Weekend Wife (Sassy in the City 1)

I decided a portion of the truth would ring with sincerity. “I don’t want to lose my independence. I want to be a singer and I want to achieve my own level of success. I don’t want to give up a career. I would always wonder what if.”

“But wouldn’t financial freedom allow you to pursue your passions without worrying about paying the rent? Eddie isn’t the kind of man to hold it over you, you know.”

“Why did it matter to you that Grant has a relationship?” I asked, genuinely curious, thinking about the ultimatum that had started this whole chain of events. “Grant seemed happy with his life the way it was when he and I met. Our relationship was kind of an accident of circumstance. I don’t think he was looking for anything.”

“I know no one really understands my relationship with Tiff, and yes, we’ve had our share of drama. But I’ve spent my whole adult life with her and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s a love I can count on.”

I had a feeling Grant, the son, would disagree that Tiffany was reliable but I wasn’t going to argue with his father. I mean, hey, if he was happy that was what mattered, right? I just nodded, unsure of what to say. Your wife seems as loving as a great white shark didn’t really seem appropriate.

“I don’t want my son to spend his life alone, in pursuit of financial success or accolades. What does any of that mean in the end? I know Eddie thinks I’m something of a screwup,” Grant the second said. “But I made a choice in life. I didn’t need to ‘increase the empire.’ My father made enough money to last for generations. All I have to do is make sure it perpetuates, not necessarily gets larger. So I chose to buy a basketball team and be part of a team of management. It’s profitable and I get to spend my days and nights hanging out around a sport I love. What’s wrong with that, right?”

That made a whole lot of sense to me. “I think that’s fantastic that you get to do what you love.” If you could get it, go for it. That was my feeling on that. Wealth had given Grant the second options most people didn’t have.

I had to wonder if Grant the second did anything for charitable causes or contributed to the world in any way, but I wasn’t about to ask him.

“So why can’t you? Eddie can give you that—the opportunity to do what you want.”

His father’s words made my throat tighten. “Because that’s the problem. I don’t want anyone to give it to me. I want to do it on my own.”

“Say you had a friend who said, ‘Leah, I know the producer for a record label and I can send him your demo.’ Wouldn’t you jump on that chance? It’s called an opportunity.”

“It’s just different.” I wanted out of this conversation. I didn’t actually mind Grant’s father and he didn’t seem like he had ill intentions but he’d never been anything but wealthy. He didn’t seem to understand why it mattered to me to take care of myself, especially after eight years of busting my butt in the city. “I don’t need anyone to pay my rent. I’ve been paying it on my own just fine for years.”

Grant’s father was giving me very real anxiety and I wasn’t even sure why. It wasn’t like he was being a jerk. He was just being opinionated, which wasn’t shocking for a man who’d had everything he ever wanted. Of course, he assumed he was right.

But I felt an intense panic rising inside my chest. It felt like serious indigestion coupled with an inability to breathe. I took a massive sip of my wine.

I’d spent the afternoon feeling like I’d scored a huge win. The fake relationship wasn’t really fake and that was exactly what I wanted, whether I had been able to admit it to myself or not.

Now this conversation had me terrified that I was plunging witlessly into a disaster. I didn’t belong in this world. It was an act. I was playing the part of rich girlfriend. I couldn’t really be a rich girlfriend, could I? Certainly not a wife.

“I don’t see how it’s different, but okay, I’ll stop pressing. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just met you, Leah, and I already like you. You’ve got something special about you.”

“Thank you.” I wasn’t sure what else to say.

“Last thing I’ll say is if you really plan to get married, you should elope somewhere. Weddings are a pain in the ass.” He pushed off the stones and stood up, the ice in his glass clinking.

Said the man who was throwing himself a three hundred grand anniversary party.

I shivered, despite the wool coat I was wearing. I shifted around to the other side of the fireplace, hoping that Grant’s grandmother hadn’t heard a word we’d said. She didn’t appear to be listening at all. She had a massive ash hovering in the air over her cashmere coat in such a dangerous way I wanted to slid my palm under it and catch it. Save the cashmere. Reading glasses with the lenses the size of dinner plates were on her nose and she was studying her phone.

“Do you think I can get a flight to Paris tomorrow?” she asked.

“Tomorrow is my anniversary party, Mother. You can’t go to Paris.”

Gigi rolled her eyes and took a hit off of her cigarette. “Paris sounds more entertaining.” She studied me with narrowed eyes. “Do you smoke?”

“No.”

“That’s a shame.”

That almost made me laugh.

“Sit with me anyway. Grant, go away. I want to talk to Eddie’s girlfriend.”

Oh, fabulous. Just exactly what I wanted. Time alone with the slut-shaming grandmother. I was tempted to grab Grant the second’s arm and beg him not to leave me alone, but I was serious when I told Grant I’d faced down some serious assholes over the years in the industry. I had thick skin.

“Sure,” I said easily and sat down on the stone wall next to her.