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“Our ticket out?” I asked, arching an eyebrow “Out of what?”

“Of this!” he exclai around “We live in a one-bedroom house with little to no space You and I are practically on top of one another”

“Since when do you not like being on top of me?” I teased

Jeff didn’t tease back He simply continued “Plus, we can put soive me the jumpstart I need”

I gri day I can’t really deal with you not being ironic right now So, please, go ahead and tell ”

He took thefrom my hand and set it on the countertop “Think about it Two e our lives forever”

I arched an eyebrow Jeff wasn’t known for his detailed listening skills “I said two hundred million, not two million”

Just then, his eyeballs bugged out of his face “What?! Holy shit, Stella!”

“I know It makes me uneasy, too Plus, with all the stocks and assets… it’s… a lot”

“And it’s ours”

“But I don’t want it I just…” I sighed and crossed my arms “I just want him back”

“Well, that’s not really an option, sweetheart, so this is the next best thing Think about it, Stella Everything we ever wanted”—he snapped his fingers—“just like that We’d be able to make all of our dreams come true in a blink of an eye”

“And your girlfriend would have to er Or did you miss that part?”

“Yeah, yeah So, I get that would be a bit strange, but the outcome is worth the sacrifice”

“You’re willing to sacrifice your partner for money?”

He took ave me the sweetest smile “Only for six months, baby Then you’re all ht?”

“What? No Of course not We would probably never even see one another He’s kind of closed-off anyway”

“That’s perfect So, six months in, and then two-hundred-etof your dreams”