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“Actually.” He shuffles his feet, gripping the strap on his messenger bag. “I actually wanted to ask you something.” His eyes avoid mine.
My heart races.
Is he going to ask me out?
He’s handsome and all with Captain America arms, but I don’t have the energy for dating.
“This is awkward, and I don’t want you to take it the wrong way.” He looks at me again, his eyes serious.
“Do I have something in my teeth?” I rub my tongue along them.
Tristan lets out a guffaw and shakes his head. “No. I would’ve told you that a long time ago. Friends don’t let friends go the entire day with food in their teeth.”
“Friends?” I lift my brows. “I met you two days ago.”
“But I helped you clean, so technically, we fast-forwarded.”
I shake my head and put my hands on my hips.
“What do you have to say?” We’re getting off topic.
“You seem like a cool girl—woman.”
I wave my hand to hurry him up.
“Okay, okay.” He chuckles. “You’re impatient, noted. Here’s the thing. How do I say this without sounding like a jerk?” He looks up at the ceiling. “Like I told you, I’m working on opening a non-profit organization. It’s a dream of mine. Of course, to do that, I need money, which I technically have—almost.”
“I’m not following.” I shake my head as my eyebrows pull low over my eyes.
Tristan scrubs a hand down his face, breathing out heavily.
“My parents set up a trust fund for me when I was a child. I have the money in that fund for the non-profit organization I want to start, but they have recently decided that I will not gain access to that money when I turn twenty-five, as previously agreed, because they don’t approve either my lifestyle or what I want to use the money for. It’s a long story, and they aren’t ideal parents.” He shakes his head in frustration, tugging his hair.
“That’s unfair. You’re going to use it for an amazing cause.”
“I agree.” He nods. “But in my parents’ eyes, I’ve been traveling the world and wasting time. They have no idea all the work I’ve done, nor do they care about it. It doesn’t align with their fancy life—or the life they are trying to force me into. They want me to prove that I’ve matured and settled down, so I won’t blow the money on more ‘useless’ travel.”
“Okay . . .” I’m still not following.
Maybe he needs to vent to someone, and unburdening his soul to a virtual stranger has the fewest consequences.
“Right, so I won’t be getting a desk job or working at the family business. It’s not for me, but that money is mine, and I have an idea how to get it.”
“I’m afraid.” I cross my arms.
“No need to be.” He holds up a finger. “Hear me out. Yesterday you mentioned something about paying for bills.” He refocuses on what he wants to say while my cheeks blaze in embarrassment.
“I-I’m not…I mean, I have a job,” I stutter over my words.
He waves me off. “I’m not going to force you to explain what you meant. I respect if you don’t want to talk about it, but I have a proposition that will benefit both of us—you’ll ease your worries, and I’ll get the funds I need to start my non-profit.”
“This sounds illegal. I’m not helping you rob a bank.” I widen my eyes.
“Of course not,” he scoffs. “I mean, it’s a small white lie to receive what my parents already set up for me. You pretend to be my girlfriend, my parents think I’m settling down, and boom, they give me the money!” He claps his hands, and I jolt. “We both win.”
“Both?”
“Yeah! I’ll give you a cut, and you won’t have to worry about any money troubles.”
