Page 19 of The King Contract
“You really think we’re going to be in these situations?”
Noah shrugs. “You never know. I’m an affectionate guy. No one’s going to buy it if I can’t kiss my missus when I want.”
The way he refers to me as ‘his missus’ makes me shift in my seat.
“How about I promise to never kiss you on the lips unless you give the go ahead?” he offers.
“It won’t happen, but fine.”
Noah scribbles on his paper, his tongue peeking out the side.
“What about you?” I ask.
Noah looks up. “What about me?”
“What areyourlimits?”
Noah’s eyes flash with humour. “No limits for me, Millie. You want to grind me in public whilst sucking on my neck? I’m down for it.”
I know he says it to get under my skin, so I bite down on my tongue to deflect the image in my head. But I don’t do it fast enough. The image of me doing that to him creeps in anyway and my temperature rises. “You’re an idiot.”
“This is going to be so much fun.” Noah removes his feet from the table and leans forward, shuffling the stack of papers. “Mutual respect. To maintain a fair and transparent relationship, the Couple agrees to the following: Honesty. The Couple agrees to maintain a radically honest relationship and to always say what is on their mind.”
I lean back against the sofa. “Why must we beradicallyhonest?”
“If we’re lying to everyone else, I need someone to be honest with.”
His answer surprises me. “You won’t be lying to Dan. He knows about this arrangement.”
“Yes, and he’s made it very clear he wants nothing to do with it.” Noah frowns, as if he’s confused as to why his best friend isn’t onboard. “He said something likedig your own grave and jump in, dipshit.”
“Dan seems sensible.”
“Judgement-free,” he continues. “Each partner agrees to listen and give advice that is in the best interest of the other partner. Especially in public settings, each partner agrees to make comments that present the other in a good and positive manner and free of embarrassment or negativity.” He looks up at me. “You can do whatever when we’re alone, but out there, you’d better pretend you like me. You’d better act like my girlfriend.”
“Yes, sir.”
Noah’s eyes light up at those words and the heat racing up my neck to my cheeks makes me want to dunk my head in cold water.
“Family.” He tilts his head from side to side and a crack releases. My gaze darts away from the veins in his neck. “The Couple agrees to spend time with each partner’s respective family. Preferably around Christmas time.” He looks over at me. “It’s always a good story when the family is involved.”
“You’re okay with lying to your family?”
“Not exactly, but it’ll make my mum happy seeing me happy. That’s more important.”
“Okay,” I sigh.
“What about your family?”
I swallow. “Ellis is my family.”
Noah’s face softens, as if he’d forgotten I only have Ellis left. He stares at me for a few beats, and I fidget under his gaze. I’ve long since come to grips with my life and status. An only childwho lost her parents a long time ago. Donna was my stand-in parent, and I adored her. Ellis is the sister I never had. Winston is my bundle of fur and unconditional love. I might have been through a lot, but I like what I’ve got.
Noah doesn’t press the issue.
“Disputes,” he continues. “Each partner promises to make a good-faith effort to resolve any dispute or issue in an amicable manner. Either partner has the option to take atime outand remove themselves from the situation. If atime outoccurs, each partner agrees to be quiet and give the other their personal space.”
Despite the gravity of the situation, a laugh escapes my mouth. “This is ridiculous. Does this really need to be written into a contract? Can’t we, I don’t know, be adults?”
