Chapter 5

Grace

Eli wanted to arrange for a driver to take me home, but I insisted on driving myself. I needed the time to think. Honestly though, I don’t think I did all that much of it. I was still in shock about suddenly becoming engaged. I mean, I basically won the lottery in a way. The amount of money that Eli promised me would completely change my life and my family’s. Each time the - no, each time my engagement ring glinted in the light, it just reminded me of this whole crazy scenario again. It isn’t until I’m in the elevator up to our apartment that I remember I don’t even have a story about how we met, or how long we’ve been dating, or anything. And I know that Trina will want details.

I think this, more than anything, is going to test the limits of my acting skills. But if I want the money, and I do, then this is what I’m going to have to do. Who knows, maybe if it all works out, the gossip and surrounding interest about our relationship will land me an actual part in a movie or something, and from there I’ll finally be able to prove my ability as an actress.

You’re kind of getting ahead of yourself here Grace, I think. You actually have to convince your friends and family first.

As if somehow reading my mind, I hear a ding from my phone. Rich just emailed me with our engagement announcement for the newspapers. I lean against the wall and open the attachment, skimming through the details. Graduate of The Thacher School, an elite boarding school here in California, went to Harvard Business School... it’s all what I would expect from a man with that much wealth in the family. And then I catch a scrap. We met three months ago when he walked into the diner and swept me off my feet. Well, I guess that’s close enough to the truth, I think. Wedding set for... less than two weeks later?! That can’t be right.

Eli must really want his inheritance and divorce as soon as possible. For some reason, this bothers me more than it should. I mean, I don’t want to be married to a stranger, to a man who clearly doesn’t want to be with me, but I’ve always held marriage as something not to be taken lightly. My parents have been married for over twenty-five years, and though they’ve had their disagreements and rocky patches in the past, they work hard to make their marriage wonderful too. It feels kind of wrong almost to go through with my own marriage knowing that it’s all just fake.

“Come on Grace. You have to keep your eyes on the prize,” I scold myself. “If it bothered me so much, then I shouldn’t have gone through with it.”

I quickly message Rich back thanking him for writing up the announcement, and then I take a deep breath. Trina will definitely be home. Unlike me, her family can afford her tuition and rent, so that she can focus solely on her studies. I wish that I had taken the time to talk to Eli and get our story straight, but after a while, the whole situation felt surreal and I had to go. I told Rich as long as the engagement party was this weekend, my parents will be able to come, and then I left. Oh well. I’ll just have to fill Eli in afterwards and hope he doesn’t get too mad. I’ve always had a sort of secret fantasy about how I’d love for my first relationship to go, which is handy. He’s even rich enough to be a fairy tale prince too, so adding a couple extra details shouldn’t be too hard to believe. Trina will probably expect it even.

At least I didn’t tell her I had an audition today. I was sort of too embarrassed, in case I got turned down again to say anything. Trina is super smart, and she’d probably connect the dots in no time if I had went to an audition and come back with a ring. I steel myself for what I have to do next, and open the door. Trina is in the kitchen, munching on a bag of chips as she tries to find food in the fridge.

“Hey,” I say, with a big smile on my face. “Guess what?”

Trina turns around, and I lift up my hand. For a moment she’s completely frozen, and then she lets out a shriek.

“Is that?! Oh my god! Grace, are you ENGAGED?!”

I nod, trying to channel the excitement I’m supposed to be feeling right now.

“Yes! Can you believe it?!”

Trina dumps the bag of chips on the counter and runs towards me, crashing into me and hugging me.

“Oh my god! Grace, what is going on?! I mean, congratulations! That is a huge rock! But like, what is going on?! You have a boyfriend? A fiancé?!”

The questions come hard and fast, but at least Trina isn’t upset that I’ve hidden a boyfriend from her. I know I would be if my best friend didn’t tell me about a relationship serious enough to consider marriage.

“Let me look at this ring!” Trina grabs my hand, brings the diamond close to her face. “Damn, this guy went all out. He must be really rich!”

We head over to the couch to sit down.

“He is. And that’s sort of why I’ve kept it a bit of a secret. It’s Eli Copeland.”

Trina gapes.

“Are you talking about the Eli Copeland, the hotel magnate that was in all the gossip blogs last month?”

I can see the concern on her face, and I hurry to assure her.

“Yes, that was him, but it was all a terrible mix-up,” I say quickly. “Eli isn’t that kind of guy. He’s really sweet, and charming, and he wouldn’t do anything like cheat on me.”

“I don’t understand,” she says uncertainly. “I thought that it was pretty clear what the pictures showed. And suddenly he’s proposing?”

This... was not going the way I thought it was. For one thing, I didn’t know anything about this supposed scandal that had happened. I’m starting to really wish that we talk things out, make sure we’re on the same page together, because Trina isn’t the only one who’s going to have questions for us.

“Please Trina, believe me when I say that the papers got it all wrong,” I say. She doesn’t look convinced though. And then I think of something. “You can even ask him yourself this weekend. We’re going to have a party to celebrate our engagement. Everyone’s invited.”

Trina shakes her head.

“Why haven’t I met him already?”

Good question.

“He’s super busy, travelling all over the US managing the business for his grandfather. In fact, he’s supposed to be taking over soon, and preparations have been chaotic. I wanted to tell you, but he really wanted me to keep it on the down low until we were serious. That’s sort of why I had all those double shifts lately.”

“Oh. I thought maybe you were short on money...”

I can see that I’ve hurt my best friend, and it sucks. This is not at all what I want to do, and I only know it’ll get worse with my family, especially with my mom. She has always prided herself on having open lines of communication and trust between us, and now this will be like a slap in the face. I struggle with wanting to tell the truth, but I know I can’t. Not for my own future, and that of my sister and family. Her treatment is expensive, and who knows what else might happen in the future. I want to make sure that if there’s an expensive therapy not covered by insurance my sister can still get it. My parents are still paying the bills from last time.

“I’m really sorry that I couldn’t tell you before this,” I say. “But at least now you know. And I mean, we can have lots of fun planning my wedding. You’re going to be the maid of honor of course.”

Trina bites her lip and nods.

“That is pretty awesome,” she says. “Eli better have a really hot best man.”

I wince inside. Rich is not exactly what you’d call hot, not by a long shot.

“I’ll find a really good one to introduce you to. Promise.”

That seems to go a little ways towards patching things up.

“So when’s it going to be?” she asks. “Next summer? Maybe fall? Or oooo, maybe a winter wedding? You would look so cute with a little fur muff and cape!”

“About that... I think it’s going to be in two or three weeks actually. Eli is very excited to tie the knot, and he says he doesn’t see a point in waiting when we want to be together. I actually came today to pack up my stuff so I can move in. You don’t have to worry though, Eli says he’ll cover the rent until the lease is up so you don’t need to feel pressured about finding another roommate or anything.

“Wow,” Trina says, her troubled look coming back. “This is moving really fast.”

I try and shrug it off like it’s not a big deal.

“Maybe a little, but I’m just as excited,” I tell her. “I’m ready for us not to be secretive anymore.”

“I’ll say.” She pauses, and I know that she’s weighing whether she wants to say anything. “Grace, do you think this is maybe a little too fast even? I’ve known you a long time, and this is sort of out of character for you. This is your first relationship, and Eli, well he’s a lot older. He’s not pushing you into doing this is he?”

The concern is so evident on my best friend’s face, and I reach over and hug her. Seriously, she’s the best. I know what she means though. Eli Copeland could probably charm his way into any woman’s pants, mine included. I just have to remember the promise I made to myself, and resist the temptation. After all, even though I don’t have to worry about pictures being pasted up all over the school hallways of my face with SLUT written across it in big letters, I still don’t want to repeat the experience. Colin had been a really sweet guy, and I was so charmed that he liked me that I agreed to go to a house party with him without thinking twice. He got me super drunk, and we made out for a bit in the car, but I hadn’t realized he’d taken pictures of me until later. Even though I had my clothes on, everyone jumped to conclusions. Even when I denied it, people didn’t believe me. That’s when I decided there was no way I’d have sex until I found someone who loved me, and even then, maybe I’d wait for marriage instead.

“I’m okay,” I tell her. “I’m doing this because it’s what I want too. If I wasn’t sure, don’t you think I’d be talking it over with you over a carton of Rocky Road ice cream? Trust me, this is what I want. Now come on, I need to pack up. Eli is sending a driver over later to help move me in to our new place together.”

“Kay,” Trina says getting up. “But if something feels off, if Eli ever makes you do something you don’t feel comfortable with, you can tell me. I’ll kick his ass.”

“I will,” I promise.