Chapter 5
My head literally spun when Boston suggested we stay married for a month. It was already crazy to me that he knew my name, but now he wanted to be married to me. I should have said no, but for some reason, I couldn’t. I didn’t answer him at all.
“Harvest.” My name coming from his lips made goosebumps fill my arms.
Against my better judgment, I looked up at him, and Jesus Christ. How could he look at me like he wanted me more than anything else in the world? He stroked his full beard, and I wanted to see what it would be like if his fingers stroked my pussy like that.
I twirled the ring in my hand and focused on the plate in front of me.
Boston made me nervous, so it was hard for me to look at him.
It wasn’t because of who he was, because I’d been around plenty of men with money before.
It was something about the way he looked at me like he could see inside of my soul.
I couldn’t think straight when I looked at him again, and he licked his lips.
“I know this is a lot. I don’t know how long you are here, but maybe we could spend some time together while we both are here.”
“Boston, I don’t know.” Even though Victor and I were on a break, he still was technically around, and it wouldn’t be right to entertain Boston while I still had that going on.
“Let’s exchange phone numbers, and you take some time to think about it.”
I knew my friends were going to have a field day with this once they found out Boston actually wanted this.
I still didn’t know why they even let me marry this man, but I would be sure to find out once I made it out of his room.
I couldn’t even finish eating my food because my stomach was in a thousand knots.
I guess it wasn’t that big of a deal to at least exchange phone numbers.
“Okay. What about the ring?” I held the ring up toward him.
“That’s yours to keep.”
“But you got it for someone else.” Something about holding on to a ring he purchased for another woman didn’t sit right with me. Granted, she never showed up, so she lost her rights to keep it, but still. I was sure when he bought it, he had her in mind.
“I did, but that’s irrelevant. That specific design was my idea, so I want you to keep it.
At least while we give this a try, if that’s what you decide.
If it goes past thirty days, I’ll get you another one.
Either way, for now, I want you to wear it.
I’m wearing my ring. See.” He held up his left hand, and I don’t know how I didn’t notice the ring when we were in bed.
Probably because I was in a state of shock.
I chewed on my bottom lip because a part of me wanted to just say yes, but I really needed to process this. Maybe my friends would tell me to tell him no, but I also felt like they would tell me to do it since they didn’t stop me from marrying him in the first place.
“I have to find my phone. I just need some time to think.”
“That’s fine. Your phone along with your bag is in the front room. I’ll grab it.” He stood, then leaned down and kissed my forehead before leaving the room.
That simple forehead kiss made me want more. His bow-shaped lips were soft, and I wanted to feel them everywhere.
With him out of the room, I could finally breathe, even though it felt like he took my breath with him. I slid the ring back onto my finger and held my hand out. I examined it from every angle and had to admit that it looked good.
“That shit looks good on you.”
I jumped when Boston’s low and gravelly voice floated to my ears.
I wasn’t sure if the drinks and weed made him sound like that or if it was his normal voice.
I’d heard his voice in an interview once, but I didn’t remember it sounding like that.
It didn’t sound like he could make me cum just from talking.
He walked over to me and placed my phone on the table along with my bag. I knew as soon as I picked it up, I would have a million missed calls and messages. I was afraid to look on social media because I wasn’t sure if anyone had spotted us together already.
I saw multiple messages from the group chat, but I decided to bypass those for the moment. Instead, I opened the phone option so I could call Boston’s phone to save his number and so he’d have mine.
“What’s your number?”
Boston took his place next to me. This time it seemed as though he was closer than he was before. I typed his number in as he recited it out loud, then called his phone. I heard it ring in the distance, and I thought he would have gotten up to get it, but he didn’t.
“Are you not going to get your phone?” I asked since he didn’t move.
“Nah, not yet. Trust me, I’ll know your number when I do get it.”
“How?”
He ran his finger over my shoulder, then down my arm. We both watched as goosebumps prickled under his finger.
Boston smirked but didn’t move his finger. “I’ll know because I gave you my personal number, and anyone else that would call that number, they’re already saved. Don’t worry, mama. I’ll know how to reach you when it’s time.”
That was the second time he called me that, or maybe it was the third. Either way, I liked it.
My phone vibrated on the table, and we both looked down at it. It stopped but started again. I already knew it was the girls probably wanting an update on what was going on.
“I probably should go,” I told him as my phone went off again.
“I know you have some things to think about. You probably also want to check in with your people and change and shit, but you don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”
It felt like my heart would burst, because he wanted me to stay just as much as I wanted to, but I couldn’t.
He was right; I needed to do a couple of things, starting with a hot shower.
I hadn’t done anything, but being in a club for however long was enough.
I always took a shower before bed, so the fact that I hadn’t made me feel icky.
I stood from the chair, and Boston did as well.
He grabbed my hand and led me toward the front of the penthouse.
Getting a good look at it now that it was lighter outside, I noticed the window that overlooked the strip.
The sitting room alone was bigger than my entire room.
There was a table with two lamps, and flowers that sat right in front of the window.
If I decided to come back, I could see myself drinking tea or something in front of that window.
It looked like the perfect spot to take some pictures as well.
When we made it to the door, Boston stopped me before I could open it.
He lifted my chin so I could look up at him since he was taller than me.
“I hope you really consider this. No matter what you decide, call me and let me know.” He placed the softest kiss on my lips, then pulled the door open.
He didn’t give me room to reply, and I was glad he didn’t, because I almost said fuck it and let the chips fall wherever they may. I didn’t want to be too impulsive, though.
Like marrying a stranger isn’t impulsive.
“I will,” I damn near whispered as I stepped into the hallway.
As soon as I made it to the elevator, I sent a 9-1-1 text to the group chat. I told them we needed to meet in my room but after I showered and got my thoughts together.
“Bitch, do you see that ring?” Jasmine said as she lifted my hand.
“It sure is sparkly. I almost pulled my shades out,” Lavender joked as she passed me an electrolyte drink.
I went straight into the bathroom as soon as I entered my room. I stayed in the shower for a while, then got out. As I dried my body, then moisturized, I thought about Boston and his idea to stay married. I still hadn’t had a clue as to what to do, and I hoped my friends could help me out.
“Why did y’all let me marry a stranger?” I asked them after I took a big swig of the drink. I needed it after drinking last night. I also took something to help combat the headache. The breakfast that I ate with Boston helped a little, but I didn’t even eat it all.
“Girl, for one, that is a fine, loaded stranger,” Iris said.
“And you didn’t see what we saw,” Taylor added.
The five us were piled on the bed and the floor of my hotel room. After my shower, I threw on some sweats and a crop top. I wasn’t sure where I would end up for the day, and I wanted to be comfortable for the moment.
“And what did you see?” I asked as my eyes roamed around the room.
“From the outside looking in, it looked like you two were already in love,” Lavender said.
“What? How?” I wasn’t sure what they saw, but the way the other girls nodded, they all must have seen something.
“Once y’all started talking, it was like the rest of us weren’t around. The eye contact like y’all were ready to fuck on the dance floor said it all.”
I took another sip of the drink, then grabbed a couple of pretzels from the bowl that sat in the middle of us. Whenever I had a hangover, I liked to eat pretzels.
“Might I add, we asked you were you sure, and you said yes,” Iris informed me.
“Bitch, was I not drunk?” I looked at her like she was crazy. “And high?”
“I mean, yes, but at the same time, we know when you are way past your limit, and you technically weren’t,” Taylor said with a shrug.
I couldn’t believe they acted like this whole thing was normal. Even Boston acted calmly about it.
“So what happened when y’all woke up since I’m assuming you did go to sleep?” Jasmine wiggled her eyebrows.
I ran down everything to them from the moment I woke up in Boston’s bed to him suggesting we try it out, and me leaving.
My phone chimed by the time I was done, and when I checked my messages, I was surprised it was Boston.
Boston:
I know you are supposed to be thinking about things, but I would love it if you had dinner with me. I think the only true way would be for you to spend a little time with me before you decide.
“He wants to have dinner with me,” I told them.
“Do it. You’ll get a free meal, and that’ll help you decide if you really want to see where things go with him,” Lavender said.
Dinner wouldn’t hurt. It would give us an opportunity to figure out if we liked each other or not.
“What about Victor?” I asked after a few seconds.
“The purpose of a break is to decide if you want to stay together or not. The only real way to do that is to go on a date. If Victor still occupies your mind afterward, then think about going back. If he doesn’t, well, maybe that relationship ran its course.
I’m sure Victor is out enjoying this break,” Iris said as she rolled her eyes.
My friends didn’t necessarily dislike Victor, but they didn’t love him either.
If I were being honest, Victor probably was enjoying his freedom from me.
Without overthinking it any more than I already had, I responded to Boston’s text.
Me:
Dinner is fine.
He immediately responded back with a time and asked for my room number.
Once it was solidified, I put my phone down and focused on my friends.
We talked about how the rest of the night went, but I couldn’t help but think about Boston.
I kept glancing at the ring, and I loved the way it looked on me.
Maybe he’d let me keep it regardless of what happened.
I didn’t tell my friends, but I panicked inside as Jasmine talked about Boston’s brother. Everyone with him was fine as hell; I did remember that.
They helped me find an outfit for the night before they left. Once they were gone, I took a much-needed nap because if I stayed awake, I would freak out until it was time to go.