“This is the fifth time I have been here this week, Ms. Mathis. You owe fifteen hundred dollars for rent, and it needs to be paid after the holiday.” Mrs. Grande wrinkled her nose with disgust at me as I stood in the doorway of my apartment.

“I’ll have the money by January first. You can count on it,” I lied.

She scowled then turned around and left and as I watched her portly figure retreating down the hall, I had the urge to throw something at her. My neighbor from down the hall stared at me as I closed the door to my apartment. He was a handsome fellow, but from the little interaction we had I knew he was a jerk. And, jerk was being kind. His dark brown hair, and brown eyes were not lost on me, but I’d always hated him.

Where would I find that kind of money?

As I shut the door and snuggled down on my couch, I went over my options of how I could come up with the money in that short amount of time.

Once I realized I wouldn’t be selling my body, or harvesting my eggs I finally relented when I knew I would have to call my mother and ask for the money. As I picked up the phone to make the dreaded call to my mother who never had time for me once she married the anti-christ of my stepfather, there was a knock at the door.

When I opened the door, there stood my neighbor. He stood tall, towering over me. His muscles were constricted behind his deep chocolate colored shirt, making his eyes that much deeper. His eyebrow raised as he glanced down my body taking in my sweatpants and ratty t-shirt. He smelled of whiskey or some other type of alcohol I couldn’t identify and as I stood there gaping at him, he leaned in closer.

“Hey there, umm,” he started.

“Holly. Holly Mathis.”

“Holly. Nice to meet you finally. I’m Kevin I live down the hall.”

I knew who he was and knew exactly where he lived, but it still didn’t mean I knew why he was here.

“What are you doing here? Do you need to borrow something?” It was a little past dinner time, but different people ate at different hours, so most likely he needed sugar, or flour.

“No, I was wondering, uhh, can I come in?”

My eyes widened and little warning bells went off in my head, but then I took a closer look at him. His brandy-colored eyes were desperate and I knew the look well. I’d become a master of desperation since I moved here from Georgia. I’d only been here a few years and in that time I’d managed to lose three jobs and date a few assholes along the way.

“Umm, sure.” I stepped aside and led him into my living room. I wrapped the sweater I wore tighter around my body as he stalked closer to the couch and took a seat.

“I know you’re probably wondering why I stopped by,” he started.

“That is exactly what I’m wondering.” I moved closer to the living area and took a seat on the chair facing the couch. My blonde hair was up in a bun, and I knew I looked a mess.

“Well, what do you have planned for the holidays?”

I closed my eyes as I pictured selling my body on the street corner which probably wouldn’t make me much money because of the fact it was December and freezing cold, I knew I would never go through with it.

“Nothing. Would you like something to drink? I was just about to warm some tea up.” I rose from the chair and headed into the kitchen. After I put the kettle on the stove, I walked back into the cozy living room. There was a fire in the fireplace and it let off a soft glow. It was chilly outside, and the warmness from the fire was heavenly.

“Now where were we?” Kevin asked.

“You asked me if I had holiday plans.” I reminded him.

“Right, this is going to sound crazy.”

With his words I tightened up as I listened to him.

“Go on.”

“I’m heading to my family’s farm house about an hour from here,” he paused.

Of course, he probably had a pet he would need me to watch while he was away. My body relaxed as he continued, “Let’s just say the past few years have been tough on me, and I can’t show up alone. I need someone to go with me. Someone to pretend to be my girlfriend.”

This time not only did my eyes widen, they damn near popped out of my head. “Excuse me?”

“I know it’s insane, but we would just have to act like a couple for a few days and then we could come back home and be done with it all.”

“Insane isn’t the word, ludicrous might be a better word for what you’re asking.”

The tea kettle started to whistle and I jumped up from my seat to head into the kitchen. I needed a moment to collect my thoughts. I didn’t have time to be traipsing all over Alabama acting like Kevin’s girlfriend. I made two cups of tea, and placed it on a tray with sugar, honey, and milk.

“Tea?” I asked as I walked into the living area. I placed the tray down as I made a cup of tea for myself. After taking a quick sip, I placed my cup down as I returned my attention back to Kevin. “As fun as it sounds I’m sorry I won’t be able to accompany you.”

He made a cup of tea and then took a sip. Leaning himself into the couch he laughed.

“What are you laughing at?” I scowled.

“You’re like an eighty year old woman, with your tea and old lady slippers.”

I glanced down to my slippers, taking in the faded flower pattern and narrowed my eyes. “I think you should leave.” I stood from my chair and walked closer to the door.

Kevin chased after me. “Wait. I’m sorry. Please consider my idea.”

“No, I don’t like you. I don’t want to act like anything with you. No one would believe us anyway.”

I opened the front door and tried to push him out. He wedged his foot in the door as I tried to close it on him. Anger rustled inside me as he pleaded with me.

“I can pay you,” he shouted.

I froze. Money? My eyes focused on Kevin’s dark, brown eyes. “How much?”

“One hundred dollars,” he said between the door and frame.

“Bye, Kevin.” I tried pushing the door harder, hoping the pressure would hurt his foot and get him to move it.

“Okay, fine. More. Five hundred dollars.” His hand was wedged between the door and frame and was slowly losing the battle of being able to keep it open. He was bigger than me, but I leaned my whole body against the door as he tried harder. “A thousand dollars. Two thousand. Name your price, please.”

The desperation in his voice was evident, but I stopped pushing when the price rose. He pushed the door open and stood before me.

“Kevin, I…I…”

“Say yes, please. I’m desperate. We don’t even have to share a room. There are two rooms upstairs and you’ll have one and me the other. Twenty-five hundred.”