four: a contract marriage

"You're fucking nuts."

"Most probably," Jeb exhaled.

I winced. Suddenly my foot began to hurt again and maybe it was the dryness in my body but everything was sore.

"You want some water or ice? You keep licking your lips."

I nodded and Jeb moved off for a while. When he returned, he had a small cup of ice water. I sipped carefully.

"What's going to happen when he realizes you ran away? This Finn guy?"

"Uh, he gets a sudden pox and become grossly disfigured?"

The corner of Jeb's mouth twisted.

"Seriously? I've had the worst day of my life and it's all because of HIM."

"Really?"

"Of COURSE!! He cheated on me! He set me up!!"

"What was your back-up plan?"

"What's with you and back-up plans? You know? Who plans in case their wedding falls apart? I mean, really?! I was gonna marry Finn and live happily ever after. There. THAT was my entire life plan until about 9:45AM."

Jeb lifted on freaking eyebrow. "How old are you?"

"22, why?"

"And how old is Finn?"

"23."

"And how long have you known him?"

"Why does that matter?"

Jeb stared at me and said nothing.

"4 months," I admitted. "All right, yes. It was pretty quick."

"I take longer to buy a new brand of jeans."

"That sounds like a problem."

"I'm just saying," he shrugged. "What's going on with your mom?"

"Huh?"

"You haven't mentioned her."

"Well, you haven't mentioned yours either."

We stared at each other like it was a contest.

He broke, first. "Fair."

I nodded, graciously. Because I'm Southern and, frankly, raised to be gracious. So there.

"So?" He asked.

"So...?"

"Have you decided yet?"

I stared at him. I could hear the blood rushing in my ears like waves.

Jeb held out the ice water to me. "You're turning red."

I took a sip.

"OK, talk to me about your options."

"You really..."

"Or not."

I sighed and handed back the cup. "I have a little money saved from working..."

"Where?"

"Stacey's Craft Store? Off Ballard?"

"OK. You quit?"

"Yeah, last January. On top of my internship, I had to take another class to graduate so it was too much. But I had a meal card on campus and I never drive my car, so I could save. Except..."

"Except?"

"That coffee shop," I winced.

"What's so...oh, you're shitting me. He made you pay?"

"Sometimes, he gave me a free refill." I couldn't believe I was spilling my life to a stranger. A guy who I'd just met. A cute, tall guy with a dimple and a great a...

"Well, uh..." Jeb whistled slowly. "That's...different. Uh. So you have a couple of days at the Swanson house. Then what would you do?"

"Look for a job. Maybe back at the craft store to start. Teaching jobs have a long interview process because of background checks." I felt better just saying it.

"You like the city? Living here?"

I nodded, slowly. "I do, actually. The art and music scene are pretty good. It reminds me a little of Austin, except Southern."

"Yeah, actually, I would agree with that."

"You know Austin?"

"Lived there my last year of high school. You?"

"Small world. I stayed there with my dad for a few weeks one summer. So how did you end up here?"

"I started here. I was born just 5 minutes down the road. My sister and brother-in-law raised me and we moved for his job. In 7 years, we stayed in Chicago, Austin, San Francisco, Hong Kong and Dubai. I came back home after high school."

"He's an architect?"

"Mmm hmm."

"And you're in construction?"

"I'm the regional manager of BestTek. They specialize in modular-based builds."

"I don't even know what that means."

"Construction that includes large pieces that are fabricated elsewhere and then delivered and installed."

"Ah. A regional manager and you're not much older than me?"

"Some of us have plans and follow them."

"Some of us are freaks. What's this house in New York like?"

"It's a complicated build. We're dynamiting a huge piece of rock to make room for it. Then the whole thing is being built stick by stick on site. All of it custom, sustainable... Dream home of an architect? It's a nightmare," his lips twitched with an almost-laugh like he had a private joke.

"Gotcha. How does Levi fit into all this traveling and stuff?"

"Good question," Jeb gave me an approving nod. "I'm training in construction project management. That will give me more stability. Of course, I'm going to need good childcare, too. So? Decided yet?"

"Uh, so is that house? Where you found me?"

"No," Jeb actually chuckled. His deep voice got deeper when he was amused. "I have a remodeled cabin at the back of that property. The entrance is on a whole different street."

"And that's..."

"That's where you would live, yes. There's 4 bedrooms."

"Ah. But what about, like, social workers or things?"

"I think checking our sleep arrangements would be super invasive. I'm adopting a relative who is an orphan. They're looking at square footage and food in the kitchen and safety."

"Would I be..."

"No. My lawyer would drop you from the court petition before it went to court. That's why we would need to file for divorce almost immediately. This should be tied up in about 100 days."

"So like...I mean...marriage is sacred to me. However anyone else..."

"Me too," Jeb met my eyes. I felt a flutter in my stomach. "Incredibly so. But this is moving much quicker than I expected. People before property, right? I am prepared to delay the construction and soak up those costs to ensure that Levi comes home next week. The social worker didn't pull him from his grandmother's home only because she has a niece who was willing to come and stay for a few days."

"So this is now," I breathed.

"Now," Jeb nodded. "I got that call last night."

"When do you leave?"

"For New York? A week from tomorrow."

"So soon?"

"Yeah. That's why Jay and I were even contemplating this crazy idea. Everything is happening all at once. Plus his wife is due this Thursday. So, tell me. These background checks and everything - was that part of becoming a teacher or do you still have to do that?"

"Done. I'm a licensed art teacher."

"And you're good with kids? You like them?"

"See above."

He lifted an eyebrow.

"Yes," I sighed. "I like kids and I'm good with them. What about you?"

"I'm gonna take a crash course. I'm a decent uncle but I haven't really tried too hard up until now. So what do you think? Yes or no?"

"I have more..."

"3 months on the outside. Less than 100 days. Be there for Levi at night, live in my house, get your feet under you. I'm not asking for sex or love or any bullshit. Just decency and some help during a hard time. I can't offer you much in terms of money..."

"Oh, no..."

"But I will do right by you if you do right by us.  I need a bridge from here to there. Could you do that? Would you? Would you marry me?"

"No one else would know?"

"That's up to you. I don't care about anything but getting to adoption day and keeping that house on schedule. I don't lie as a rule. But I respect your feelings on the subject."

"Jeb..."

"Yes? Or no?" he pressed.

His big eyes were still locked with mine and I almost felt the world spin around us like I was being thrown around on a teacup ride. I took a deep breath. Imagined going back to my dorm to sleep in the same room as Naomi. Imagined calling mom. I looked down at my foot and tried to imagine looking for a job with that massive swelling.

Seriously? I was stuck.

I looked back at his face and sighed. "Yes."