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“Are you joking?” I laughed because clearly, he was joking. I went into our small kitchen and poured myself a mug of wine. Same outcome as if it were in a glass, just a little less fancy. A little more like me.
“Hell no, I’m not joking. Babe, this is our ticket out,” he said, moving over to me. Jeff was dressed in a white T-shirt and gray sweatpants. I was dressed in the same way, though I didn’t get to wear my boyfriend’s sweats, seeing how I was twice his size. Unlike Sue, my hips didn’t lie. Built on genetics and Spicy Doritos. Damn proud of those hips, too, after so many years of toxic diet culture beliefs.
I had an odd addiction to pajamas and comfy wear. I was also a professional at wearing gym attire to my couch. One of my favorite pastimes was to take naps in gym clothing. If I were an animal, I’d always thought I’d want to be a cat. Sleep, eat, and poop in a litter box that humans were responsible for cleaning. The top tier of living one’s best life.
“Our ticket out?” I asked, arching an eyebrow. “Out of what?”
“Of this!” he exclaimed, gesturing around. “We live in a one-bedroom house with little to no space. You and I are practically on top of one another.”
“Since when do you not like being on top of me?” I teased.
Jeff didn’t tease back. He simply continued. “Plus, we can put some of that money into my music career to really give me the jumpstart I need.”
I grimaced, uncertain if he was being serious. “It’s been a long day. I can’t really deal with you not being ironic right now. So, please, go ahead and tell me you’re kidding.”
He took the mug from my hand and set it on the countertop. “Think about it. Two million dollars would change our lives forever.”
I arched an eyebrow. Jeff wasn’t known for his detailed listening skills. “I said two hundred million, not two million.”
Just then, his eyeballs bugged out of his face. “What?! Holy shit, Stella!”
“I know. It makes me uneasy, too. Plus, with all the stocks and assets… it’s… a lot.”
“And it’s ours.”
“But I don’t want it. I just…” I sighed and crossed my arms. “I just want him back.”
“Well, that’s not really an option, sweetheart, so this is the next best thing. Think about it, Stella. Everything we ever wanted”—he snapped his fingers—“just like that. We’d be able to make all of our dreams come true in a blink of an eye.”
“And your girlfriend would have to marry a stranger. Or did you miss that part?”
“Yeah, yeah. So, I get that would be a bit strange, but the outcome is worth the sacrifice.”
“You’re willing to sacrifice your partner for money?”
He took my hands into his and gave me the sweetest smile. “Only for six months, baby. Then you’re all mine. It’s not like you would be screwing the guy, right?”
“What? No. Of course not. We would probably never even see one another. He’s kind of closed-off anyway.”
“That’s perfect. So, six months in, and then two-hundred-million dollars later, you’re back home with me. Then we can get married, and you can have the wedding of your dreams.”
“I don’t need a wedding of my dreams,” I told him. “The courthouse works just fine.”
“You are more than a courthouse wedding. I know you’re an independent woman, which is why we live here, instead of in a home Kevin offered to buy for you. But it’s okay to have help, Stella. You don’t have to be so hyper-independent. You do know that’s a sign of trauma, right?”
I laughed. “Did you take a psychology class or something?”
“No. I saw a TikTok about it. But it’s true. You feel like you have to control everything and not take handouts from Kevin. You’ve been like that since we met years ago.”
I shrugged. “He raised me when he didn’t have to. I don’t want anything that isn’t mine.”
“But you were his. He was a father to you, and you were his daughter. This is what happens in families. You pass down your inheritance to the next generation. At least that’s what I believe. You know I never really grew up with a family, outside of you.”
“I know… and you’re right. Plus, this being his final wish makes me feel as if maybe I should do it.”
“Yes, exactly. Think about how it would eat at you if you went against his final wishes. Then over time, you and I can start our own family and pass down the blessings to our children.”
He was really laying it on thick, that was for sure.
