Chapters (89)
- Dedication
- AUTHOR’S NOTE
- ONE
- HENRY
- TWO
- EMMA
- THREE
- HENRY
- FOUR
- EMMA
- FIVE
- EMMA
- SIX
- SEVEN
- HENRY
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- HENRY
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- EMMA
- THIRTEEN
- HENRY
- FOURTEEN
- HENRY
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- EMMA
- SEVENTEEN
- HENRY
- EIGHTEEN
- HENRY
- NINETEEN
- HENRY
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- EMMA
- TWENTY-TWO
- EMMA
- TWENTY-THREE
- HENRY
- TWENTY-FOUR
- EMMA
- TWENTY-FIVE
- EMMA
- TWENTY-SIX
- EMMA
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- HENRY
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- EMMA
- TWENTY-NINE
- HENRY
- THIRTY
- HENRY
- THIRTY-ONE
- HENRY
- THIRTY-TWO
- EMMA
- THIRTY-THREE
- HENRY
- THIRTY-FOUR
- EMMA
- THIRTY-FIVE
- EMMA
- THIRTY-SIX
- HENRY
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- EMMA
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- HENRY
- THIRTY-NINE
- HENRY
- FORTY
- EMMA
- FORTY-ONE
- HENRY
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- EMMA
- FORTY-FOUR
- EMMA
- FORTY-FIVE
- HENRY
- EPILOGUE
- ALSO BY CHELSEA CURTO
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
“You’re paying them a fuck ton of money.”
“It’s not that much.”
“You have no clue who they might be or what they look like. They don’t know who you are.”
“Correct.” I fidget, fingers tapping on my thigh.
“You don’t know their name or anything about them at all.”
“Mhm.”
“And, despite all of the aforementioned illogical facts, you’re still planning on meeting up with this definitely-not-real person and going through with this plan?”
“Yup, you got everything right, except for the part about not knowing anything about her. I know plenty about her.”
“This is a terrible idea!” Neil exclaims.
“I can’t think of anyone I can stand long enough to be around for multiple days,” I challenge, crossing my arms over my chest defiantly. “The only girl I’ve hooked up with more than once, Shelby, drives me up a wall when I spend too much time with her, so she’s out. I also don’t want to be attached to a woman after my money, which is exactly who my mom was unknowingly trying to set me up with. Whoever is on the other end of the phone makes me laugh, has a good head on their shoulders, and likes talking to me. What else can I ask for?”
“Or they’re a dude in their mom’s basement fucking with you?” Patrick supplies.
“I can vouch for him. It’s legit. My buddy used the services and said she’s great,” Noah chimes in.
Neil pinches the bridge of his nose. “It sounds so wild. It’s literally like one of those books Rebecca reads.”
“Jo reads those books too,” Jack adds. “It makes it more believable, I think. Why go to these great lengths just to mess with you?”
“It’s great the two of you are in happy and loving relationships,” I say, gesturing to Neil and Jack. “Not all of us are with someone who can easily accompany us to events where we’re going to be badgered with endless questions about the future. It’s embarrassing and humiliating enough having to pay someone to pretend they like me.
“My mom was thrilled when I told her. It’s only going to be a few days. We aren’t getting married. We aren’t falling in love. It’s a business transaction. I’m paying her for her goods and services.”