Page 43 of The Monster and the Masochist

Ryan chuckled. “Let’s maybe stick with water. The wine definitely isn’t helping.”

Ugh. Damn Boy Scout.

“Fine.”

“You’re not getting out of this, Cass,” Cal said as Ryan got up to find me pain meds. “Why are you looking up male escorts for work?”

Finally, I looked at him, thoroughly annoyed with how amused he was.

“I fucked up.”

“You fucked up?! Omg, I’ve been waiting for this day my whole life! For once, I’m not the problem child! Bwahahaha!”

Cal threw himself on the couch next to me so hard I bounced in my seat.

“Tell me everything. And don’t leave anything out. I’ll get it out of you one way or another. Let’s not waste time.”

I groaned but nodded.

He was right. He was annoyingly good at getting people to spill the tea. And if I were being serious, I truly didn’t know how to get out of this mess I’d made for myself and could use some help.

“I told my boss I was engaged today by… accident,” I finally admitted. “And now I need a husband by next week, or he’s going to know I lied.”

Cal’s eyes grew so large I was genuinely worried they might pop right out of his head.

“Ginger Snap!” he yelled.

“Yeah?” Ryan called back from the bathroom down the hall.

“See if she has any popcorn! This is gonna be good!”

After explaining the whole humiliating situation to Cal and Ryan, they both fell into an odd silence.

“What?” I asked, sipping the water Ryan had gotten for me, as I watched them exchange knowing looks with each other.

“What?!” I repeated, and finally, Cal turned to look at me, a wicked, mischievous grin spreading across his face.

“Well, I think I know someone who would jump at the opportunity to help you out with your little marriage problem.” He smirked. I glanced at Ryan, who was looking equally amused.

“Who? Spit it out, Callum. I don’t have all day. I’m supposed to be getting married next week, if you weren’t paying attention.”

“Well, I think you’re going about this all wrong. What if instead of a husband, you get yourself a wife? A sexy, muscly, bad ass wife that’s already obsessed with you and would do anything for you?”

I blamed how long it took for me to put together what he was implying on my barely controlled migraine.

“What do you–oh hell no! Are you crazy? I’m not asking Theo to fake marry me!”

Cal’s eyes lit on fire, and he literally bounced in his seat like the idea of me marrying his fiancé’s sister was just too good for him to contain his excitement.

“Come on! Why not! You know if you asked her, she would say yes. She would do literally anything for you.”

My gut twisted at that.

Would she really do anything for me?

If I looked back at all the times I’d needed something from her, it was clear Cal was right. When I’d stayed in her guest house for a few weeks, she’d even started learning how to make vegan food as soon as she’d learned I don’t eat animal products.

I knew if I asked her for this favor, she would say yes. She wouldn’t think twice about it… But Jerry’s words from that morning rang through my head.