Page 2 of The Husband Contract

“Yeah.” I have nothing to say to that. She’s starting to get on my nerves. I look back down at my phone and see that there’s a text message from my best friend Katherine in our group chat, and I quickly unlock my phone. “Sorry, I have to respond to these.” I smile at the old lady and then look back at my phone. Katherine and Brielle, my two best friends in the world, have both sent me good luck texts, and I smile at their messages.

Katherine: Where are you, Willow? Made it to the club yet?

Brielle: She won’t be there until 5 p.m, remember?

Katherine: Oh, yeah... Well, have a safe journey. Best of luck on your first day.

Brielle: Yes, make that money!

Katherine: I deposited the money into our joint account today for our business. This time next year, we might finally be able to buy our own building to start our own bed and breakfast.

Brielle: Yay, how much do we have?

Katherine: $75, hahaha. The $25 we all put in.

Brielle: I was hoping someone won the lottery and was going to surprise me.

Katherine: HAHAHAHA!

Willow: If someone says they’ve won the lotto, I will get off this train now and leave my gossipy new friend to ride the train alone.

Katherine: Ooh, do tell. Is your new friend hot?

Willow: My new friend is your grandma’s age.

Brielle: Is he rich?

Willow: He is a she, and she doesn’t seemimpressed by my outfit. She says I won’t attract any of the men at my new job with my dowdy clothes. Ha ha.

Katherine: Did you tell her you're a coat collector and not likely to be hobnobbing with the members?

Willow: I didn’t want to burst her bubble.

Brielle: Pity, I wouldn’t mind. Karens get on my nerves.

Katherine: Same. Though I do feel bad for the nice Karens in the world. I wonder if any parents would name their babies Karen now?

Willow: Huh?

Katherine: I mean, would you name your new baby Karen, knowing what everyone thinks of the name?

Brielle: I never thought about that. But no way. But I also would never name my kid or dog Spottyetta.

Willow: What? Oh, you’re talking about Mrs. Kubica’s dog? Ha ha.

I burst out laughing at Brielle’s text. Spottyetta was a naughty terrier dog that accompanied one of our guests every time she stayed at the hotel.

“Something funny, dear?” The worst matchmaker in the world gazes at me, and I wonder what she would think about the name Spottyetta. She’d probably say it wasn’t a name that would attract a billionaire.

“No... just getting myself ready for my new job.” I smile politely at her. “You never know who I may end up meeting. Tonight could be the first night of the rest of my life.”

She looks me up and down and then pats my knee gently. “If you say so, dear. If you say so.”

“Well, if you don’t mind, I have a quick call to make.” I hold up my phone and smile as I search my Clark Kent’s number and call him. He answers on the second ring.

“Willow. I’ve been sitting by the phone for eight minutes and thirty-two seconds waiting for your call.”

“Sorry, I’m on the train. How are you?” We’re still in the polite stage of conversation, seeing as we’ve never met yet. We’ve been chatting for about two months now. We spent two weeks messaging on the dating app, then we switched to emails and texts. And now, we’ve been having conversations on the phone for two weeks. Our first date is coming up in a few days, and I am excited to meet him. Clark Kent is the name he goes by, but I’m almost positive that when we meet in person, he’ll give me his real name. I am really hoping he is as attractive in person as he is in his photos, though I feel like his photos are heavily filtered.