Page 54 of I Choose You

She waved off my reply. “Same thing. But you’re milking him for thirty grand. Would you still want to stick it to him after that generosity?”

I frowned as we walked down the sidewalk. “It’s not generosity.”

Her brows spiked high. “Thirty grand isn’t generous?”

“That amount is. Yes, to me and you, that’s a solid deposit. But he’s not being generous. It’s mutual. I’m giving him something and he’s giving me something. A transaction.”

“I’ll give you that. Pretending to date is your new side hustle. Okay. But still.”

She didn’t have to work hard to persuade me to reconsider it all. “I’m not so sure I want to go through with it.”

“Why?”

“For one thing, maybe he’s not the same Kaden I knew back then. You’re right. He’s grown since high school. He’s changed since then.”

Rena snorted a laugh. “It’s hard for anyone to remain the same. Twelve years is a long time. When I was in high school, I was a clarinet-playing goody-goody who never broke a single rule. I was an angel.”

“You?” I teased.

“Uh huh. A private school. It was a whole different world.”

“You didn’t break a single rule. Not even at band camp?”

She playfully glowered at me. “That stupid movie. When will that line die out?”

“Anyway, Kaden seems like a decent guy.”

It almost intimidated me how much. We had great conversations, and silence was never weird. He was considerate to leave me water when I was hungover and he was comfortable enough to ask me for help. Not once did he act like the popular kid in high school, that guy I remembered to this day.

I didn’t want to be duped, though, so I couldn’t lower my guard.

“I’m glad to hear it,” Rena said. “But don’t get caught up with his good looks and charm. Be careful, especially now that you’re talking about money.”

“I know.” I knocked into her then gave her a side hug. “I appreciate you hearing me out. Now how about lunch?”

Her stomach growled, and we laughed at the answer.

Over brunch, we talked about our upcoming weeks. She was excited to work and finish up projects that had been stalling for too long. I told her how excited I was to bring so much work—with longevity to follow—for Halden Inc. Todd would be over the moon, again.

“I’ve already planned to take off PTO too. I’ve got a whole long list of things I need to do before the trip.”

“Like what?” I scribbled my name on the check since it was my turn to treat.

“Self-care stuff. And just odds and ends that I don’t want to rush around doing right before my flight.”

I sympathized with that approach. I only wondered if she was capable of doing it. “Anything I can help with?”

“Hell yeah.” She grinned. “Shopping.”

I furrowed my brow. “For toiletries and travel accessories?”

“Clothes, girl. I don’t have a sugar daddy giving me a blank check of a budget.”

I sneered at her. “Kaden is not a sugar daddy.”

“His family’s so loaded he could afford to be,” she teased. At my hard look, she sighed. “Okay. Okay. Just joking. But I do need to get some new things. I was talking with my mom last night. She told me to get a new bathing suit. She’s sick of seeing me in pictures wearing the same one.”

I smiled. “I think you’ve worn that black tankini for six years now.”