Page 18 of The Girlfriend Agreement (Conwick U #1)

Blinking, I fix my gaze back on the laptop, taking note of the bottom-most listing visible on the screen.

The payment amount is posted just under the title, and the number of zeros following the dollar sign immediately catches my eye, forming a string of red and yellow blocks in my mind.

But this time, instead of a tower that threatens to crush me, the numbers seem to form a bridge to my possible salvation.

“Hey, what about this one?”

I reach around Andie and press my finger to the trackpad, clicking on the link in question.

When the screen changes, she begins to read aloud, “‘Wanted: Fake Girlfriend.’ Okay, that is just sad. The poor guy must really be desperate. I mean, who goes to Craigslist looking for a girlfriend? And not even a real one at that?”

“Knowing nothing about him, it’s hard to say, but I’m sure he has his reasons,” I murmur.

“Or maybe he’s a murderer ,” Ronnie states, drawing out the word for emphasis.

A huff breaks through my lips—half laughter, half exasperation. “A definite possibility. But look what he’s willing to pay.”

Ten thousand a month might not be as much as I need, but it’s close, and far more than I would get elsewhere, making it worth the risk of getting unalived in my book.

And if I can get a part-time job on the side, then maybe, between the two, I’ll have the cash to keep Mom going to the end of her treatment.

Or long enough to figure something else out.

Ronnie gives the ad another skeptical glance over Andie’s shoulder. “Yeah, that’s how I know it isn’t legit, babe. Even I would suck a stranger’s dick for that kind of cash and I have an AmEx Black Card.”

Well, that’s saying something. Ronnie might be a relentless flirt, but she has high standards, and would never fool around with someone unless they’d managed to earn her respect…

especially after Jay. She would certainly never be caught dead having a one-night stand with a person she didn’t know or like, no matter how hot they are. Unlike my train-wreck self.

Damian’s face floats into my thoughts again, but I swat it away. Buzz off, asshole.

“What about the time frame?” Andie asks, pointing to the part of the listing where the poster very specifically mentions needing a willing female to pretend to be his girlfriend for a nine-month period.

It’s pretty weird, but ten grand over nine months?

That’s potentially life-saving money. Besides, how hard can it be?

As long as he doesn’t expect anything more than the odd fake date and nothing creepy, I’m game.

“And the age?” she continues. “He says early to mid-twenties in the ad, not nineteen.”

I shake my head at that. It’s a petty distinction; I’ll be twenty in the spring, so it’s close enough. Besides, I highly doubt the guy is going to ID whoever answers the listing.

“Pretty sure he just wants someone legal,” I counter. “And technically, I will enter my early twenties before the nine months are over.”

Andie pushes out her lips. “Good point.” Her eyes then flash to her cousin. “It’s probably fine. I mean, why would he put all that if he was just looking to murder whoever answers the ad?”

Ronnie gapes at her cousin in disbelief. “You just answered your own question, dummy. To get people to answer the ad, obviously .”

“Or to perv on them,” Andie muses, as if the idea just occurred to her. “Or maybe it’s just a joke.”

I worry my bottom lip between my teeth, deliberating. Sure, the ad seems too good to be true, but it could also be a lifeline—a sole buoy in the middle of a raging ocean that might be the only thing to save me from drowning.

Andie might be right—the job could very well be a joke—but if it isn’t? If it is legit, and that kind of money is actually in arm’s reach? Well, then I would be an idiot not to grab it while I have the chance.

I jolt when Andie’s hand brushes my arm, and I meet her gaze, mystified by the look of concern I find spreading across her face.

“Lex, all jokes aside, you can’t seriously be considering this.

I know I’m the one who suggested Craigslist, but really, I was just trying to take your mind off the shit with your mom. ”

“It’s ten grand a month,” I say slowly, keeping my voice steady so I won’t break into tears.

“That’s almost enough to help Mom complete her treatment, or at least get us most of the way to the finish line.

Besides, nothing else on here comes close to offering that kind of money.

” I throw a weighted glance at Ronnie. “Maybe it’s fate. ”

“Oh, boy.” Ronnie plops down on her cousin’s lap, and props an elbow on my desk, looking up at me hard as if trying to read my thoughts. “How dare you use the undeniable power of the universe against me.” She pauses for a moment, studying my face. “We’re not going to talk you out of this, are we?”

When have either of you ever talked me out of anything?

I almost ask. For a scholarship student at one of the best colleges in the country, I’m a bit of a chaotic mess.

Instead, I say, “It’s at least worth investigating to see if the job is legit.

Plus, if it is, I won’t have to drop out of school. ”

It’s a win-win for everyone then. Mom gets her treatment, and I get my elite education that we both busted our asses so hard for. That outcome is worth sacrificing some of my time and dignity. Well, a lot of my dignity. But who knows? Maybe I’ll get lucky and the guy will be cute.

Yeah, right, a voice says in the back of my head. Because cute, available, sane guys totally need to post wanted ads for girlfriends online.

I shudder. Ronnie’s right. Maybe not about the murderer part, but the guy’s probably a total creep. Regardless, this might be the only option I have. I can handle a creep for ten grand a month.

“Just promise us, if you won’t take my dads’ money, that you’ll at least look into the charity route first,” Ronnie begs.

I offer her an endearing smile and nod. “Of course.” I already planned on doing just that, but having this in my back pocket won’t hurt. A girl always needs a back-up plan.

All I can hope now is that I won’t need it.