Chapter 101: 101 | Investing in My Girlfriend [CASTLE BONUS]

Chloe stepped out of her singing lesson with a throat that felt like she’d gargled sand. Miss Kim never went easy on her, pushing her to hit notes Chloe didn’t even know existed in her register. But it was worth it. She always left feeling lighter, like she’d purged something through the music.

The California sun hit her face as she checked her phone. Three texts from Kumiko, two from Jordan, and an email notification about her OnlyFans payout schedule. That last one made her stomach twist a little. Soon, she wouldn’t see those anymore.

Her phone rang. Kumiko’s face popped up on screen.

"Hey girl." Chloe’s voice cracked from the lesson.

"You sound terrible. Did Miss Kim murder your vocal cords again?"

"Completely." Chloe laughed, walking toward her car. "She had me doing scales until I wanted to cry."

"Your dad would be so proud." Kumiko’s voice softened. "You’re getting better."

Chloe smiled, that familiar ache whenever anyone mentioned her father. "Thanks. So what’s up?"

"Oh! Just wanted to tell you that Jordan’s super sweet. You picked a good one."

Chloe stopped walking. "What do you mean?"

"We just got back from Best Buy. He bought all the PC parts for your streaming setup!"

"Wait." Chloe’s brain stuttered. "You and Jordan went out together?"

"Yeah to Best Buy! I helped him pick everything out. He spent like almost two thousand dollars on high-quality stuff. The graphics card alone was eight hundred!"

"He did what?" Chloe felt her face flush.

"I know! Isn’t it romantic? He didn’t even complain about the price. Just handed over his card like it was nothing. You should’ve seen him when these creepy guys started talking to me. He put his arm around me and pretended to be my boyfriend to make them leave. It was so—"

"He put his arm around you?" Chloe’s voice sharpened.

"Not like that!" Kumiko backpedaled quickly. "It was just to scare off these guys. I was uncomfortable, and he helped. That’s all."

Chloe took a deep breath. She trusted Kumiko. And Jordan. But something about them shopping together without her knowing...

"Anyway, he got everything. We’re building it Sunday at your place. You’re going to love it." Kumiko’s voice had that forced cheerfulness she used when trying to change subjects.

"Thanks for helping him." Chloe unlocked her Civic. "I gotta go, Kumi. Talk later?"

"Sure! Love you!"

"Love you too."

Chloe sat in her car for a minute, not starting it. Two thousand dollars. Just like that. Jordan had dropped two thousand dollars on computer parts for her. Something warm spread through her chest, followed immediately by discomfort.

Taking money from subscribers online felt like business. Clean. Transactional.

Having her boyfriend spend money on her felt different. Messy. Complicated.

She drove home with the windows down, trying to sort through the knot of emotions. By the time she reached The Cooper Garment Lofts, she’d settled on grateful but confused.

Instead of going to her apartment, Chloe stood outside Unit 404. Jordan’s place. She’d never actually been inside, she realized. He’d been to hers multiple times, but she’d never seen where he lived.

Her knuckles rapped against his door before she could overthink it.

Footsteps approached. The door swung open.

Jordan stood there in a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants, hair slightly damp like he’d just showered. His face lit up when he saw her.

"Hey!" His smile warmed her from the inside out. "I thought you were going home after your lesson."

"I did. Sort of." Chloe pointed at his apartment. "Can I come in? It’s time I see your place."

"Oh." He looked surprised, then stepped aside. "Sure. It’s not as nice as yours."

Chloe walked past him, their shoulders brushing. His apartment mirrored hers in layout but felt completely different. The furniture was minimal—a black leather couch, a coffee table, a TV mounted on the wall. Everything was clean. Surprisingly clean for a college guy.

"So Kumiko called me." Chloe turned to face him. "Said you guys went shopping."

Jordan’s smile faltered. "Yeah. For your PC."

"Two thousand dollars, Jordan." Chloe’s voice came out sharper than she meant it to.

"One thousand eight hundred forty-seven dollars and sixty-three cents, actually." He gave her that lopsided smile, the one that usually worked on her. Right now it just made her chest ache. "I kept the receipt if you want to verify—"

"That’s way too much money." She needed him to understand this wasn’t funny. Wasn’t cute. Wasn’t some grand romantic gesture she could just accept with a giggle and a kiss.

Jordan’s smile faded. He took a step toward her, and Chloe had to resist the urge to step back. "It’s really not that much."

"Not that much?" Her voice cracked. "Jordan, that’s—that’s what some people make in a month. That’s my rent for most of a month. That’s—"

"I know." Another step. He was close now, close enough that she could smell his shampoo. "I know what it costs. Look, I know you’re trying to transition from..." He paused, chose his words carefully. "From your current work to streaming. This will help you do that."

Chloe’s arms crossed over her chest, a defensive barrier between them. "I could have bought it myself."

"I know you could have." His voice stayed level, patient. Like he was talking to a spooked animal. "But I wanted to."

"Why?" The question came out smaller than she intended. Vulnerable in a way that made her want to take it back.

"Because I care about you." No hesitation. No clever explanation or logical argument. Just that. Simple. Direct. The kind of honesty that bypassed every defense she’d built.

Chloe’s throat went tight.

Chloe didn’t know what to say. She’d spent so long handling everything herself. Her bills. Her mother’s medical expenses. Daniel’s college fund. Her apartment. Her career. Everything.

Jordan stepped forward, took her hand, and led her to the couch. He sat down and pulled her next to him. His arm went around her shoulders, and his fingers found her hair, gently rubbing through the strands.

"Mmm." The sound escaped Chloe’s lips before she could stop it. She melted against him, her head finding his shoulder.

"I know you’re not like Eliza." Jordan’s voice was quiet. "I know my family has more money than yours. And the fact you’re stopping OnlyFans for me means you’re giving up a huge income stream. So I have no problem investing in my girlfriend. Okay?"

Chloe nodded against his shoulder, her eyes closed as his fingers worked through her hair. His touch felt so good she could almost forget why she’d been upset.

Almost.

"Jordan?"

"Hm?"

"There’s something else bothering me."

His hand paused in her hair. "What is it?"

Chloe sat up, putting a small space between them so she could see his face. "Have you... pursued any more women?"