it, Asia. And yeah, it’s a pretty wild idea, huh?"
"Okay, a little…but scary too. Marrying a stranger? Do you have any idea how awkward that would be?"
She grabs on to my arm excitedly. "But what if it's like this amazing love-at-first-sight moment? What could possibly be cooler?"
Shaking my head wildly, I fold up the dress so I can get back to it later when she's gone. "No. It's unnatural and dangerous."
"Arranged marriages used to be very popular."
" Used to be being the important part of that sentence."
Crossing her arms, she taps her foot against my chipped tile floor. "Asia, I want you to think about this. I talked to Dr. Hollister about you and she thinks you would be perfect, but she would love to meet you for a preliminary interview. She said you're the exact kind of woman she wanted for this."
Geez. What the heck does that mean? "Um? What kind of woman am I?"
"One who is supersweet, intelligent, pretty, normal, but just cannot meet the right guy. The only issue is your financial status. They need to be sure the applicants aren't in it just for the money."
I glare at her, annoyed with her incessant digs at my unfortunate lifestyle. Not everyone is lucky enough to be born into a great family that doesn't abandon you at seventeen with no money or place to live. The fact that I'm not dead, working a pole, or turning tricks is something I'm actually proud of.
"Well, I apologize for having to live on ramen noodles, Kat, but it is what it is. I can't hide it. And if they are so worried about people getting involved in the experiment just for the fifty G's, why are they even offering it?
She shrugs and lays the piece of paper with her notes on my wobbly kitchen table. "Compensation, I guess."
"Marrying a great person should be compensation enough."
"Well, there ya go. You're perfect for this, just as I knew you would be."
I throw an infinity scarf at her that I made from the fabric she was just saying she loved. "I made this for you earlier. Please don't make me choke you with it," I tease.
She squeals over it and hugs me. "You're the bestest friend ever! I love you!"
----
L ater that night as I'm soaking in my bathtub reading a paperback I've read about ten times already, my mind keeps wandering back to Kat's insane idea about my getting involved in that marriage experiment. As scary as it sounded, if it really worked, and they actually found me the right man, it would be amazing. No more bad dates. No more wondering if I'm ever going to meet the right guy. No more spending every night alone. No more watching other people get engaged, get married, and have kids while I'm still alone. No more having no one to snuggle with.
But if it didn't work, it could be devastating. What if I fall in love with him, but he doesn't fall in love with me? Being rejected by a guy who is supposed to be my perfect match will hurt way worse than some blind-date rejection. Where can I go from an expert failure? I think at that point I would have to throw in the towel and admit I am just not relationship material for anyone. I'm not sure I'm ready for that kind of reality dose.
An old favorite song of mine comes on from the small radio in the corner of the bathroom. It's a slow, sexy rock ballad, and the guitarist plays with so much raw emotion that every time I hear it, it gives me chills and I have to close my eyes and let it take over my senses. I want a man who can make me feel like this song does, someone who makes me lose myself in the way he can make me feel. Closing my eyes and sinking deeper into my bath, I wonder if I can put that on my application for the marriage experiment.
Give me a man who makes me feel like the guitar solo of "Hope Dies Last."
Chapter 5
Asia
" A sia , it's Dr. Hollister. Do you have a few minutes to talk?"
Cradling the phone against my ear with my shoulder, I run my hands under my kitchen faucet real quickly to rinse off the oils I was just using to make custom soaps.
"Yes, of course." I
"Okay, a little…but scary too. Marrying a stranger? Do you have any idea how awkward that would be?"
She grabs on to my arm excitedly. "But what if it's like this amazing love-at-first-sight moment? What could possibly be cooler?"
Shaking my head wildly, I fold up the dress so I can get back to it later when she's gone. "No. It's unnatural and dangerous."
"Arranged marriages used to be very popular."
" Used to be being the important part of that sentence."
Crossing her arms, she taps her foot against my chipped tile floor. "Asia, I want you to think about this. I talked to Dr. Hollister about you and she thinks you would be perfect, but she would love to meet you for a preliminary interview. She said you're the exact kind of woman she wanted for this."
Geez. What the heck does that mean? "Um? What kind of woman am I?"
"One who is supersweet, intelligent, pretty, normal, but just cannot meet the right guy. The only issue is your financial status. They need to be sure the applicants aren't in it just for the money."
I glare at her, annoyed with her incessant digs at my unfortunate lifestyle. Not everyone is lucky enough to be born into a great family that doesn't abandon you at seventeen with no money or place to live. The fact that I'm not dead, working a pole, or turning tricks is something I'm actually proud of.
"Well, I apologize for having to live on ramen noodles, Kat, but it is what it is. I can't hide it. And if they are so worried about people getting involved in the experiment just for the fifty G's, why are they even offering it?
She shrugs and lays the piece of paper with her notes on my wobbly kitchen table. "Compensation, I guess."
"Marrying a great person should be compensation enough."
"Well, there ya go. You're perfect for this, just as I knew you would be."
I throw an infinity scarf at her that I made from the fabric she was just saying she loved. "I made this for you earlier. Please don't make me choke you with it," I tease.
She squeals over it and hugs me. "You're the bestest friend ever! I love you!"
----
L ater that night as I'm soaking in my bathtub reading a paperback I've read about ten times already, my mind keeps wandering back to Kat's insane idea about my getting involved in that marriage experiment. As scary as it sounded, if it really worked, and they actually found me the right man, it would be amazing. No more bad dates. No more wondering if I'm ever going to meet the right guy. No more spending every night alone. No more watching other people get engaged, get married, and have kids while I'm still alone. No more having no one to snuggle with.
But if it didn't work, it could be devastating. What if I fall in love with him, but he doesn't fall in love with me? Being rejected by a guy who is supposed to be my perfect match will hurt way worse than some blind-date rejection. Where can I go from an expert failure? I think at that point I would have to throw in the towel and admit I am just not relationship material for anyone. I'm not sure I'm ready for that kind of reality dose.
An old favorite song of mine comes on from the small radio in the corner of the bathroom. It's a slow, sexy rock ballad, and the guitarist plays with so much raw emotion that every time I hear it, it gives me chills and I have to close my eyes and let it take over my senses. I want a man who can make me feel like this song does, someone who makes me lose myself in the way he can make me feel. Closing my eyes and sinking deeper into my bath, I wonder if I can put that on my application for the marriage experiment.
Give me a man who makes me feel like the guitar solo of "Hope Dies Last."
Chapter 5
Asia
" A sia , it's Dr. Hollister. Do you have a few minutes to talk?"
Cradling the phone against my ear with my shoulder, I run my hands under my kitchen faucet real quickly to rinse off the oils I was just using to make custom soaps.
"Yes, of course." I
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