Page 20 of Good Girls Beg

"What is that?" I asked after a moment's frantic thought. What the hell could I possibly have that these guys wanted? Even if they hadn't said they had money, it was obvious they did. They could buy anything they wanted and have it delivered the same day. And if they couldn't, they could go and pick it up themselves. I was just a kindergarten teacher taking some time to upgrade her qualifications. I drove a car that barely went at the best of times. I couldn't think of one thing I had to give them.

Mr. Middle sat forward as far as the table between us would allow. Out of his pocket, he drew a piece of paper and a pen. He wrote on the piece of paper before sliding it over to me, somehow managing to avoid getting splinters in his fingers from the worn wood.

"This is how much I'm proposing to give you," he said.

He sat back and put the pen away, watching me while I tentatively picked up the piece of paper and glanced at it.

My eyes widened.

"Holy shit," I said without thinking. "You're willing to give this much to save the bar?"

I squinted. Did I imagine the last couple of zeros? I didn't. They were right there, on the page.

"What do you want in return for this?" My head was spinning with the possibilities. My fathers could completely renovate the bar for this much money. They could buy a bigger house, a better car. They'd never have to worry about money again. Neither would I. The things I could do with that much. My mind might literally blow.

"That's very simple," Mr. Middle said. "We want you."

CHAPTER EIGHT

TEDDIE

I blinked a couple of times. Did I hear that right?

"Excuse me? I thought you said you wanted me in return for this." I tapped the paper with the back of my trembling hand.

"We did." That was Blondie. He sounded eager. Hopeful that I'd accept.

I flicked my gaze his way before looking back at the man in the middle of the park bench.

"When you say you want me, what for?" I asked carefully.

"Whatever we want," Mr. Bored said.

"Consensually," Mr. Middle said, looking to one side, then the other. "You'll live with us for one year. Follow our rules. In return, you'll get that." He nodded toward the piece of paper on the table.

"You'll get enough in advance to keep Loams open. At the end of the year, you'll get the rest."

He made it sound like nothing in the world could be simpler. The truth was, nothing in the world could be more complicated.

I closed my eyes. Was I losing my mind? These three men, whose names I didn't even know, wanted me to live with them and do what? Anything they wanted? In return, they'd give me more money than I could have ever dreamed of?

If I agreed to this, what did that make me?

If I refused, my fathers would lose the bar. The money raised from the crowdfunding campaign would only go so far. Sooner or later, it would run out and we'd be right back where we started.

How bad could it be to give up one year of my life in return for saving Loams, and my dads? One short year, and I could go back to living my life. Forget these three existed and never see them again. How difficult could that be?

I opened my eyes. "We have to lay out some boundaries.” If they didn't agree to them, I'd have to walk away right now. Yes, I needed the money, but I needed my dignity even more. Some things, I couldn't compromise on.

Mr. Bored snorted, but the other two nodded.

"For starters," I counted the points off on my fingers, "I get to know your names."

"If you agree to this, we'll reveal ourselves," Blondie said.

I supposed that was fair. If I didn't agree, I could go running off to the tabloids and tell them about their proposal. Those were the kind of headlines that would last for weeks. They couldn't know I wouldn't actually do that. A media shitstorm was the last thing I needed in my life. Unless the publicity was good for the bar, then I'd consider it.

"Two, I get to stay in college. I want to finish my degree." This money would help pay for tuition, that was an added bonus. I’d be debt free when I was finished.