Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 84(@200wpm)___ 67(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 84(@200wpm)___ 67(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
“As serious as cancer. You just told me what you want and it lines up perfectly with what I want.”
“We’ve been talking for ten minutes and you just dropped a marriage proposal.”
“Yeah, well, we’re both sick of waiting. Why wait much longer?”
“I wanted to get hitched fast, but this wasn’t exactly what I meant, Cameron. You literally just met me. It’s a bit insane.”
“Is it insane to go and get what you want? You know what you want. I know what I want. They happen to be the same thing.”
“You don’t even know what my last name is. And I don’t know who you are beyond some hot and handsome guy who can intimidate creepozoids.”
“What’s your last name?”
“Young.”
“There, now I know it. Will you marry me?”
Her bottom lip quivers. She’s not telling me no outright, so maybe she just needs more convincing.
“It’s not as crazy as it seems if you really think about it.”
“How so?”
“Think about arranged marriages. A man and a woman who barely know one another just show up when their families ask them to tie the knot.”
“That’s history, Cameron. A lot of things about history are weird and not worth doing in the modern day.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s still done sometimes.”
“Still sounds backwards. I think we’re better off marrying for love.”
“And then there are marriages of convenience. I thought that’s what you were looking for.”
“You think I have to get married to get my fictional grandfather’s money?”
“Yeah, there are countless romance novels about that. It must have happened a few times for real.”
She laughs. “I told you, nothing like that is pushing me into this.”
“Then what is?”
“My own personal desire. And also I made a pact with one of my best friends to get married and start a family before another friend’s baby’s second birthday.”
“What an oddly specific pact.”
“It made sense at the time. And as I said, it’s what I want to do. I expected maybe I’d walk into this coffee shop and the guy I was supposed to meet would be a creep, but not that some other guy would show up and make a really compelling offer to give me what I want.”
“Then let’s do it, Olivia. Let’s get married.”
Her gaze drifts off to the side. “I’m still conflicted. How can I know this isn’t some scam? Like you’re after my money. I’m a C-tier local celebrity, you know.”
“I bumped into you randomly, didn’t even know your last name, and you think I’m after your money?”
“Hey, it made sense in my head.”
“So, then let’s break down. What makes you a C-tier local celebrity?”
“I write a daily fashion column for the local newspaper, and it’s nationally syndicated. It pays pretty well. It’d be really weird for someone to marry me for my money, but it’s not impossible.”
“I’m an investment banker. I don’t usually flaunt my income, but I’ve got enough to buy three houses tomorrow if I so desire. I think your newspaper columnist money is safe from me, Olivia.”
She smiles with a chuckle. “Are you secretly a Canadian? Is this your way of getting a green card so you don’t get kicked out of the country?”
“Born and raised in Linesworth. Do I have to show you my birth certificate to prove I’m not some sneaky Canuck out to exploit your citizenship?”
“No need. Not that you being a Canadian would really be a deal-breaker at this point.”
“My mother is Canadian. Does that change anything?”
“Not particularly. I’m just trying to understand your angle.”
“There’s no angle, Olivia. I’m after what I say I’m after. I’m an American making six figures, a homeowner, and in no arbitrary peril in which I have to get married or suffer some terrible fate. And I assume it’s much the same for you.”
“Not as much money, and I have a nice apartment instead of a house, but no, I’m not a gold digger, either.”
“Are you a secret Canadian out to exploit my citizenship?” I smirk.
“What? Why are you accusing me of that now?”
“I just think I deserve a senseless accusation if you got to have one. Fair’s fair, and that’s what I want out of our relationship.”
“Fairness is something I can get behind.”
“We both know what we want, Olivia. We want to get married. We want a family. I think we got the start of a beautiful partnership together. There are no ulterior motives from either of us. If this doesn’t work, we’re both more than capable of walking away from one another, no hard feelings. So that’s why I ask you plainly and honestly my question: will you marry me?”
She swallows, closing her eyes and thinking deeply. Finally, she takes a deep breath and speaks. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes. Yes, I’ll marry you, Cameron.”
My heart does a little flutter, and I feel things I don’t expect when hearing those words from a girl I just met mere minutes ago.