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She gulped, nodded. "I'm a lot to deal with."
"I see that." I wasn't going to lie to her about this when I had other more important lies to keep. "I don't mind a challenge."
She smiled up at me and said, "And you're not afraid of my dad?"
I shook my head. "Dead men don't have to fear, so...I have to enjoy life while I can."
"Wow." She considered this a moment. "That's deep."
"So. You ready to go to this party or what?" I asked. "We're meeting my friends, and yes, Holly is a friend. She's with Storm."
"If she's with him, why were you contracted to her?" she asked.
Epic lie ahead, sort of. "Holly's dad is a renowned psychologist and he's built that fame and fortune from frat contacts. I was supposed to keep an eye on her this year. See what I could learn about him."
"Oh, shit." She touched my arm. "That makes so much more sense."
She had my full attention. "Yeah? What did you think I was here for?"
"Not me. Essie. She thought you were here spying. Only two brothers in this house. One's her cousin, the other is you and Harper made you number one at Sophomore House." She walked next to me and revealed things I worried about but wasn't sure how they were playing out. "I thought you were here because of the mixer."
I smiled down at her. "You were right."
She went all shocked expression and fit of giggles as she slapped at my arm and said, "Shame on you!"
"It worked, right?" I shrugged. "I am just a man after all."
"A good man." She gulped. "She told you I'm...slow. You know? I mean. I'm spoiled. I know it. I...don't want someone fake in my life like that. You're real."
"The realist." I didn't even flinch. "So. Now you know my secret, can I trust you with it?" She nodded. "So, be cool to Holly. Okay? She had to like give up both her room cleaners."
"What?" She gasped.
"I made sure the number was on the sheet, so he was fired from that part of the contract. They are like...a couple situation now. If you're cool with it, I have to clean her room. You understand, right?" I was so full of shit, and she was excited to be a conspirator. "Your dad ever teach you tactics?"
She shook her head. "Nope. I'm a girl. I'm supposed to stay a virgin until he decides who would be beneficial to marry me off to."
"Wow. I thought arranged marriage was a thing of the past in this country." I hated that for her.
She shook her head. "For some people. Just not for me."
"So, you proposing to me or what?" I teased.
She laughed and said, "No. I just...again. He...doesn't know. So. We can be out in the open here, but I won't be broadcasting it on social. I'm not even real on social."
"Is anyone?" I asked.
She considered that. Then she said, "I want someone real in my life to hang out with, feel safe around. These bitches are not real, Winston. They are different versions of the same story. My dad, theirs. Holly's dad isn't the exception. He's the fucking rule for our house. I hate it, but...I also like these shoes and...I don't know. I met people here that didn't come up like this. I don't want to be worried about money. It's a tradeoff. And people married like this for ever in the old days. Royalty. It's...the same today. Just...different kinds of royalty."
"I'm not a prince." I shrugged.
"No." She shook her head. "If this was a story, you could be Lancelot. I'll have this year with you, and you'll be romantic and—wait. Are you romantic?"
I laughed. "I don't know."
She waved her hand and said, "You will be. I can tell."
"Well then, let's start here." I handed her a helmet and she looked at the bike.
