. Kissing only if the situation is dire. No physical contact beyond that point.
Not quite sure what dire situation would require us to kiss. I don’t anticipate her needing mouth-to-mouth. Either way, I smirk.
2.Three days a week:The schedule will be set for three days per week. You can choose how we spend them. To be arranged around both of our changing schedules, including nightshifts and away games. Exceptions can be granted upon appeal.
I cough out a laugh at that one, meeting her eyes above the book. She shoves a California roll into her mouth and shoots me a glare. I have a feeling the appeal board is going to be a rather tough one to face.
3.Medical Bills:You will pay my father’s medical bills at the end of each month. If they are ever growing to be more than you feel comfortable with, please advise me of this and we will end the arrangement immediately.
I don’t know if she realizes how much money I make, but I nod along anyway. I won’t be worrying about that rule.
It’s the last rule that makes me almost choke on my sip of wine.
4.No Sex:We will not be fraternizing, but we will not do so with anyone else, either. If word gets out that you’re sleeping with other women, I will become a topic of discussion more than I’d like on social media. It will be embarrassing and will push me into a spotlight that I don’t want to be under. It also has the potential to ruin our ruse. No sex. With anyone. I will do the same.
Is she kidding?
I run a hand over my face. “Red.”
“That’s the most important one,” she grumbles, dipping her roll into the spicy mayo. “I don’t want to become a circus act, Carter. You cheat, it becomes another media whirlwind, and I’m the monkey in the cage.”
She’s not wrong. Look at all the girls seen near me, who are now being posted all over TikTok and Instagram as my potential girlfriend. It would be a nightmare to endure, especially for someone who they believe is myactualgirlfriend, and not just an educated guess.
But still. I don’t know if that’s doable.
“That’s…” I breathe out. “That’s a tough one.”
I don’t know how long this arrangement will go on for. I’ve suggested until the end of the year. If we make it until then, that’s two and a half months.Can I last that long? With no sex at all? With anyone?
“Take it or leave it,” she says with a shrug. “If we’re dating, faux or not, it’s me and me alone.”
I raise a brow. “But I won’t be having sex with you either.”
“Correct,” she says with an assured nod.
Damn. Straight to the ego.
“You drive a hard bargain, Red.”
She flashes me a cheeky little smile that she means to look sarcastic, and busies herself with picking at the sushi on the coffee table again. When she leans back, plate now full, she meets my eyes.
“So?”
“Can I add rules?”
Her chewing slows. “You can. I’ll take your requests to the appeal board for consideration.”
“Areyouthe appeal board?” I ask.
She swallows her bite and shrugs. “I might be.”
Lord, give me strength. I am not going to survive this.
“Give me a pen.”
Her eyes widen in horror. “You arenotruining my perfectly made list.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s a list, not a binding contract.”
