The Rules of Dating(95)
She touched my cheek. “I know you would, Colby, and that’s part of what makes you a special person. You’re willing to sacrifice whatever it takes for the people you love, including your own happiness.” She paused and took a deep breath. “And that’s why I also know that when I ask you to do something for me, you will.”
My brows drew together. “Of course. Whatever you need.”
Billie held my eyes. “I need you to let Maya move in.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
She shook her head. “I’m very serious, Colby. I was up all night thinking about things. It’s the only real solution we have. You need to redeem yourself as a married couple during this second interview, and the only chance you have to do that is if you spend time with each other. You need to know things you can’t study for, like your morning routines and habits, and you only have two weeks to learn it all.”
I shook my head. “I can’t do that, Billie. I can’t do that to us.”
“You wouldn’t be doing it to us. You’d be doing it for us. I see you, me, and Saylor as a team, and this team needs to do what is best for Saylor, regardless of how we personally feel.” Billie’s eyes filled with tears. “I love Saylor, too. I’ll never be able to live with myself if my selfishness—not wanting you to live with another woman for a few weeks—got her hurt. So I’m not taking no for an answer. Maya is moving in, and you two are going to spend every waking moment together getting to know each other.”
I had to swallow the giant lump in my throat to be able to speak. “It means the world to me how much you care about Saylor.”
She sniffled. “Well, that’s good, because that’s what we both need to focus on for the next couple of weeks.”
I leaned my forehead to Billie’s and lost the battle to hold back my own tears. “You are the best thing that’s ever happened in my life.”
Tears began to stream down her face, too. “So it’s settled, then. Maya is moving in.”
It felt wrong in my heart, but my head couldn’t deny it was probably the best shot I had at getting through the hearing. So I nodded.
Billie took a deep breath. “There’s just one more thing I need you to do for me.”
“Anything.”
“I can’t see you for a while.”
I froze. “What do you mean?”
“My heart will be with you, but it will be too painful to deal with seeing you when you’ll be going home to another woman. And you need to spend all of your spare time on getting to know Maya, not hanging out with me.”
“But…”
Billie held her finger to my lips and shook her head. “I need you to do this for me,
Colby. Please.”
CHAPTER 28
Colby
A few days later, my life had turned upside down: Maya had moved into my apartment, but thankfully, so far she hadn’t been around a whole lot. That was the good news. The bad news was that my separation from Billie had begun, and not being able to see or talk to her every day absolutely blew. What also blew was having to lie to my daughter and tell her Maya was a friend who needed a place to stay.
Maya wasn’t home early Monday morning when I invited Holden over to help me with a little project before I had to get to work.
He peeked his head in the spare room. “That’s her stuff?”
Maya had a leather jacket and some other clothing piled on the bed.
“Yeah.”
Holden looked around. “She’s not here right now, is she?”
“No. She moved her things in and spent last night here, but she’s been pretty MIA overall. I heard her get up and leave at like five this morning. I have no clue where the fuck she went that early, nor do I care.”
“Is she still stripping?”
“No clue.”
“Do you need me to go investigate?” He winked. “Haven’t been to the strip clubs in a while.”
“Do whatever you want, man.” I chuckled.
“Seriously, though, you don’t even know if she’s still stripping? Do you know anything about her life at all?”
“I don’t need to know the real Maya, only the fake one who’s married to me.”
“Fair enough,” he said, lifting his tool chest. “So what am I putting a lock on?”
“My bedroom. I need to be able to lock it from the outside, so she can’t get in while I’m at work.”
He arched a brow. “You think she’s gonna steal from you or something?”
“She’s already stolen my life, why not my watch and the cash I keep around? I don’t trust her.”
“How’s Billie handling all this?”
I sighed. “I wish I knew.”
“What do you mean?”
“We agreed not to see each other while Maya’s living here. That includes talking.”
Holden gaped. “Fuck… You broke up?”
“No!” I said adamantly. “We’re just taking a break because it’s too difficult for her. A break. Not a breakup.”
“But why no talking?”
“Because Billie and I can’t be in each other’s lives in a half-assed way. It’s all or nothing. But we’re able to handle this because we know it’s temporary. That’s the only way it would be doable. It’s not what I want, but it’s for Billie’s mental health. I know not talking at all sounds extreme. But I get it. The whole thing is hurtful. And I’m willing to do anything I need to in order to make sure she’s still around when this is over.”