14. Chapter Fourteen
The day had been long and taxing, and you feel every second tick by with an almost malicious slowness.
But the thought of spending the evening with Lea had been a bright spot, glimmering at the back of my mind, urging me through each tedious task and meeting.
Lea and I had made plans for a relaxed evening - having dinner and watching a movie at my place.
This low-key and intimate get-together has become our cherished routine ever since she arrived in LA.
After work, we rode home together, and after dropping her off in her driveway, I rushed home, a flurry of anticipation and a bit of nerves making my steps quick and my mind racing.
Cooking was a passion of mine, a way to unwind and express creativity, and tonight, I wanted everything to be perfect for Lea, better than the last time I made us dinner. I opted for one of her favorites - homemade pasta with a rich tomato sauce and garlic bread on the side.
Engrossed in the familiar rhythms of chopping, sautéing, and simmering, I gradually got lost in the process. The day’s stresses seemed to melt away with each stir of the sauce.
The doorbell rings, slicing through the aroma of garlic and herbs, and a jolt of excitement shoots through me.
I wipe my hands on a dish towel and hurry to the door, opening it to find Lea standing there, instantly brightening the dimly lit hallway.
She greets me with a warm and infectious smile that causes any remaining tension from the day to dissipate.
“The aroma from the kitchen is amazing,” she exclaims as she steps inside.
Her ease and familiarity filled my space with warmth beyond the heat emanating from the stove.
“Dinner will be ready soon. Make yourself comfortable,” I tell her, leading the way into the kitchen.
“How can I help?” she asks.
“Everything is done, but you can set the table.” I loved watching her do that the last time she was here—it made it seem like she lived here.
She goes about setting the table while I watch her.
Afterwards, she settles onto the sofa in the living room, kicking off her shoes and curling up with one of the throw pillows.
The pasta turns out exactly as I hope, and as we sit down to eat, I open a bottle of red wine and pour it into our glasses.
“Cheers to love and great friendship,” I say with my glass lifted.
“To love and friendship,” she says as she lifts her glass.
As we eat, I cannot look away from her while we exchange stories about our day and share laughter over minor mishaps.
There’s something about sharing a meal you’ve made with someone as special as Lea; it adds a layer of intimacy to the conversation, a shared experience about more than just the food.
“Thanks for another lovely pasta. It tasted so good. I’m so stuffed. I will grow fat living next to you, Master Chef.” She chuckles.
“My pleasure. I’m glad you enjoyed it. You can never grow fat, Lea. You have the most perfect figure.”
“Oh, DM, that’s so sweet, thanks.”
I reach out for her hand, gently squeezing it, and I can’t help but smile.
After dinner, we clear the dishes together, enjoying a comfortable silence between us, occasionally interrupted by the clink of ceramic.
Then, it was time for the movie.
We check a running list of movies to watch, which includes everything from classic films we have somehow missed to the latest blockbusters.
Tonight’s choice is a classic comedy, one of those universally acknowledged masterpieces that somehow neither of us has seen.
We settled onto the sofa, the lights dimmed, and the movie queued up. Lea nestles beside me, resting her head on my shoulder in the perfect spot.
I wrap my arm around her, pull her close, and hit play.
As the opening credits roll, a sense of contentment wash over me. There was nowhere else I’d rather be.
Throughout the movie, we shared laughs and comments, the easy banter that had become a hallmark of our friendship.
Every so often, I’d glance down at Lea, her face lit by the glow of the screen, and feel a surge of affection.
As the movie ended and the screen faded to black, Lea looked up at me, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions.
“Thank you for tonight,” she said, her voice soft. “This was perfect.”
I smiled, my heart full.
“Anytime. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
At that moment, everything felt right in my world.
The stress of work, the bustle of my daily life, and our fake engagement all faded away, leaving just Lea and me together in the comfort of my living room, basking in the simple joy of each other’s company. It was a reminder of what truly mattered, a perfect end to an ordinary yet extraordinary evening.
As the credits rolled on the TV screen, I leaned back into the couch, feeling content after sharing the delicious dinner and entertaining movie with Lea.
The warmth of the evening envelopes us, a cozy contrast to the chilly breeze outside.
However, right when I’m on the verge of fully immersing myself in relaxation, my phone suddenly rings, shattering the serene ambiance.
It was a FaceTime call from my mom.
“Hey, Mom,” I answered, wondering what could be so urgent for her to call at this hour.
“Damien, sweetheart, I heard some news today,” she began, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and concern.
My heart skipped a beat.
News? What news could she possibly be referring to? I glanced at Lea beside me, who raised an eyebrow.
“Oh? What news?” I replied cautiously, trying to gauge where this conversation was heading.
“I heard from Mrs. Marshall, my book club member, that you’re engaged!” Mom exclaimed, her tone laced with surprise.
Engaged? The word echoed in my mind, sending a jolt of confusion through me. I exchanged a bewildered glance with Lea, who looked equally shocked by the unexpected revelation.
“How did Mrs. Marshall find out?” I asked cautiously.
“Her son, who works in Selware, told her his CEO just got engaged.” She said.
“Engaged?” I repeated, struggling to comprehend how to respond.
“Yes, engaged! Why didn’t you tell us, Damien? And who is this girl you’re engaged to?” Mom pressed, her curiosity piqued.
I hesitated, trying to find the right words to explain the situation.
Is it possible to clarify this situation without adding more confusion?
I can’t tell her it’s not a proper engagement. I don’t want everyone at the office to find out the truth.
“Mom, it’s not what you think,” I began, my mind racing to explain. “I wanted to let you know that I’m engaged, but everything happened so quickly that I haven’t informed you,” I explained.
“I’m sorry. I will call you later to give you all the details.”
“I did not know you had met someone. I’m hurt you did not tell me. Who is she?” Mom insisted, her voice tinged with sadness.
Taking a deep breath, I glanced at Lea, silently pleading for her help to unravel the confusion.
She nods, and I take it as a cue to continue.
“Mom, you already know her. Lea and I have got engaged. We’ve been engaged for a few days now.”
I turn the screen towards Lea, and she nods. She says, “Yes, Aunt Anna, Damien, and I are engaged.”
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line as Mom processed this new information.
Finally, she sighed, a hint of relief clear in her voice. “Oh, thank goodness. Lea! How are you, dear?”
“Hello, Aunt Anna. I’m well, thank you. How is Uncle Robert?”
“He is here right next to me.”
My dad shows up on the screen with a glint in his eyes.
“Hello, Lea and Damien, such great news!” he says, sounding so ecstatic.
“Lea, I didn’t know you were in Los Angeles. When did this move happen?” I heard Mom ask.
“I moved here a few days ago. I got a job at Damien’s company, and I live next door,” she replied with a big smile.
“Wow! The two of you have a lot happening in your lives. I’m glad it’s you he is engaged to. You both look so happy. Lea, why did you not tell me about your engagement?” Mom sounded hurt.
“I’m sorry, Aunt Anna. I have been so busy settling into the new role and city…”
“It’s okay, Mom,” I chip in, reassuring her, feeling relieved that Lea was playing along.
“I should have told you earlier that Lea and I started dating. My bad.” Another lie, but it sounded so true!
After exchanging a few more pleasantries and promising to visit soon, we said our goodbyes. I ended the call, feeling a mix of amusement and relief.
Well, that was certainly an unexpected turn of events.
Turning to Lea, I couldn’t help but chuckle at the situation’s absurdity.
“Well, that was quite the twist to our fake engagement, wasn’t it?”
Lea’s eyes widen as she shakes her head in disbelief.
“Definitely. Who would have thought we’d end up lying to your parents about being engaged? They were so happy about the news of you and me being engaged. Damien, what do we do now? How do we end this whole fake engagement lies?” Her voice trembled as she spoke.
I can detect the fear in her voice.
“I’m so sorry to have put you in this situation. It never crossed my mind that my parents would find out. There is no need for you to worry about this situation. I will take care of it.” I say.
“How are you planning to do that?” She asks, looking very unsure that I could fix it.
In my confused state, I reassured her we would tell everyone soon that we had broken our engagement and everything would return to normal.
What does normal look like? I ask myself.
Seeing how distressed she looked. I feel defeated.
All I desired was for us to have a pleasant evening together so she could feel happy and at ease, rather than causing her additional distress.
I open my arms for a hug. She rushes into my arms without hesitation.
As we embrace, my rapidly beating heart fills my ears.
Lifting herself away from me, she looks at me and asks, “Dating? Is that what we are doing now?”
“Lea, you know how I feel about you. Ultimately, that’s what I want when you are ready.”
She takes a deep breath and lets out a sigh.
As we settle back into the comfort of the couch with her head on my shoulder, I can’t help but feel grateful for her presence and the laughter she has brought into my life in such a short time.
Engaged or not, dating or not, I know one thing for sure—I was fortunate to have her as a friend and an executive assistant. I love her and want more, but I will take things slowly.
I make a mental note to be more diligent about keeping my mom updated on the latest developments in my life. After all, I wouldn’t want her getting news about me from third parties.
However, at the moment, I find great satisfaction in relishing the uncomplicated joy of being in good company and basking in the comforting embrace of friendship during a cozy evening spent at home.