“Well…yeah. You don’t want kids, so I think it’s a safe assumption that means you don’t care to have them in your house. I can’t afford much in rent, because I can’t get a job and cover daycare. You said yourself you wish you could help me, but your hands are tied.”
A smile formed slowly on his lips, causing his eyes to squint and his shoulders to soften like a brick had been removed. “Jade…” He shook his head and tried again. “I have no problem with you moving in—providing your background comes back clean. You’re the one who said you can’t take the risk with your daughter unless you trust that I’m not a threat. That’s what I meant when I said my hands were tied. I can’t prove that to you.”
My head was spinning. As I thought back on the entire conversation since my confession about Aria, I only grew more confused. “But…you said you don’t want kids.”
“Unless you’re planning on making me the father of your child, I’m not sure how my lack of desire to procreate has anything to do with your daughter. Just because I don’t ever care to have one of my own doesn’t mean I don’t like to be around them.”
“It’s more than you bargained for. You realize this, right? You’re not getting one roommate; you’re essentially getting two. One of which can be very bossy at times—to be clear…I’m not talking about me. And that still doesn’t fix the rent situation.” I wasn’t sure why I chose to argue against my favor, but I couldn’t stop. I guess I wanted him to fully grasp what he was getting himself into, so he couldn’t come back later and point these things out as if they hadn’t been disclosed ahead of time.
“Her father has nothing to do with her? No visitation? I don’t have to worry about him coming to the house while I’m not there and starting shit?”
“No. He’s aware of her, but he’s never claimed her. Never had anything to do with her other than creating her. And I have no intention of telling him where I live, so I don’t foresee him stopping by.”
“Okay, so listen…” He grabbed the paper from me and began to scribble on the last sheet, keeping his hand over his words to prevent me from reading it. “Let me worry about the rent. And as far as—”
“Whoa.” I slapped my hand over the agreement he was writing on and waited until I had his full attention. “No. I can’t let you do that. I’m not looking for pity or charity.”
A smile curled his lips, slowly. It would’ve looked sinister had his eyes not twinkled and widened the tiniest bit. “You have got to be the strongest woman I know—or the most stubborn. I haven’t decided which one yet. Let me do this for you, Jade.”
“Why? Why do you want me to live with you so badly?”
“Would you believe it’s because you’re my only friend?”
“Not for a second.”
“What if I told you I was dying and this was my last wish?”
“Depends…how much longer you got? Six months…I could handle that. Six years…not so sure.” There was a pause before his head shook slightly with an almost silent puff of laughter passing his lips. “For real, Cash. Why?”
“The first answer was the honest one. It’s not that I don’t have friends, just none who are close. I’ve already told you why I was looking for a roommate to begin with, and why I wanted it to be a female. I need a friend to keep me from…”
I waited and waited, but he never finished that sentence. “Keep you from what?”
With a shrug, he said, “Loneliness. Boredom. Take your pick, because if I continue, I’m afraid I’ll just end up making myself look utterly pathetic.”
“What makes you think you haven’t already done that?” I winked to show him I was only joking. “If you are serious about the rent, then you would obviously want something in return. I want to know what that is before I agree.”
“Clearly it’s not sex. That’s already in the agreement. How about little things around the house? Fluff pillows. Change lightbulbs when they burn out. Take out the trash when it’s full and I’m not home.”
“You want me to be your maid?”
“No, that’s not—”
“For heaven’s sake, Cash. Just agree. Being your live-in maid would make me feel like far less of a leech than I do right now.”
“Oh…maid. I’m sorry, I must’ve misunderstood you. I thought you said…never mind. Yes, that’s exactly what I was suggesting. You move in to be the cleaning lady while I’m gone, and your payment will be living with me.”
I snickered, the grin almost permanent on my face. “You make it sound like living with you is this amazing honor.”
“It is. I’m pretty awesome.”
“What about Aria? Have you ever lived with a kid before? I don’t want to get into this and after a couple weeks you change your mind and kick me out because she’s too much.”
“I’m gone most of the week, as it is. The way I see it, she’ll just add to the entertainment at the house while I’m home. I’m pretty sure she’ll make things far less lonely.” Everything about him—his eyes, his voice, the subtle smile gracing his lips—screamed sincerity. Honesty.
“You sure?”
He pointed at me and crooked an eyebrow. “As long as the screening checks out.”
I didn’t have any doubt about that.
We swapped information and left with plans to talk further. I needed to figure out how to research him, but other than a Google search, I wasn’t sure of my options.
“You’re kidding, right?” Stevie lectured when I told her of my plans to move. She hadn’t taken it well, and from the deep-cherry hue of her cheeks, it was a safe bet to say fury was on the top of her emotion list.
Cash had called me after he got home from lunch. We talked like normal, like I hadn’t had an emotional breakdown at the table. Most of the conversation was filled with questions about Aria. For a man who had no interest in children, he certainly was fascinated with mine. It was as though he had to learn everything about her before we moved in—which still hadn’t been decided by that point.
A week later, to the day, he called to inform me that everything had checked out when he ran my information. That wasn’t a shock, considering I had nothing else to hide. Then we made plans for me to drive out there and see the place the following weekend. I asked Stevie to watch Aria for me because I wasn’t comfortable bringing her. I knew I wasn’t meeting Cash for a date, and there was no chance of anything romantic between us, but I just had personal qualms about introducing her to men. Cash was a man.
A very fine man.
I shook that thought from my head before I allowed it to go any further.
“It’s fine, I promise.” I tried to calm her down, but nothing worked.
“You don’t know this guy!”
“I’ve been talking to him for over a month now, and I’ve met him once.”
She grabbed my hands and pulled them to her chest. “You met him on the internet. What about this seems okay to you? Didn’t your mother ever teach you about stranger danger or the risk of online dating?”
“Stevie, calm down and listen to me. I’m fully aware of what I’m doing. I’ve looked him up, even had a cop run a check on him. He’s clean.”