The Pretend Fiancé
“Have fun,” he said, a plan forming in his mind.
“Thanks.”
“Any idea how you’ll get there?”
“The bus.”
“I have a better idea. I can drive you.”
“Driving me isn’t going to change my mind.”
“I understand that. But it’d be my pleasure to drive you there.”
“Then I accept. Thanks, Harvey. My friends can drive me home.”
Chapter 9
Bella thought about Harvey’s proposal. He’d pay her a lot of cash, and all she had to do was pretend like they were engaged. A little kissing. Who wouldn’t want to run their hands through his hair and lock lips with that gorgeous man? And she could have her college practically paid for.
It wasn’t anything like she’d imagined in her middle school Richard Gere daydreams. Being offered money to act like a millionaire’s girlfriend felt wrong, not at all romantic. Surely there were plenty of ex-girlfriends who’d line up for that role. Still, it had been tempting because he was so handsome and charming, and her first instinct was to tell him yes no matter what he asked of her. Which made him dangerous to her, and she had no intention of getting involved, even as a temporary stand-in.
Bella washed her hair and put on makeup, chose a tank top and some jeans, struggling to zip them because her relationship with Fabrice’s desserts hadn’t been kind to her—she was up about three pounds and needed to take a walk instead of eating cake next week! Harvey dropped her off downtown to where the nightlife would be. It was a little early, just barely dark outside, but she had to get up early so she figured she’d hang out with the girls, have a few beers, then head home around ten so she’d be ready for work the next day.
She could hear music spilling from the bars, and the crowds of people made her feel excited, younger than she normally felt. This street was full of energy, and she felt a zing of excitement at the neon lights, the beat of the music and the promise of a night out with friends, carefree.
Bella made her way to the bar at the Metro, taking in the gorgeous short dresses on the women and the tight v-necks on the men as they chatted and danced under flashing club lights. She sat down on a stool and looked around for Marnie and Jade. They’d said they’d meet her at seven thirty, and she was a little early, so she ordered a club soda to start out slow and enjoyed the music. She hadn’t been out like this in ages, not since her last date with the hipster guy months ago. She’d been busy with late shifts at the convenience store back in Arkansas, and she hadn’t made any effort to date in Arizona. So this was a fun novelty.
Instead of Netflix in her nightshirt and late-night kitchen runs, she was out seeing people her own age and listening to the thumping beat of club music and taking in all the voices and laughter.
A guy came up and offered to buy her a drink. She thanked him but said she was waiting for friends, “If your friend doesn’t show up, I’ll be around,” he said. After a few more minutes of nursing the club soda and checking her phone to make sure she had the right bar at the right time to meet Marnie and Jade, she approached the guy and asked him to dance. Might as well have a good time while she waited.
They danced together twice and just as she’d worked up a sweat and started to get thirsty. Bella spotted Jade’s distinctive platinum blonde bob that was the same since high school. She thanked the guy for the dance and went to join them.
“Hey, guys!” she said.
“Hi, Bella,” Marnie said, looking bored already, “what’s good here?”
“I love their Margarita’s. They’ve got
a great DJ. Let’s order, and then hit the dance floor.”
“I thought we’d catch up first,” Jade said, flipping her hair and ordering some exotic cocktail Bella couldn’t even pronounce. She held out her left hand that sported a huge sparkling diamond ring, “We’re only in Phoenix tonight. Tomorrow we fly out for my bachelorette weekend in LA.”
“Awesome. Congratulations!” Bella said, admiring the ring sincerely.
“So what have you been up to?” Marnie asked, “Last I heard you were cleaning rooms for Donner.”
“I was. Then I moved out here to take a better job.”
“Oh, really? What do you do?”
“I’m a housekeeper at this really nice mansion with a pool and—”
“So let me get this straight. I’m getting married, Marnie’s getting promoted, and you’re cleaning toilets?” Jade said with a sniff, downing her drink.
“Well, it’s actually a great place to work and the money’s good, so I can finish my degree,” Bella said, her face flaming with shame. She didn’t have a diamond ring or a boyfriend even, and she was a maid. She wondered why she’d come here, just to compare herself to women who were a lot farther in life than she was.
“Right. So the showers you clean are nice ones? Is that an improvement? Really, Bella. I expected more from you. With a face like that, you could have at least landed a guy by now. Gotten married, had a house of your own to clean.”