Chapter 0007

Lacey’s POV

When I saw the credit card in front of me, I wasn’t quite sure how to respond.

“What’s that for?” I asked slowly, picking up the card and tucking the paper underneath it.

“Shopping,” Nicholas replied, staring intensely into my eyes.

I averted my gaze. “Oh, that–I’m okay, thanks. Really. I should be contributing equally to household expenses.”

Nicholas’s eyes widened ever so slightly, as if surprised. Why? “Paying household expenses is my responsibility,” he argued.

“We share this home. Why wouldn’t we share expenses?” I refuted. “Besides, I’m the one who’s going to be bringing a third person into the apartment. If anything, I should be contributing even more. If I want to go shopping, I can pay for whatever I buy myself.”

He pursed his lips. “If you decorate the apartment, I’ll be benefiting too. So I should pay.”

“But I want new things, so I should pay!” I leaned forward, hands on the table. “I don’t need your help. Really.”

The words hung between us, crackling in the still air.

Finally, he conceded. “We’ll share the expenses.”

I grinned and tapped two fingers against the credit card. “Perfect.”

He rolled his eyes at me, but didn’t speak another word. Instead, Nicholas and I ate our breakfast in silence. He finished before me and brought his empty plate to the sink before I could offer to handle the dishes for him.

“Thanks for breakfast,” he said, reaching for the coat slung across the back of his chair.

“No problem,” I replied.

He left quickly. Off to work, if I had to guess–I was sure an executive at Empire Threads would be kept quite busy by his job, with a position like that. Once I’d finished my breakfast and done the dishes, I headed out of the apartment. I found our shared car in the parking garage, just where it’d been left before–how had Nicholas headed to work? Maybe he’d taken the bus, instead.

I thought little of it, using my set of car keys to unlock the car. I drove to Selena’s house, eagerly anticipating the chance to see both her and Tiff for the first time since the wedding. It was a surprisingly short drive to Selena’s from the apartment–which was something of a surprise, considering how much I figured the apartment cost to rent compared to how much Selena’s house was. Unlike Nicholas, Selena had done quite well for herself financially. That hadn’t always been the case–when she was younger, my mother had taken Selena in due to her financial struggles–but since finishing school and becoming an excellent doctor, she’d been thriving. So I didn’t know what she was doing in a similar sort of neighbourhood.

I knocked on the door to her house–a gorgeous brownstone–and smiled when she answered.

“Lacey!” Selena squealed, throwing her arms around me.

I laughed and pulled her into a tight hug. “How are things?” I asked.

“Come in, come in,” she urged, stepping aside. I made my way into the house. “Things have been good here! Tiffany’s still asleep–she’s been sleeping like crazy. Poor girl is exhausted. How are you? How’s… married life?”

I pondered the question for a moment, wondering if I should tell her about the marriage arrangement. “Well, it’s certainly unexpected. My husband is a good man, though. And he’s open to letting Tiff stay with us, which is good. I’m going to bring her over now, actually.”

“Well, anywhere is better for her than that house.” Selena shook her head in disgust. “Your stepfamily is crazy. They’re revolting people. I’m just glad the two of you got out.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “Me too.”

Selena and I walked to the kitchen. I sat down at the island and watched her bustle about the kitchen.

“Can I get you anything? Selena offered. “Water? Snack? Wine…?”

I chuckled. “Water would be great, thanks.”

She poured two glasses of water, then sat down next to me. “So who is your husband, anyways?”

I wrapped both hands around the glass. “His name’s Nicholas Devereaux.”

Selena’s mouth fell open. “Wait–Devereaux? Like the billionaires?”

“No.” I shook my head, laughing a little. “No, he’s not a billionaire. It’s a common enough last name here. Maybe he’s distantly related, but not that much.”

Selena grinned. “Shame. So you’re living with him, then?”

“I am, yeah! The apartment’s pretty nice. A bit empty, though. I’m gonna go shopping later on today. Try to make the place feel a bit more like home.”

“That’s good.” Selena nodded approvingly. “Any other plans?”

I shrugged. “Not really, no.”

“Then you should come to this really fancy banquet with me later on this week.”

I hesitated. “I’m not sure I should…”

“Lacey, please.” Selena looked at me, baby blue eyes wide. “They invited me as a private doctor and said I could bring some friends along, but it’s going to be so boring if you don’t come. So please come. You could bring Tiff, too, if you want!”

“I’m really not sure if it’s the best idea for me to be–”

“Come on! You’d love it. There’s going to be this whole big showcase of unreleased perfumes…”

I suppressed a grin. “Fine. For the perfumes.”

“Thank you so much! We’re going to have a great time–”

Selena cut herself off when we heard soft footsteps padding down the hallway. I turned and beamed when I saw Tiff walking towards us, still wearing her pyjamas.

“G’morning,” she murmured drowsily.

I sprung up out of my seat and rushed towards her, scooping her up and lifting her into the air. She giggled as I swung her around.

“Hey, Tiff!” I said as we spun around the room. “I missed you too!”

“Put me down put me down put me down–” Tiff squealed, laughing as I set her back down. She wobbled for a moment or two, grabbing onto my leg for balance.

“How are you?” I asked, kneeling so she was at eye height.

“Doing okay. Tired.” Tiff yawned, arms stretching out. “Are we going home?”

“We’re moving to… a new home,” I said carefully. I caught Selena’s eye. “I’ll explain it to you in the car, okay?”

She nodded. I grabbed her hand and started walking towards the door. “Thanks for watching her!” I called to Selena on the way out. “And text me the details about that banquet!”

When I got back to the car, I realized there was no booster seat for Tiff. I frowned and mentally added “booster seat” to the tally of items I’d need to purchase. I unlocked the doors and gestured for Tiff to get in.

“Where’s my seat?” She asked.

I sighed. “No seat for today.” It was a short drive, anyways. “But just for today.”

Tiff grinned, crawling into the backseat behind me and buckling her seat belt. I eased out of the parking lot and started down the road, sucking in a deep breath to brace myself for the upcoming conversation.

“So,” I began, “We’re going to be living with someone new for the next year or so.”

“Who?” She asked.

“Remember my wedding?” I turned left, keeping an eye on her in the rearview mirror. “The man I got married to–his name is Nicholas. We’re going to be living together.”

“Okay,” Tiff said.

I blinked. “Okay?”

“Well, is he nice?”

“I–I think so, yeah. He’ll be nice to us.”

“Fine.” Tiff gazed out the window. “I don’t like Trevor and Caroline and Ms. Julia. I don’t want to live with them. Tiff loves new house!”

“Right. Yeah. Anything’s an improvement, huh?” I grinned, pulling into the apartment complex’s parking garage. “Plus, the new place is pretty fancy.”

I got out of the car, then opened the door for her. I led her into the foyer and let her push the elevator buttons. She ran down the hallway, laughter bouncing off the walls.

“Alright, alright, stop!” I shouted just before she reached our apartment. “It’s that one.”

Tiff stopped running, looking up at the door in front of her. I joined her, rifling through my purse for the keys.

“So, he won’t push me down the stairs, right?” Tiff asked. Her sudden question shocked me, and my heart ruffled again.

I smiled, ruffling her curly hair. “Of course he’s not going to push you down the stairs,” I assured her. “He’s a very nice man.”

Tiff threw me the question No.2 with wide eyes, “So is it true that Lacey won't be able to sleep with me, but will have to sleep with him instead?”

I was embarrassed and caught off guard by her question. My mind raced on how I was going to explain to a five year old that we were not a normal couple but a contractual marriage.

Just then, the door opened.

Nicholas looked at me at my wits' end.