Page 126 of The Renter

“I thought you wanted to slow it down,” I counter, the memory of his promises clashing with our reality.

“Once I have kids, yes.”

“So if I got pregnant right now, would you retire?” I challenge, seeking some semblance of priority in his life.

“I’ll always have some project going on, but my life would look a lot more like it did at the lake.”

“So a kid is more important to you than me?”

“Dani, please. Don’t pick a fight.”

“I’m not picking a fight. I’m asking very real questions about our relationship.”

“Do you want me to clear my calendar? I can do it, but know it will ruin about thirty people’s day.”

“I’m not a priority. Got it.”

“Yes, you are.”

“You left me alone at dinner last night!” Emotions escalate between us, and I blurt out, “Declan paid.” The words hang heavy with implications.

“Did you ask him to join you?” he asks through gritted teeth.

“No. He was at Cut with some guys. I didn’t notice him until the server said he paid.”

“Are you trying to make me jealous?”

I shrug.

“It’s fucking working, Dani!” he yells, getting out of bed. The tone scares me. I’ve never heard it before. “I’m Adam Harris!” he screams, and I feel like I’m staring at a stranger. “It’s pathetic that my half-my-age girlfriend doesn’t feel lucky to be with me.”

He pulls up his dress pants and throws on his shirt before walking out of my bedroom.

“Lucky?” I scoff, getting out of bed to follow him. “I’m so lucky that Adam Harris doesn’t prioritize me, leaves me in a restaurant, and thinks a bottle of perfume makes up for days of not seeing me and not meeting up with my best friend!” I yell after him.

“What should I have gotten you then?” Adam asks, leaning against the wall in my entryway.You, your time, obviously.Iroll my eyes. “Name what I should have gotten you. I’ll buy it,” he says, crossing his arms. “You can have anything you want because of my work, because of these deals I put together.”

“You don’t have to work.” I cross my arms too. “You’ve made enough money.”

“No.Youdon’t have to work.”

“Oh, now you have a problem with my career too!” I scream, his ex’s warning replaying in my mind. After he takes away your career and your freedom …

“I have limited free time. You need to have more flexibility. You don’t have to be working this hard, Dani.”

“I’m never going to be a housewife.”

“I’m not asking you to be. I’m saying you’re working as many hours as I am?—”

“No, I’m not!” I cut him off.

“When you’re not with me, what are you doing? I don’t hear about you hanging out with friends. I hear about you working.”

Even Adam realizes I haven’t been keeping up with my friends. “Don’t even try to work-shame me right now.”

“This is why you should have moved in.” Adam sighs in frustration. “We could see each other every day, go to bed together, wake up together—share some moments each day, at least.”

“What a life,” I sass. Adam’s vision of togetherness is overly simplified. “I know that’s what you want, but I am not ready for that!” I yell, my voice cracking as tears begin to well. “Stop trying to force me into your timeline! I am a person, not a thing. You can’t buy me. You’ll never be able to buy me!”