Choose Me (The Me Novellas) by Appel Liz

Author:Appel, Liz [Appel, Liz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-10-25T05:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

Lance considered this. “Yeah, that’s sort of a problem.”

“Yes. It is.” I shifted on the bed, focusing my gaze on the photos mounted on his walls. I wondered what had happened to the dark-haired guy in the pictures. Lance hadn't mentioned a significant other.

“And you two are serious, right?”

I turned to stare at him. “We’ve been together for two years. We share a house. Yes, it’s serious.”

“Like long-term-commitment-possibly-marriage serious?”

I nodded. I knew we were close, closer than we’d ever been to making the commitment. And part of that was because of the steps I’d just taken in the last week, with the art show in Minneapolis and then coming to DC. Hitting those milestones. And the step Andy had just taken. Buying the house.

“OK,” he said. He thought for a minute. “So maybe he can move out here? For six months. You’ll have enough to support both of you, especially if she pays you up front.”

I pictured the check Katya had slid across the desk. I was getting every last penny up front if I agreed to the arrangement.

“It’s not that simple, though,” I said.

“Why not?”

I explained what Andy did. Managing properties wasn’t a job he could telecommute to.

“And he just bought a house,” I said. “Like, literally just bought it. Today. There’s no way he’s going to be able to juggle getting that in the shape he wants, managing properties, and flying out to visit me. You know?”

Lance sighed. “Well, I guess that’s out.” He closed his eyes again.

“Well?” I asked. “What else?”

“What else what?”

“What else can I do? What angle haven’t I considered?”

He cocked one eye open and looked at me. “There aren’t any other angles. There are no shades of gray. God, I hated that book.” He shook his head in disgust.

“We’re not talking about a book, Lance,” I said, frowning. “This is my life.”

“Right, right.” He cleared his throat. “There aren’t any other choices. You either take the money and live here and do what you love…or you don’t take the money and go back to Minneapolis and do what you love.”

Put like that, it sounded callous and cold, like it somehow all boiled down to money. But it didn’t. There was more—much more—wrapped up in that hundred thousand dollar check. Opportunity. Exposure. Infinite possibilities.

For a price.

I cradled my head in my hands. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Well, what do you want?”

“All of it.”

“No, you don’t.” He stared at me. “You don’t want to move here.”

“OK,” I amended. “All of it but that. I mean, it’s a ton of money…”

“Well, sure,” he said. “A hundred thousand is a lot of money. Hell, for a hundred thousand dollars, I would learn how to paint.” He looked up, a pained expression on his face. “Not that I’m saying I could do it. Jesus, not what I meant. Not trying to belittle the hard work that goes into–”

“Oh my God, shut up,” I said. “I know what you mean.”

He smiled. “OK. So yeah, there isn’t much you wouldn’t do for a hundred grand.

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