Bethany woke the next morning just as embarrassed as she had been the night before. She couldn’t believe she’d misread his signals. He’d been the one who suggested kissing. How was she supposed to know he didn’t mean anything more? This was why she didn’t date. She didn’t understand how any of this worked. She wasn’t normally so forward, but he’d been rubbing her feet, and for some reason that made her bold.
She couldn’t hide out in her bedroom forever, so after she did her yoga and showered, she found Jamie in the kitchen eating a bowl of cereal. She sat across from him and waited for him to speak. She didn’t want to open her mouth and insert her foot again.
“We should go to the bank and get you added to my accounts. Order you credit cards and things. After that, we can go shopping for Garrett’s room.”
She creased her eyebrows. “I have to work at ten.” Relief flooded her. Looked like he wouldn’t even bring her forwardness up. Maybe they could both forget what she did.
He frowned. “I assumed you would quit. I got the impression you didn’t like your job much.”
“I don’t. But I still have to eat and pay the bills.”
He cocked his head and rubbed his chin. “You can do that from my bank account. As of yesterday, what is mine is yours.”
Now it was her turn to be confused. “But nothing changes until we get divorced. None of your money is mine until then.”
He laughed, and she felt dumb. She must’ve missed something.
“Do you not understand how marriage works? As of right now, we share everything. That’s what I’m saying. I don’t think it makes sense for you to change your name or anything, but I’m putting you on all my accounts and adding you to all my credit cards. The cards should be here in a week. In the meantime, you can use mine. Can we get the accounts set up today or do we have to wait until you have a day off?”
She rocked back in her chair. “You mean it? I can quit.” She wouldn’t allow herself to be excited until she knew for sure. She’d wanted out of that job for months.
“Yeah, I mean it. Make the call now, and then we can get on with our lives.” Jamie handed her his phone.
“But I thought…” She trailed off not sure what else to say. This was unreal. Only a week ago she was broke, had a job she hated, and could barely look a hot guy in the eyes. Now she was married to said hot guy, had access to his money, and could quit her job. Life had never looked so good.
“We need to make this look as real as possible. That means holding hands in public, kissing goodbye, and sharing finances. If you don’t like your job. Quit. If you want, we can even start planning that dance studio you want to set up. I’m a pretty good businessman. I can put you in touch with the right people to draw up a corporation and make sure you have adequate liability insurance.”
She spoke slowly, to make sure he understood. “All with your money?”
He shrugged. “Yeah, why not?”
“What’s the catch?” There was always a catch.
He paused for a moment as if thinking, then he got a wicked grin on his face. He crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair looking all cocky. “You let me take photos of you and publish them.”
She rolled her eyes and thought if there was some way this could go wrong.
“No nudity.”
“You’re my wife. Do you think I want naked pictures of you floating around?”
He didn’t actually confirm that he wouldn’t, so she gave him a look.
He laughed. “Yes, dear, no nudity. Do we have a deal? Will you quit your job?”
He didn’t have to tell her twice. She pulled out her phone and ten minutes later was officially unemployed.
When Jamie handed Bethany a bank statement her eyes widened.
“You keep that much money in a bank account?”
“I have several because I don’t want the money to be uninsured. Most of my money is in a trust fund. When the bank account gets below a certain amount, the trust fund automatically fills it up. I’m not a huge spender, so I don’t usually worry about it. You’re free to spend what you like. I’m not worried you’ll go overboard, but if you are going to spend more than ten grand in a day, I’d like some notice.”
Bethany choked on the water she was drinking.
“Ten grand?”
“Yeah. Just so I know.” He was so nonchalant. Ten grand. She’d never even had that much in a bank account at once before.
“I don’t think I could spend that in a whole month.”
He parked the car in front of the mall. “We’re about to outfit my son’s room. Watch and learn. Ten grand, easy.”
Bethany was a strict bargain shopper. The price was the first thing she looked at. Then she decided whether or not she liked it. She never even looked at full priced clothes, heading straight for the clearance racks.
But she did love to shop.
“I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“Will you help? I know nothing about little kids.”
She snorted. “Neither do I. But I’m willing to try. Do you know what he likes?”
“The school keeps me pretty informed. He’s a car and plane kid. Anything with wheels or wings.”
They entered a kids-only furniture store. All the princess beds made her sigh. She’d always wanted one of those when she was a kid. They made it to the little boy’s area, and most of the sets were baseball or basketball. There were a few for older boys that didn’t have any fancy designs, but were deep grays and greens. Jamie seemed to be sticking to those, so she dragged him over to the most elaborate set in the store.
The bed was shaped like an old bi-plane painted deep blue. There were three dressers that matched and a bedside table with a propeller.
“Do you think it will be a bit much?” he asked.
“If he likes planes, it will be perfect.”
Jamie creased his eyebrows and walked around it.
“Seriously. You don’t think he’ll think I’m trying too hard?” She thought it was adorable that he worried about that.
“No. Not at all. He’s six. He’ll completely appreciate it if you try too hard.”
“Okay then. Now are you ready to learn how to spend money?”
“What do you mean?”
“Take my card and tell the saleswoman you want the entire set delivered next week. Don’t mention price.”
Bethany was a bit skeptical. But she took his card anyway and found the saleswoman. “I’d like to buy the airplane bed over there.”
“Just the bed?”
“No, the whole thing. Including the planes hanging from the ceiling. I need it delivered next week. We live on Folly Beach. Do you have people who can put it all together?” Bethany surprised herself. Maybe she could do this after all.
The woman nodded and didn’t blink an eye. “Of course. Do you want the bedding as well?”
“Yes. Throw in an extra set of sheets.” Little kids wet the bed, right?
“Is there anything else I can get you?”
“No. I think that will be it.”
The woman took the card from Bethany and came back a few minutes later with a receipt for her to sign. Jamie intercepted it.
“It will be delivered next Wednesday between eleven and one. Will someone be home?”
Bethany nodded. “Unless you have plans, Jamie.”
“Just hanging out with you.”
Her butterflies fluttered. When they walked out of the store, Jamie grinned. “Admit it. That was fun.”
“Okay, yeah, that was fun.”
“Now we need clothes. He’s a size seven.”
They found a department store, and Bethany didn’t want to do this for him, so she stood back and watched. This was the first time he was shopping for his son. He went for the slacks and button up shirts that Bethany was certain six-year-olds only wore to church and weddings. He looked perplexed, so she rescued him.
“Maybe try the t-shirts and shorts.” She pointed to a rack a few feet away.
“Yeah, maybe,” he mumbled. He picked out a few outfits and bathing suits, and Bethany grabbed a couple of pajamas.
They spent the most time at the toy store buying pretty much the entire car, plane, and train section. Jamie picked out a nice Thomas the Train set with the table. He was pretty much ensuring the kid would never want to go home again. Bethany also chose a few movies that seemed appropriate for his age.
They loaded the stuff into the car, and Bethany collapsed into the front seat.
“Spending money is a lot of work. How much did we spend?”
“Oh, we’re not done yet. It’s only lunchtime.”
“What else do we need to buy?”
Jamie shrugged. “You wanna get some lunch?”
“Sure. Then I want a nap.”
“Then you shall have a nap. Unemployment is nice, huh?”
She laughed. “Yeah, I guess it is.”
“Do you mind if we do a photo shoot this afternoon?”
She grumbled. “I guess not. But I’m getting that nap first.” This whole idea was stupid. She wasn’t photogenic in the least. The pictures were gonna suck.
They enjoyed a nice lunch then grabbed a few groceries.
Once they got home, she was pulling a couple of bags out of the trunk when she heard a “yoohoo” behind her. For once in her life, she wasn’t terrified by that voice.
She spun around and put on her best sugary smile. “Mrs. Calhoun, what can I do for you today?”
Mrs. Calhoun looked at the bags in her hand. “What’s all that?”
“Clothes and stuff for Jamie’s son.”
Mrs. Calhoun waved her hands. “You might as well put them right back in the car.”
“Why’s that?” Bethany knew what she was about to say, but she wanted to hear the hag say the words.
“Because the HOA says he’s has to move out. I’m just giving you a heads up.”
“Why would he have to move out?” she asked in a sweet voice.
Mrs. Calhoun sighed like Bethany was slow. “Because, dear, we’ve been over this. Roommates are not allowed.”
“But Jamie’s not a roommate.”
Mrs. Calhoun drew herself up to her full height. “He most certainly is.”
Bethany set down the bag in her left hand and held it out for Mrs. Calhoun to see.
“Jamie is my husband.”
Mrs. Calhoun’s face went beet red. She sputtered for a second then spun on her heel and marched back to her own house.
Bethany stood a little taller as she walked up the stairs. Mrs. Calhoun would continue to fight her for the house, but for now, she’d won.