Chapter 15 – Fallen In Love
Three days. One bed. One pillow wall.
I thought we’d go home and breathe.
But Mom had other plans.
“Boat ride?” I repeated, staring at the glossy brochure she handed me, immediately we got back home. “Seriously?”
She nodded, thrilled. “Private lake. Sunset view. No cell service. Very romantic.”
Jasmine arched her brow. “Isn’t the retreat over?”
Mom grinned. “Love doesn’t clock out. Go enjoy it.”
I groaned. “We just got back.”
“Exactly why you need this,” she said. “It’s your honeymoon. Enjoy it.”
Jasmine glanced at me, unreadable. “Do you want to go?”
I sighed. “Do we have a choice?”
She shrugged. “Apparently not.”
The lake was still. Dark, glassy water stretching out forever. The boat was small. Too small.
‘This thing looks like it could flip over if I sneeze,” I muttered, stepping in.
‘Then don’t sneeze,” Jasmine replied, climbing in after me.
in
We sat facing each other. No distractions. No escape. The air was cold, but the sun was warm. It felt… quiet.
“So, she said, dragging her fingers across the water, “any regrets?”
I leaned back. “Plenty.”
‘About us?”
That made me look at her. “Do you want the truth?”
She nodded.
I
‘Yes. I regret that we started this as a joke. I regret that I didn’t try to get to know you sooner. I regret… waiting.”
She blinked. “That’s more honest than I expected.”
‘I’m tired of pretending,” I said. “Aren’t you?”
She looked down at her hands. “I don’t know what’s real anymore. The fights. The jokes. The moments when I think you actually care–then you shut me out again.”
I leaned forward. “That night. The storm. I didn’t shut you out.”
“I know.”
‘And the letter. That was real.”
5.19 pm
She bit her lip. “Then tell me something real now.”
I hesitated. Then said, “You scare me.”
She blinked, “What?”
“You get under my skin. You ask questions I don’t know how to answer. You make me want things I thought I’d stopped wanting.”
“Like what?”
I looked at her. Really looked.
“This,” I said.
Then I moved.
One slow step forward on the boat. No rocking. No hesitation.
I cupped her face gently.
She didn’t pull away.
“You’re not scared anymore?” she whispered.
“Still terrified,” I said. “But I want to be scared with you.”
Then I kissed her.
She kissed me back.
Our breathing quickened as I wrapped my hands around her waist, rubbing circles around her lower back while I deepened the kiss.
When we pulled apart, she rested her forehead against mine. “We’re in the middle of a lake.”
“I know.”
“There are probably fish watching.”
“I’ll fight them.”
She laughed, breathless. “You’re insane.”
“Only for you.”
She leaned in again. Her lips found mine with more urgency this time.
I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into my lap. The boat rocked slightly, but we didn’t.
core.
Clothes shifted. Buttons came undone.
“Are we really doing this?” she asked against my neck.
“Do you want to stop?”
She shook her head. “I’ve never wanted anything more.”
I laid her down gently on the bench seat, covering her with my body.
The world faded. The lake, the trees, the sky–gone.
It was just us.
Us, and the way she whispered my name like it meant something.
Us, and the way her fingers trembled against my back, holding me like she’d never let go.
20 4295
5:19 pm to 5
After, we stayed tangled together, bodies warm in the cool evening breeze.
She ran her fingers through my hair. “This doesn’t feel like pretending.”
“That’s because it’s not.”
A long pause.
She looked at me. “So what now?”
I brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. “Now we stop lying.”
“To ourselves, or to everyone else?”
“Both.”
She smiled, small and soft. “Good.”
But then her smile faded.
“What?” I asked.
“I don’t want to wake up tomorrow and have you shut down again.”
I sat up slowly, bringing her with me. “That won’t happen.”
“You say that now.”
“I mean it.”
She didn’t speak for a while. Just leaned into my chest, listening to my heartbeat.
“I’m scared too,” she finally whispered.
“Then we’ll be scared together.”
The boat drifted back toward shore.
We dressed in silence.
We walked up the hill toward the car. She slipped her hand into mine.
I didn’t let go.
When we got back to the house, Mom was waiting in the driveway. Arms crossed. Beaming.
“So?” she asked.
Jasmine flushed. “..
Mom grinned wider. “You’re glowing.”
“Must be the lake air,” I said.
“You two had sex. Finally!” Mom exclaimed.
I groaned while Jasmine blushed beside me, “Mom, stop acting like a teenager.
She shrugged, “If acting like a teenager will give me grandkids then I don’t mind.”
I stared at Jasmine, at the way her cheeks flushed and the way she smiled faintly.
Ever since Amber betrayed me I guarded my heart and made sure I avoided love.
But the funny thing was that I fell in love with Jasmine without even realizing it until now.
From a fake marriage to impress my mom to wanting to keep Jasmine with me forever.
“Mom, there’s something you need to know,” I stated suddenly.
Chapter 15–Fallen in Love
50.0%
5:19 pm
Chapter 16 – The Truth
Silas’s Pov
My mom stared at me expectantly as she grinned happily.
“Wait, let me guess,” she giggled.
I smiled while staring at Jasmine. My heart was racing as I wondered how my mom would feel when she finds out what it is I wanted to tell her.
“Go ahead,” I smiled.
“So maybe I was wrong and you guys have actually had sex and now Jasmine is pregnant,” my mom said.
Jasmine’s cheeks reddened as she looked away embarrassed.
I rolled my eyes, “Mom, stop acting like a teenager. And our sex lives don’t concern you.”
”
My mom ignored me as she tapped her cheeks, staring intently at Jasmine who was now red I feared she’d pop.
“But I’m certain you guys had sex today because Jasmine is glowing. If you guys didn’t then that means I’ve lost my powers.”
“Mom, my marriage to Jasmine is fake,” I said suddenly, cutting her short.
Jasmine stared at me and I gave her an assuring look as I squeezed her hand gently.
‘It’s alright,” I whispered.
I
‘Oh that, I already know,” my mom said.
It was my turn to be dazed now as I stared at her,
‘What do you mean by you already know?” I asked her.
She shrugged, “I mean it’s obvious. I know you’ve been so scared to let anyone in since what happened with Amber so I had to put pressure on you to get married. Thankfully you married a good girl and I made it my mission to make you both fall in love.”
Jasmine was equally surprised as her mouth hung open in shock.
“So all these while you knew we were faking it?” Jasmine asked.
My mother shrugged, “Of course, you’re not such a good actress.”
“But… but… why didn’t you say anything?” I asked.
My mom shrugged, “Maybe because I have my own secret and also because I needed you both to fall in love.”
“But we’re not in love,” Jasmine said as she turned to me and her eyes widened slightly, “Or are we?”
She was now looking at me and I shrugged, “I guess you’re tolerable now and I don’t mind being around you all the time.”
My mom arched a brow at me and I sighed, “Fine, Jasmine, I guess I developed feelings for your without realizing it. Seems my mom is the only one who can see it.”
“You… you have feelings for me?” she asked, surprised.
Chapter
