by G. Benson
The key Sam had given her before they’d parted ways at City Hall was in her hand. So that wasn’t a problem. The thumb of her left hand was pushing the wedding band that was on her ring finger around and around. It had been on there for a total of two hours, and it had gotten more uncomfortable, not less.
Frank yowled.
“All right, all right,” Hayden muttered.
She pushed her key in the lock, opened the door, grabbed Frank, and walked inside.
Then froze.
Okay. She wasn’t stupid. She’d seen the street they’d driven onto. The building. The doorman, for crying out loud. The street was full of beautiful trees shedding reddish-brown leaves onto perfectly manicured grass that lined the sidewalks.
Hayden’s street was a concrete mess covered with scrawled graffiti tags, featuring a crime rate that was rather alarming. The dog poop that often decorated the sidewalks was the least of its problems.
So, the fact that she was in a different neighborhood was obvious. But the apartment? It looked like something a celebrity bought in the city.
Hayden should have realized. Maybe she was a little stupid. But Sam had to have this kind of money to be able to ask someone to marry her for almost a quarter of a million dollars.
But this apartment was heaven.
She’d walked into an open-plan living area, the kitchen straight ahead and a dark oak dining table taking up space next to it as the area artfully segued into the living room on her left. The biggest sofa she’d ever seen took up most of one wall, long enough for eight people to sprawl over while watching the huge TV. Light flooded the entire space, thanks to the windows lining the entire wall of the living room.
By comparison, Hayden had been living in a dark and murky cave. Was she Gollum? It sure felt that way.
She even had a ring, now.
She slowly put Frank on the ground and quickly dragged her suitcases in, leaving them there once she’d closed the door. She wandered down a hallway on her right. Doors were open, and she saw an office and two guest rooms, one with towels on the bed.
The bedroom was bigger than her living room.
There was even an en suite bathroom in the guest room. With a bath.
But where did Sam sleep?
Hayden walked down the corridor’s highly polished floors, back to the living area. That space was bigger than her entire apartment. No wonder Sam could pay someone to marry her.
Because wow.
The kitchen was full of sparkling countertops and gadgets Hayden didn’t even recognize. One countertop held a piece of paper. She picked it up.
Hayden,
There is a spare bathroom at the end of the hall I thought you could put your cat’s litter in. The room I thought you would prefer has towels on the bed, but feel free to change to the other. However, it doesn’t have a private bathroom. Not that it matters. It will just be you using the other down the hall.
“Do you not use the bathroom, Sam?”
She went back to the note.
Please help yourself to anything in the refrigerator and pantry. I’ll most likely see you at the hospital tonight, as I’m working later than normal.
Sam.
“What, no love to my darling wife?” Hayden put the note down. Then she noticed it: along the opposite wall in the living room, obscured from view when she’d walked in, was a small white staircase.
So that’s where Sam slept.
She jumped when Frank’s angry meow reached her. She walked over to his carrier and opened it. He didn’t budge. She kneeled down and looked straight inside.
“Frank. I know you hate moving. But this apartment is way nicer than where we were before. There’s so much room for you to run in. And frolic. Because, you know, you’re such a frolicker.” All she could see were huge yellow eyes and backward-facing ears. Damn, was he mad. “Come out?”
He glowered at her.
“Okay. Well. I’ll leave the door open, and you come out when you’re ready. Okay?”
He shuffled around so his behind was facing her and stared at the back of his carrier.
“Have it your way.”
He’d come out eventually. She walked to the living room. It had carpet. Plush and thick. And really white. Hayden was going to destroy something in this apartment so fast simply by being herself.
She looked back to the staircase. The note hadn’t said not to go there.
She put her foot on the first step, took a deep breath, and, feeling like a snoop, walked up as quietly as she could. Her head appeared inside a loft bedroom. She looked around quickly, eyes wide. It was stunning. The bed was huge, with a heavy wooden base and headboard. The space stretched forever, a door on the left leading to what was most likely a bathroom. Another close to Hayden possibly opened into a walk-in closet.
It was stunning, filled with light. She quickly snapped her gaping mouth shut and turned and went back downstairs.
It felt way too intrusive, like that space was completely Sam’s.
At the bottom of the stairs, she flopped onto the sofa.
How was this place even real?
Frank was still in his carrier, miles away, near the door. Only his butt was visible.
“Coming out yet?”
He didn’t move.
“Cool.”
She needed to take her things to that room. And set up the litter and Frank’s food and water bowl. She needed to nap for her shift that evening.
But for now, she was going to sit and stare around this apartment that was apparently a work of art, her thumb spinning that ridiculous wedding band around and around her finger.
~ ~ ~
“What the hell is that?”
Hayden’s head snapped up, wondering if a spider had fallen on her head or something. She tugged her scrub top over her head, emerging from it with her hair in static all over. She was in such a rush she banged her elbow on the cold metal of her locker.
“Luce…” She rubbed her elbow and let the word drift off. The bruise for the week was already blooming, for sure.
Luce was standing in front of her, arms crossed. “What is that on your finger?”
Hayden had shut her locker door, which was stupid as that put her hand up on display. So, of course, Luce completely took advantage and grabbed it, not even that gently. Hayden let them tug her hand in front of their face; she even wriggled her fingers.
“Hayden.” Their eyes were glued on the ring. So much for hoping no one would really notice. “Is this shit for real?”
“Nope. I won it in an arcade game and thought, ‘You know what? I’m going to wear this just to mess with Luce.’”
“Funny.” Luce was still gripping Hayden’s hand. “You really are a comedian.” Luce’s gaze was back on the ring. “So you did it? You got married?”
Hayden took her hand back and straightened her shirt, trying to appear calm and normal about it all. But wait.
Shouldn’t she be happy? And excited? The fake version of her, anyway? About her fake marriage?
This was exhausting.
She grinned and put her stethoscope around her neck, holding on to each end with a hand. “Yeah. We did. This morning.”
“Oh.”
“Oh?”
“I still kind of thought it was a joke.”
“Nope.” Hayden shook her head. “No joke.”
“Oh. Okay. Congratulations?”
And why was Hayden miffed about the lack of genuineness inflected in that single word about her fake marriage? “Gee, thanks. Sound less sincere.”
“Look, I’m trying. I’m still surprised. And, I won’t lie, confused. But if it really is what you want, then I do mean it. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
“So, you’re actually, honestly married?”
“Yup. I can show you the marriage certificate if you want. Wait.” She grimaced. “No I can’t. Sam has it. But I can later?”
Luce inclined against the lockers, their hands in their pockets. “The ring’s sold me
, to be honest. I’m still processing, is all.”
Luce was processing? Luce had to process? Hayden’s brain was about to explode. “Me too, I won’t lie. Like I told you, I know it’s fast.” Hayden kept her fingers wrapped around either end of her stethoscope, like a safety net. That ring still felt so noticeable. How long until it wouldn’t anymore? “But it’s what I wanted.”
The twenty thousand Sam had told her she’d transferred that afternoon was why. Not that Hayden could say that.
“Good.” Luce took a deep breath and smiled. Genuinely. And that made Hayden pause. If this was Luce, Hayden would be giving them an even harder time, especially given her feelings about marriage. But even without that—if her friend told her they were marrying someone they’d never seemed to really like, after a few weeks of dating them, Hayden would not have stayed as calm. There’d be more than spat-out tea.
“Thank you, Luce.” Hayden finally let go of her stethoscope and squeezed Luce’s upper arm. “I appreciate it.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Their tone was gentler, though. “Just know I’m around, okay?”
That band on her finger felt heavy as she squeezed Luce’s arm briefly before letting her hand fall. “I know.”
“Hayden.”
Hayden jumped and turned. Sam was standing there, still in scrubs, with no lab coat. She must have come straight from surgery. She had a surgical cap still on. Not one of the hospital-issued ones, but a personalized one. It was green with rainbows all over it.
“Hey, Sam.”
Oh, this was uncomfortable. No one else was around to diffuse this. The locker room was empty. Hayden had arrived super early for her shift with the idea of eating in the cafeteria beforehand. She’d slept too late to want to risk figuring out Sam’s monster kitchen. That was a lie; she’d woken up groggy, cranky, and not wanting to cook.
But now it was only Sam, Luce, and Hayden.
So uncomfortable.
“Hi, Dr. Thomson.”
“Hello, Luce.”
Sam had remembered their name. That was a good step.
“Nice scrub cap.” Luce had their evil smile playing at their lips.
Sam stared straight at them. “Thank you.”
“It’s a lot more colorful than I would have expected.”
Sam looked unsure as to why Luce was saying that. Hayden wanted to slap her friend upside the head.
“Well,” Sam said, “I had surgery on a six-year-old today. I did a lot of reading years ago on how to deal with small children. Colors and patterns appeal to them. It makes the surgery easier.”
“Oh.” Luce’s shit-eating grin was gone. Good. “That makes sense.”
What didn’t Sam look up to support what she did? Hayden had thought her addiction to googling every little thing that crossed her mind was bad, but it seemed Sam was far worse than she.
Sam gave a singular nod and didn’t even acknowledge that. She lifted her hand to push a tendril of hair back behind her ear and under her cap, and the ring on her finger glinted in the light. They were wearing matching wedding bands.
This was so weird.
Also, why was she wearing a wedding band in surgery? Maybe she’d put it back on after. They were supposed to be passing as happy about their decision. People who just got married probably loved to wear their rings.
Had Sam fielded questions about it? Surely she had. Hopefully, Sam handled it with more finesse than Hayden had with Luce. It would be easier with someone who was more of a colleague than a friend. Hopefully.
“So. I have to finish up with some patients.” Luce looked between the two of them and sidled away. “See you.”
“See you at handover,” Hayden said.
“Good night.” Sam didn’t even look at Luce, instead keeping her eyes trained on Hayden, who gave back a weak smile.
“Oh!” Luce exclaimed.
Now Sam did turn around to look at Luce.
Hayden wanted to sink into the floor. “Yeah?”
But Luce wasn’t looking at Hayden. They were looking at Sam, slightly friendlier than before. But there was something in their eye, a narrowing, or a shadow. Something mistrustful.
“Congratulations, Sam. So nice to hear about this wedding.”
Hayden closed her eyes and thought about praying. To whom, she didn’t know. The second she’d had any say in it, she’d stopped going to church with her mom and Abuela, who still chastised her for it—and her sister, apparently, who Hayden really needed to call.
Abuela would chastise her for marrying for reasons other than love too. But she didn’t need to know.
Hayden still had her eyes closed, searching for strength, when Sam said, “Thank you.”
She opened her eyes, but Sam was still fixed on Luce, who still looked…odd. Pleasant, really, but something not pleasant too.
“We should go out for drinks to celebrate.” Luce’s smile grew. “Get to know each other.”
Oh, this was awful.
Sam nodded. “Yes. Sounds acceptable.”
Acceptable? Nice one, Sam. Hayden sighed, but neither paid attention to her.
“Great. We’ll organize something.”
And Luce walked out, not looking back at Hayden, most likely because they knew Hayden was glaring at them. The door swished closed, and Sam and Hayden were alone. Sam turned around, and Hayden gave a wave. “Hi.”
Sam gave her a strange look. “Hello?”
Hayden wasn’t going to have time to get food at this rate, and she still needed to finish getting changed. She started undoing the buttons on her jeans. “Did you need to talk?”
“I wanted to ask you something.”
Hayden rolled her eyes inwardly at herself. She’d been about to pull her pants down with her shoes still on. Smacking her elbow was enough for one evening, surely; she didn’t need to fall on her ass too. She dug her toes into the heel and kicked one off, followed by the other and started shimmying her pants down her hips. When she looked up, Sam had turned the other way. Hayden snorted. Because her legs were so hideous, right? Well, she really did need to shave them. Still hilarious.
Though if someone walked in on Hayden’s newlywed-wife avoiding watching her change, it was going to look pretty ridiculous.
“What’s up?” If Hayden squinted, she could see the backs of Sam’s ears were red. Even more hilarious. Everyone changed pretty openly in the locker room. Not Sam, apparently.
“I was wondering when you were going to tell Luce. Though I see you have. So my next question was when you were telling your family.”
Scrub pants now on and one foot in her work shoes, Hayden stopped dead. Her family? The joy of this was she didn’t need to do that. Lying to Luce was eating her alive. Lying to her family? No.
“And also, well, where they lived and if I’ll meet them,” Sam continued. “I realized we hadn’t really talked about that.”
Which had been stupid. What else would come up that they hadn’t thought of?
She had to tell her family? That was part of the deal? They were in another state. She’d assumed it wouldn’t matter. Why did it feel like all the air had disappeared from the room?
When Hayden didn’t answer, Sam turned around, her eyebrows bunching together. Hayden stood, one foot half in her shoe, frozen.
“What’s wrong?” Sam asked.
“My family?”
“Yes. Your family.”
Hayden cleared her throat and sat down on the bench nearby. She pushed her foot into her shoe completely and started doing up the laces. “I didn’t think I’d need to tell them?”
“You didn’t think you’d need to tell your family you were married when we’re trying to pass this off as real?” Sam had lowered her voice by the end of her question, even though they were completely alone.
“Well…yeah.” That sounded as stupid as Hayden felt now. “But do they really need to know?” She rested her elbows on her knees, her one shoeless foot growing cold against the floor.
Sam was still looking co
nfused. “If we need to be convincing, yes.”
“But we can be convincing. To everybody else. Why does it matter if they know?”
“Hayden, I thought you understood. The people in our lives would have to know.”
“Well, does your family know?”
Sam flushed. “That’s beside the point.”
“So I have to tell mine and you don’t?” That was entirely unfair.
“For the purpose of this marriage, and what I’m aiming for, no, they don’t need to know.”
“What are you aiming for?”
Sam’s flush deepened, and her hands disappeared into her scrub-top pockets. “That’s unimportant.”
“I think it’s very important.”
Sam’s nostrils actually flared. Hayden could see from where she was sitting. It was kind of terrifying. “You agreed to this. Our agreement was that it had to appear legitimate. Whether my family knows or not has no bearing on that.”
Hayden felt heat crawling up her neck; it always did when she was angry. “So I turn my life upside down and you don’t?”
That was why Hayden was being compensated. She knew that. But she couldn’t let it go.
“You think this isn’t doing just that?” The words almost hissed out, and Hayden flinched backward from the emotion in them. Sam looked as if she was about to say more, but she snapped her mouth shut. She looked upward for a moment, before looking back at Hayden. “What I do doesn’t matter. If you don’t wish to follow through on the stipulations of our agreement, we have a big problem.”
They did. The money. They signed that day. How had they not talked about this?
They’d both simply assumed.
What was that stupid saying?
But regardless, Hayden was pissed. She pushed her cold foot into the other shoe and did it up. “Well, clearly we do. I don’t get why my family has to know.”
“Because the deal was that. They need to know, in case this is looked into.”
“By who?” Hayden stood up, and the last word exploded out of her mouth. Abuela would tell her she was flaring up too quickly. In that moment, she didn’t care. “If it’s not for a green card, I don’t understand why they have to know.”
“That’s not my issue.” Sam’s voice was deadly calm, and Hayden hated that. “We had an agreement. Part of that agreement was I don’t need to explain my reasons to you. And that we convince the people we need to.”