The Boyfriend Contract

by Victoria James

  His parents and little sister would take the day shift. His mother would make sure he ate enough to at least stay alive, as she’d say. She’d tidy his house, they would make him coffee, they would putter around, and he was pretty sure they were making sure he didn’t kill himself.

  That was five years ago. Sometimes he felt like it was just yesterday, and at other times it felt like a lifetime ago, almost like a dream. He’d been a different man, a child maybe, up to that point. He hadn’t known the meaning of real pain. Or that the death of the person you adored more than anyone in the world could rob you of everything, could hollow out your insides until there was nothing left of you. He hadn’t known a damn thing about life until he’d been faced with death. He didn’t like thinking about those days, but he would never forget what his family had done for him.

  “Yeah, I’ll be there,” Austin said, bringing Cooper’s thoughts back to the present. Baseball. Right. His one outlet. He and his siblings had been obsessed with playing ball since they were kids. At one time, he’d even thought he had a shot at the major leagues, but a recurring elbow injury had him turn down a baseball scholarship to the U.S. But then he and Catherine had gotten serious and later married, and he rarely thought about it.

  He was happy to work alongside his father and brothers every day. He’d been happy. He’d known what it meant to be happy. And now he knew what it meant to lose it all. The stupidest thing he could do in life would be to fall for another woman.

  He had no need for anything more than this state of mediocrity.

  Chapter Four

  Emily stared at her laptop screen and took a sip of hot coffee. She was sitting in The Sleepless Goat on Saturday morning after deciding she really needed to get out of her house for a bit. Cooper had texted a little while ago, asking if he could access the house for an hour or so this morning, and she’d agreed. She’d left the key for him under the back doormat. She was relieved not to see him after her show of…vulnerability yesterday.

  After almost having a breakdown in front of Cooper and Austin, she had decided she needed to get herself together. All Cheetos, their crumbs, and anything remotely resembling a crumb had been removed from the house. The hot shower, followed by peach-flavored Perrier and a pizza binge (and prompt removal of the cardboard box into the coach house recycling bin because she wasn’t taking any chances) and Netflix had helped tremendously. The Perrier had taken some getting used to, but she was making strides in appreciating her new replacement for Diet Coke.

  She was currently placing online orders for linens and decor she knew she wouldn’t be able to source in Maple Hill. Time wasn’t a luxury she had, so a trip into the city for a day of shopping wasn’t going to happen. She still had all her old contacts and names of suppliers and by the end of this session, she’d have almost everything essential purchased. The shopping would also help her keep her mind off her brother’s phone call and all the memories it triggered.

  It had reminded her of all the reasons why she shouldn’t let people close to her without protecting herself first. Sometimes you became friends with someone and they seemed normal at the beginning, and then you realized they were actually toxic. She didn’t need to invite people like that into her life, when her own sibling was one of them. No, this was her new life, and she was carefully choosing whom she allowed into it.

  The coffee shop had been bustling all morning, and Callie had told her that as soon as it died down, she’d sit with her for a bit. Emily had been pleasantly surprised by the gesture. She was almost giddy with the prospect of having a new friend.

  She had found a table right in front of one of the large floor-to-ceiling windows. The trim was painted black, a stunning complement to all the exposed red brick inside the shop. And outside, the view of Main Street beat the view of the city any day, with endless pots of mums and vibrant storefronts with their Victorian charm… She hadn’t been this relaxed or at peace in a long time. Most of the tables were full, but the line had died down, and there was another woman working behind the counter now as Callie approached the table with her own cup of coffee.

  “Ready for a break?” Callie asked.

  Emily nodded, shutting her laptop and moving it aside as Callie sat across from her. “Absolutely. I’m not getting anything done anymore, anyway, between people-watching outside and inside. I think I’ll call it a day in a little while.”

  Callie laughed. “I know. This is the best seat, but you have to be disciplined to focus. I like to sit here when it’s not busy, but I end up daydreaming.”

  Emily smiled. “It’s easy to do. This is such a pretty town.”

  “It is. I love it here. So how’s the reno going? I hope my brothers aren’t driving you insane.”

  Emily wrapped her hands around her coffee mug and lifted it to her lips. Callie’s brothers. They were all amazing. Maybe one in particular was extra amazing, but she wasn’t about to say a thing about that to his sister. “They have all been so great. I already have my room done. They are friendly and moving so fast. I’m so lucky to have them.”

  Callie beamed. “They do know what they’re doing, I’ll give them that. Have you met many people in town so far?”

  She shook her head. “I haven’t had any time to. Between all the house stuff and my business-planning for the inn, you’re the only person besides your brothers or the tradesmen I’ve spoken to.”

  “For what it’s worth, I think it’s a great idea to turn that old house into an inn. I mean it’s a huge place, way too big for the average family.”

  Emily nodded. “Thanks. I don’t even know what I’d do with that place by myself, and I certainly don’t think anyone would buy it if I put it up for sale.”

  “Yeah. Houses like that don’t exactly sell fast around here. So…it was your grandmother’s?” Callie asked, then took a sip of coffee.

  “Yes. We… There was kind of a rift between my dad and my grandmother, and they never made up. She left the house to him, though, when she died. He hired a property maintenance company to keep an eye on it and prevent it from getting too run down. My parents died a year ago. It was a car accident, very sudden.” She paused because that still sounded strange to her ears. Her father had survived the car accident and had been conscious and recovering in the hospital for a week when he’d died of a massive heart attack. She had mourned their loss this year, but it had left her unsettled; she’d never had closure.

  Even though her father had betrayed her in the end, even though he wasn’t the man she thought he was, she missed him. She wanted to see his weathered smile, to see the smile from her youth. She wished she could go back in time and recapture those years with him. She was here now as an adult, lost and alone. More than anything, she wanted to ask him why. Was the only reason he left everything to her brother simply because she was a girl?

  “I’m sorry,” Callie said gently, her voice drawing Emily back. She stared into her new friend’s blue eyes, noticing they were the same as Cooper’s, and forced a smile. No one liked a downer, especially in a new friend.

  “Thank you. I’m doing better. Being in a new place helps. We had…have a family business, and my father left that to my brother. I inherited the house.” Even just saying that made her want to choke. It wasn’t about money; it was about what it meant. She was supposed to be domestic, and her brother was supposed to be the CEO.

  She hoped her voice sounded neutral and not biting when she mentioned her brother. She didn’t need to get into her stupid family history, because there was no way she could discuss what had happened and still appear like a normal person. Not exactly the way to gain a new friend. Callie was easy to talk to, and Emily really needed someone. People like Callie were all part of the new life she wanted so desperately. She was normal and down-to-earth and sweet—all the things Emily had wanted in a friend.

  “Well, it’s a pretty awesome house to inherit,” Callie said.

  Emily stared into her cup. She had to be careful about what she said. She didn�
�t want to come across as a rich snob, but the truth was that getting the house was like a slap in the face. She sat a little straighter. It didn’t matter. One day she’d get over her father’s betrayal. She had mourned the relationship she’d thought she had with him. It had all been a lie. She would never be the daughter he wanted, because she wasn’t a son. So he chose his son, whom he’d never had a good relationship with, who had never had the love for their family business, who had never had the passion for it…

  “Sorry, I don’t mean to pry and ask all these nosy questions,” Callie said, pushing her chair back.

  “No! It’s me. I’m so tired, and I’m acting spacey. You didn’t ask nosy questions at all. Really, I’m happy you came over here and sat with me,” she said, taking a gamble and being honest.

  Callie lifted her mug and leaned forward. “Good. This is a small town and you’re going to need some allies.”

  “Uh-oh. That doesn’t sound too good.”

  Callie crossed her legs and waved her hand. “Mostly harmless people, but very opinionated. I’m sure my brothers have warned you that there might be a lot of pushback on you converting the house to an inn?”

  Emily nodded. “I’ve been warned. I’m waiting to hear back about zoning.”

  “People around here hate change. They are so resistant to it, even if it’s for good. They are just stuck on the way things used to be and hate progress and would love to put this town in a little bubble. So, I’m going to ask another nosy question, I’m afraid,” she said with a laugh.

  Emily smiled. “Go for it.”

  “Do you have any experience with this kind of thing?”

  Emily nodded and finished the rest of her coffee. “My family has a small chain of boutique inns across the country, and I’ve grown up in this industry.”

  Callie’s mouth dropped open. “Oh my gosh, that’s amazing. What a cool business. So…you’re not planning on going back to help them run it?”

  Emily shook her head. “It’s…a long story, but no, I decided it was time to venture out on my own. Permanently.”

  Callie gave her a smile that she could tell was filled with empathy. She obviously knew there was more to the story. Who left a successful family business to start an inn in a tiny town? “Well, good for you. I admire that.”

  “Thanks. This place is amazing, too. You didn’t follow in the family business, either, I take it?”

  Callie laughed. “I’d rather poke my eyes out with a plastic fork than work with my brothers every day.”

  Emily laughed with her. “Well, they seem great.”

  Callie nodded. “I’m joking, of course. My family is awesome. All of them. They are the typical overprotective older brothers, but they mean well. I just had no interest in construction at all. In high school, this used to be more of a diner-type place, and I worked here part-time. I always knew that under that fifties decor it could be something really great. There were some incentives from the county for new businesses starting up. The owner was retiring, and I swooped in. Obviously my costs were low because of the nature of the family business—they made this into my dream coffee shop.”

  “Wow. And now it’s this amazing space. It’s always busy, and you have this vintage, eclectic vibe.”

  “Thanks. I do love it. So…I’d better get back to work, but I was wondering if you had plans for tonight? My brothers and I are part of a community baseball league, and after practice tonight we’re heading out to the Maple Tavern for wings and drinks. Do you want to meet us?”

  Her first response was total elation, but then awkwardness set in. “I’m not sure I should intrude. I mean, if your brothers are there and it’s a family thing…”

  Callie scowled. “Them? They love you. They wouldn’t mind if you joined us. Meet us there at eight. Let’s exchange numbers.” After doing so, Callie went back to work and Emily opened her laptop again. She stared at the dark screen, realizing for the first time in months that she didn’t feel completely alone.

  …

  Emily walked into the Maple Tavern later that night and tried to ignore her surprise. She’d been expecting something a little more…charming, like the rest of the town. Not that it was bad. It just didn’t live up the allure of the building on the outside.

  Inside, it was gloomier than she’d anticipated. It was…rougher. Or maybe it was just that the crowd seemed rougher. There were large bikers hanging out by the bar. Most of the tables were filled with loud and boisterous people, and she hoped her friend was already here because she was pretty sure she stood out like a sore thumb.

  She let out a sigh of relief as she spotted Callie waving frantically from the upstairs balcony. She waved back and walked toward the staircase.

  When Emily reached the top, Callie said, “Don’t judge this place by the way it looks. They have the best wings in the entire county.”

  “No judgement,” she said, even though she’d probably just judged the place. Callie led her to a long table filled with men and women.

  “So this is our baseball team and some friends. Everyone, this is Emily, she’s new in town.” Callie ushered Emily to the other end of the table, where all the Merricks were hanging out, as people shouted greetings to her. Callie’s brothers all greeted Emily by name.

  Callie pointed to the empty chair beside Cooper, which was so not the spot where she wanted to be seated. The man was far too good-looking to not be smiling like the rest of his brothers. He was wearing a worn-in Toronto Blue Jays baseball cap and a navy T-shirt that clung to his very fit body. She’d seen him hauling materials around her house and knew far too much about what those muscles could do. So far, he’d been pretty difficult to figure out. Most of the time, his blue eyes were guarded, with a hands-off message she received loud and clear. But then, he’d act completely opposite to that vibe—like when he came back to politely tell her to stop leaving Cheetos dust around the house. Very kind. Also, very humiliating.

  “Hi,” she said, because it seemed weird to sit right beside him and not say anything.

  “Hey.”

  She really needed to get a life and stop acting so awkward around Cooper. It’s wasn’t as if something could or would ever happen between them. He was not her typical guy—not that she had a typical kind of guy, or any kind of guy, for that matter. But he wasn’t it. Maybe one of his nice brothers. They were an exceptionally attractive family. But there was something about Cooper that made her very aware of all her nerve endings.

  “Perfect timing, because we haven’t ordered our food yet,” Callie said as a server approached their table.

  Emily listened to everyone’s orders and then placed hers last, taking cues from what they chose and what sounded good.

  “You have to try the blueberry beer,” Callie said, leaning toward Emily. “It’s from a new local brewer, and it’s amazing.”

  “Great! Sounds good. I’ll have the same wings and fries order as Callie,” Emily said, smiling at the waitress and handing over her menu. She’d never ordered wings and beer before. She wasn’t going to let the old Emily ruin this moment for her…even though she still heard that voice, the one that told her how gross it was to eat greasy wings and fries, especially in front of guys. She blinked a few times, trying to push those thoughts aside, trying to get back into the conversation.

  “Cooper, you should try this beer, too,” Callie said.

  Cooper tilted his chair back, and Emily had the absurd instinct to reach out and steady it in case he fell over. But, he seemed perfectly confident, leaning back as he spoke. “Why would I want blueberries in my beer? If I want blueberries, I’ll eat blueberries. If I want a beer, I’ll drink a beer.”

  Emily turned to watch Cooper’s expression because the humor in his deep voice and the affection he showed toward his sister made him even more fascinating to watch.

  “You need to step out of your comfort zone,” Callie replied with a pointed stare.

  He pulled his chair upright. “Why would I want to do that? Comfort
is the ideal zone to be in.”

  “So, how you holding up in that old house, Emily?” Brody asked with a smile.

  She snapped her head to look at Cooper’s brother, even though she wanted to keep listening to the conversation between Cooper and Callie. She liked Brody. He worked at the site, as well, but divided his time between some of their other projects, so she didn’t run into him as often as the others.

  “I’m hanging in there,” she said, grateful when her beer arrived. It might help ease some of her self-consciousness. The loud music from the live band filled the room, and she had to speak loudly to be heard. She picked up her beer mug and took a sip. The ice-cold drink was infused with hints of blueberry. “This is delicious, Callie.”

  Callie gave her brothers a pointed stare. “I’m glad you like it.”

  “Oh, Emily, I have a cat for you if you want one,” Austin said.

  Emily put down her beer. “Really? Yes. For sure. I keep hearing those noises in the walls, and I’m thinking maybe a cat will be a good companion.” That sounded sad. She needed a cat as a companion?

  “Okay. It’s one of my parents’ friends. I’ll text you her number.”

  “That’s perfect. I’ll pick up supplies this weekend. How old is the cat?”

  “Two. She’s well cared after, but her owner is elderly and has had some health problems. She just can’t care for her anymore.”

  Emily nodded. “Okay. If…she ever wants to come and visit her, she’s welcome to,” she said.

  Callie smiled at her. “That’s very nice of you, Emily,” she said, enunciating her words a little too loudly and staring across the table at Cooper.

  Emily glanced at Cooper and caught him glaring at his sister.

  “That is very nice,” Brody said.

  The awkward exchange paused as their plates of wings, veggies, and blue cheese dip arrived. Emily looked down at the heaping portion of fries and heavily sauced wings with a mix of dread and hunger. Everyone dug right in, and after a few seconds, she forced herself to let go of the irrational insecurities she was holding onto and picked up a wing. She had rejoined the land of people who knew how to live life. The world didn’t stop as she finished one wing and moved on to the next.