Chapter 2

Justin caught up to me and put an arm around my shoulder. “Hazel, are you mad?”

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t. He hadn’t considered my feelings at all.

“Don’t be mad, babe. I did that for you. Didn’t you see me winking at you just now?”

I actually hadn’t noticed.

“I talked to you like that to shut Scarlett up. If I criticized you, she’d be too embarrassed to keep going.”

Is that how it works? Why did it feel a bit off?

“And I kept emphasizing that you couldn’t afford it. I thought Scarlett would back down, but I had no idea you’d be so silly, you totally missed my point! You immediately agreed to pay her!”

I just thought it wasn’t that much money. My housekeeper spends more than that on groceries every day. There was no need to stand there arguing about it.

“Hazel, I’ll pay half for you.”

I waved my hand. “No need.”

“We’re a couple. If we get married later, it’ll be shared assets. Half and half, perfect.”

He took my hand, his smile sweet. So, he was being so calculating because he was planning our future. How nice. I leaned my head on his shoulder. “Do we have any plans for tomorrow?”

Tomorrow was Valentine’s Day, and my family didn’t know I was dating. My brother, Declan, had said we should hang out, since we were both single, and wanted to take me out.

He sighed. “Hazel, I have to tutor students tomorrow.”

Oh, I had hoped he could meet my brother. I felt a little disappointed. But his eyes were firm. “It’s all for our future.”

Justin had always been hardworking. As his girlfriend, I should support him.

“Okay… fine.”