Page 8 of Ink

I take a deep breath before looking at my daddy's chair. "I'll help her, Daddy, I promise."

I mumble before I get up and start cleaning the kitchen. Like hell, is she doing it in the morning when she should be resting? It doesn't take me long before I'm locking up and sitting in my Jeep, looking at my childhood home. I squeeze my eyes shut before starting my girl up, and instead of heading right towards my shared flat with Leah, I turn left, going to the Jenkins Bank.

My father ensured I never ended up in debt during college, so now it's my turn to ensure we keep our family home, even if it means taking over Momma's mortgage and working more hours.

I get to the bank within ten minutes and park up before taking a deep breath. Todd was always an ass in school. He's a year older than me, and he's best friends with Josh, my ex-boyfriend, who has been trying to contact me on and off over the years. Whenever I tell him to do one, he finds someone to hook up with before he gets bored and then tries again. Todd is no different with women, though, and he's always looked down on me, so this should be fun. I nod my head before getting out and heading inside towards the reception desk.

Holly, the receptionist, smiles at me, her blue eyes shining as she sees me walk in.

"Sophie, how are you?"

I smile at the 58-year-old woman; she's always been sweet. "I'm good. Thank you, Holly. I was wondering if Todd was available. To discuss my Momma's mortgage."

She smiles at me before checking her computer. She picks up her phone and says, "Hi, Mr. Jenkins; I have Sophie Anderson here to discuss her mother's mortgage; are you free?"

She listens to whatever he says before hanging up, and then she smiles at me and says, "You can go in, sweetie."

I thank her before wiping my hands down my dark blue scrubs that I haven't had a chance to change out of, then walk towards the dark oak door. I knock once before he tells me to enter.

I roll my eyes, flipping enter; really?

I open the door to see Todd sitting in an immaculate dark suit behind his dark oak desk, his ginger hair neatly brushed back in a comb-over, while his Hazel eyes give me a once-over look but not in a sexual way, more of a making sure you're OK kind of way, which is odd but also sweet, definitely different from high school.

"Sophie, how are you?" He sounds polite, so I'll give him that as he stands, and I walk over to his desk.

"I'm doing OK; thank you, Todd. I'm here to discuss taking over my Momma's mortgage."

He raises his brows at me. "You want to take over it?"

I nod. "She's been struggling since Dad passed; she needs help."

His eyes show understanding and compassion.

"It's not cheap, Soph."

I know he's not trying to be a dick, which is surprising, but I don't really have a choice.

"I know, and I'll most likely be living on ramen noodles for the foreseeable future, but she needs me, Todd; I can't let her lose the home she shared with my daddy."

He sighs and nods his head before biting his lip.

"I have a proposition for you. Have a seat."

I sit when he moves his arm towards the chair before taking a seat himself.

"I know I was a dick to you in high school; I know Josh was also a fucking dick," I snort, making him smile. "OK, so here's the thing: my dad's getting ready to hand me the business, but he thinks I need a girlfriend. I want you to pretend to be my girlfriend, and in return, I'll lower your mother's mortgage and put it in your name." My brows shoot high into my hairline, and I go to speak, but he puts his hand up. "I know, I can get anyone I want because of my status, but here's the thing," he clears his throat, "I'm gay."

My mouth drops open in shock. Gay? Seriously? The guy had two or three girls on the go simultaneously. "I know, I know. I had plenty of women over the years, but I just fuck," he sighs, scrubbing his hands over his head and messing up his hair. "I just, I was trying to be someone I'm not, and I can't live like that anymore, Soph, I can't. I feel so fucking dirty anytime a woman tries to touch me intimately. He looks at me with hope. "So what do you say?"

I furrow my brows. "But what about Josh? Don't get me wrong, I'll never go there again; I haven't since high school, but he's your best friend."

He smiles at me, "He's not my best friend anymore, not after the man he's turned into, but he's still a friend. He knows my predicament, so I don't think he'd care if anything; he'd try to use this to get close to you again, so I'll warn you now to be careful; despite being like brothers growing up, he still can't keep it in his pants, and I'm pretty sure he still fucks Phoebe on and off." I sort at that while he continues, "If you find someone in the time we're together, we'll break up, and I'll come clean to my dad, and hopefully I can still take over, but you know what he's like." I nod a snobbish prick. "I'll keep the agreement with the mortgage in place, but it's only for six months. Six months later, the banks are in my name, and I can finally come out. What do you say, Sophie? I know I was a prick in high school, but I was confused about who I was. I know it's not an excuse, but I apologize."

I look at him and see the sincerity in his eyes. "And I get to keep the mortgage at a low rate so my momma doesn't lose the home she made with my dad?"

He smiles a sad smile at me. "I promise, I'll put it in writing legally."

I sigh before standing up, and he stands with me, biting his bottom lip. "You've got yourself a deal."

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