“I’m fine.” I force a smile. “Really.”
“I know this is a lot.” He looks away. “It’s really too much.”
“Dad.” I walk over and hug him. “I love you. It’ll be fine.”
“Yeah.” He sighs and hugs me back. “And plus, when it’s over, you’re going to make a lot of money.”
I laugh and let him go. “That’s the goal.”
“I’m proud of you for negotiating, you know,” he says, grinning. “I planned on giving you my cut, but, you know.”
“You can still do that, don’t worry.”
He laughs. “Look, if you have any problems with him… anything at all. You call me and I’ll be over in a flash. I mean it.”
“I know, Dad. But he’s a decent guy.”
“Yeah, I think he might be, but I’m still worried.”
“Look, his room is on the third floor. We’ll barely even see each other. We’ll be glorified roommates.”
“Right. Roommates.” He sighs. “A male roommate.”
“Dad.”
“I know, I know. My idea.” He shakes his head. “A stupid, insane idea.”
“We’ll be fine. I promise.”
“Good.”
He leaves not long later. I order a pizza and I split it with Josh. We sit up on the deck, talk a little bit about Harvard, and I go to bed early.
It’s strange, sleeping in an unfamiliar room. I put my own linens on it and use my own pillow, but it still feels totally foreign. The ceiling is different, the sounds are different, the smell is all wrong. Even though Josh threw the weird creepy doll thing into the closet, I swear I can still feel its beady little black eyes staring at me through the door.
But I manage to get some sleep. Alone, in a strange bed, on my wedding night.
I wake up early the next morning to the smell of coffee and bacon. I sniff the air like a bloodhound before pulling on yoga pants and a t-shirt. I head out into the hall then pad down the steps in bare feet.
Josh is standing in the kitchen, sipping coffee, and humming to himself. He’s making breakfast, not paying attention to anything else. Bacon’s frying in a pan and he already has a big stack of pancakes, a few waffles, and scrambled eggs.
“Hey,” I say.
He looks back at me and grins. “Morning. I wasn’t sure when you’d be up, so I just started cooking.”
I rub my hair and frown. “What, uh, time is it?”
“A little past eight.”
“Oh, okay. That’s not bad.”
He laughs. “What time do you normally sleep to?”
“I don’t even want to say.” I walk into the kitchen and pour myself some coffee. “Fancy. This is really hot.”
“Better be. I hate coffee that’s not piping hot. I’m talking, just on the edge of burning my mouth. If it’s not a little bit dangerous, it’s not hot enough.”
I laugh and take a sip. Sure enough, it’s really hot, but good.
“What’s all this for?” I ask.
“Breakfast,” he says. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I just went a little nuts.”
“Cereal is fine.”
“I have cereal too.”
“I mean, I’m going to eat the bacon. Just in the future.”
“Understood.” He grins and gestures at a stack of pancakes with his spatula. “Try those. I used fresh blueberries.”
“Really?” I grab a plate and dump a couple on it along with some bacon and eggs. I carry it over to the table, sit down, and dig in.
I don’t speak for five minutes. I’m not capable of it. Everything is delicious, way better than I ever would have guessed. The blueberries are definitely fresh. They’re sweet and the pancakes are fluffy and they’re practically heaven. The eggs are buttery and just the right consistency, while the bacon is crispy but not burnt. I sip my coffee, now a slightly more reasonable temperature, and sit back in my chair.
He’s leaning against the stove, smiling at me. “You liked it,” he says.
“Holy shit.”
“Yeah?” He grins. “I don’t get to cook for people all that often.”
“You’re amazing at breakfast foods.”
“I thought so. Glad to have it confirmed.” He makes his own plate and sits down across from me.
“Should I get used to this?” I ask. “I mean, seriously, I’m going to get fat and disgusting.”
“Nah, you won’t. I’ll make sure you hit the gym.”
“Don’t be a dick.”
“I’m just saying. Right now, appearances are everything.”
I tilt my head at him. “So that’s how it’ll be? I’m just your arm candy?”
“Absolutely.” He looks me up and down. “And you fit the role just so.”
I sigh and lean back in my seat. “If I weren’t so full of delicious pancakes right now, I’d be pissed.”
“That’s why I make sure to bribe you first.”
“Seriously, what is the plan? Please tell me you have a plan.”
“Like I said before, we need to go after some members of the board first.” He shrug a little and spears some eggs, stuffing them into his mouth. “We’ll start with Elizabeth Gulp.”