She sat down in her chair across from my seat on the couch and chuckled. "I wouldn't call it artwork. Just some pictures. I had a little more money since your boyfriend paid your portion of the rent and more that day."
"More? How much more?" I asked, suddenly worried he was trying to buy me.
"About two grand. I told him I didn't feel right taking it, but he insisted. I assumed you knew because you asked him to."
I shook my head and frowned. "No. He never told me. And as much as you know I'd give you my last dime, I didn't ask."
"Why the frown? It's okay that you didn't ask."
"It's not that, Jordan. I just worry that he's trying to buy things he shouldn't."
"Like your love?"
"Yeah," I answered quietly.
"Honey, if he was trying to buy your love, wouldn't he have told you he did this?"
"I guess. It's just..." I didn't know how to complain about all the money in my bank account and not sound like a spoiled child. "He's done the same thing with me. Instead of paying me the amount I'm supposed to get, he's paid me nearly five times more."
"And the problem with that is?"
Jordan's expression told me she still thought I was acting silly all these months later. "I know what you're going to say. I should just enjoy this, right? It's just that my six months are almost up. What if he is giving me all this money because he doesn't plan to stay with me and wants to make himself feel good about it?"
"Still overthinking this, I see."
"But what if it's true?"
"Have you asked him?"
Looking down at my hands as they sat folded in my lap, I shook my head. "No. I'm too afraid of what he'd say."
"How much longer is there on your contract?"
"A few weeks."
"And has he been acting weird, like a boyfriend getting ready to break up with you? You know. Not answering calls or texts. Not showing up for dates. Has the sex fallen off?"
As I listened to her laundry list of signs, I couldn't say yes to one. He always answered my texts, never failed to be where he said he would be at exactly the time he said he would, and the sex had continued to be mind blowing.
"No to all," I admitted with a shrug. "He's wonderful, even though things at work seem to be constantly on his mind."
"So, let me get this straight. Your gorgeous, billionaire boyfriend treats you like a queen and makes sure you have piles of money to spend on yourself, and you're worried he's going to leave you? You're a bright girl, Nina. Figure it out."
"I know it sounds stupid, but I can't help it. I'm dreading the day that contract ends."
That was the cold, hard truth. I was sick to death over a date on the calendar. It never left my mind, no matter how much money he put in my account, no matter how many times he told me he loved me.
Jordan leaned forward and touched me on the knee, jarring me out of my thoughts about that day just weeks away. "Enough of this crazy talk. Tell me how he is in bed. And don't leave out the details. I'll know if you do."
A blush spread from the top of my head all the way to the tip of my toes. Even before I said a word, she clapped her hands together and exclaimed, "I knew it! No man who sounds so incredibly sexy when he speaks about something as boring as paying someone's rent could be bad in bed."
"Stop it! You're embarrassing me!" I cried, half joking. "I'm not telling you a thing."
"You don't have to say a word. It's written all over your face. I bet he's hung like a horse, isn't he?"
"Jordan!" The blush intensified at her words, confirming that she'd hit the nail on the head.
"I swear there's not a thing wrong with this man, Nina. If you say you're worried about anything with him one more time, I'm going to kick you out of this apartment and never speak to you again."
"That's harsh."
"I'm not kidding, Nina. I could understand if he lacked in one or two areas, but he's perfect."
"He's not perfect. I think many women wouldn't like how he's so possessive."
She laughed out loud. "The only time any woman dislikes a possessive man is if he keeps her from doing things she likes. Tristan doesn't do that, so I doubt there'd be many women in this world who wouldn't be madly in love with him just as he is."