Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
JAMES
The last week slipped by in a bit of a haze. I was in and out with work and Nate kept himself to himself. We sat and ate together, we chilled and watched television or if he was gaming I would be curled up in the armchair reading my book whilst Jeff purred on my lap. It worked. Little conversations were had, but we never spoke of the contract from the morning. We both said what we needed and moved on.
After all, this wasn't a real marriage. We just had to play the part. I patched my wounded ego up and kept my head down. I had a dinner with the girls tonight which Nate said I could host at the house. I floated the idea with the girls, which they were happy with but now I didn't know whether I should have just booked a restaurant. Kept out of his way. He is busy with work, not that I really understand what he does, but I don't want to ask questions. Not my place.
Sebastian’s squeals fill the bathroom as he splashes, his twin Smith frowning as he tries to grab the floating duck that is bobbing around Seb.
“Here we go darling,” my voice is soft as I push the duck towards Smith and his little cheeks dimple as he smiles, a wide toothy grin.
My sleeves are rolled up, my red hair pulled into a messy bun on the top of my head. I honestly think I am more wet than the twins.
The front door goes, and I hear Keaton's voice float up the stairs.
“Where are my boys?” the steps sound heavier as the twins' eyes widen before glistening when their daddy pops his head around the door frame.
“Dada,” Seb squeals even louder than before, his legs kicking, his arms thrashing through the water as Smith giggles.
“Hey,” I fall back onto my knees, slipping my hands out of the warm water and grab the towel, drying up to my elbows.
“All good?” Keaton asks as he kneels next to me, and I take that as my cue to stand.
“Yeah, boys napped well, they've eaten amazingly,” I nod softly, tugging my sleeves back down.
“Perfect.”
“Their bottles are made up and ready to go when you are. I have laid their fresh pyjamas in their nursery and their bun-bun's.” I step back, “Also their pacifiers are in their cribs. They've not had them at all today, I know Arizona is trying to use them for sleep only. Seb seems to be teething, his hands have been at the back of his mouth most of the day.”
Keaton looks over his shoulder at me and gives me a sweet smile.
“Thank you, James, you can go when you're ready. I know you have plans tonight,” his head twists back around as he plays with the twins.
“That's okay, I can hang around for a bit longer if you want a hand getting them dressed and down?”
“I'll be okay, I’ll see you tomorrow yeah?” he is speaking to me, but his sole focus is on the boys.
“Yeah,” my voice is soft as I answer him. Walking towards the hallway before I spin. “Oh, Keaton?” And this time he does turn to look at me. “Dinner is on the stove, I know Ari is working late but...”
“You're an angel.”
And with that, I walk out of the room, grabbing my phone, keys and coat and pull on the front door, closing it behind me.
The walk from Keaton and Arizona's to Nate's is not overly far, but I found myself walking a little slower tonight. Not because I didn't want to get home, just because I was enjoying the silence.
Glancing at the time on my phone, my friends are due over in the next couple of hours and I am desperate for a shower and to get ready for tonight. We're getting takeout but none of us can decide what we want. Nate is going to be home; I tried to work it for Friday evening as he will be going to his friend’s for bachelor drinks as Kaleb is getting married this weekend. But my friends couldn't do it. Nate promised he would tuck himself away in his room, not that he had to, but I don't want a grilling from the girls over our relationship.
They don't know about the contract or the deal, they just think we were reckless, and I hid our relationship.
My thoughts are in overdrive and before I know it, I am slipping my key into the lock and letting myself in.
“Nate?” I call out, unsure if he is home from work or not. His car is parked but he sometimes carpools.
“In here,” he calls from the kitchen, and I toss my keys down and hang my coat on the rack.
“Hey,” my voice floats through the kitchen as I lean against the doorframe, he is cleaning the work surface.
“Hey, how was work?” he asks, pushing his glasses up his nose.
“Yeah, was good, the twins were angels.”
Nate smiles.
“It's a small world isn't it,” he says as he sprays the surface and wipes it over.
“What is?”
“Well, that you're now my wife, you work with one of my friends and we actually have met before.”
I crinkle my nose.
“It was only briefly.”
“Was it?”
“I was waiting for Keaton, I think I may have been standing on the path and you walked up like a ray of sunshine...” he pauses and cocks his head to the side, “not that you would have noticed me.” His face falls and I see his shoulders lift softly as he laughs, “But then Arizona sent you my way and well... the rest is history.”
My cheeks pinch and I cast my gaze away.
He was telling the truth. I didn't even notice him. Pretty sure on the day he was talking about, I was probably running late, Arizona was already out of the door and the twins were screaming.
“Do your friends know about us?” I step a little further into the kitchen and now I watch as his cheeks glow in a pretty pink.
“No,” his response is short, but not blunt. His tone is still wrapped in a soft blanket.
“How come?” I perch myself on the barstool, elbows on the breakfast bar. He shrugs his shoulders up.
“It's none of their business,” his lips curl into a smile and a shoulder shrugs up. “I am a very private man, we could have been married years and they wouldn't know unless I wanted them to.”
“I get that,” I mean, I kind of do, but then again, I don't.
“What happens behind these closed doors are only for the people behind them, I don't need to shout from the rooftops if I am dating, or having an affair or in our case, married. Because it doesn't concern anyone else apart from the people who are in that situation. Sure, it is a bit of a dick move, and I can say that honestly, this is the way I am. But...” he pauses and places his cloth and spray down before he walks over to me, “I will be showing you off this weekend at the wedding, because you, Little Ember, deserve to be shown off. You're too pretty to hide away forever,” and I roll my eyes.
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?” I ask, sarcasm coating my tongue.
“Somewhere in there, yeah.” his hand presses down on the breakfast bar, a boyish grin on his lips.
“I didn't hear it,” I smirk, my eyes dancing with his.
“Well, that sounds like a you problem,” his head tilts again as he boops me on my nose and I slap his hand away softly.
“I'm going to have to go shopping,” I change the subject swiftly.
“Well, how about we go Friday?”
“Work?”
“Call in sick,” he teases, and I shake my head.
“I can't, Arizona is on nights; Keaton has to work...” I narrow my gaze on him, “so do you.”
“Spoil sport,” he rolls his eyes, and I laugh.
“Okay, how about Friday night?” he asks and I just stare at him.
“I'll give you a minute,” I sit back, crossing my arms across my chest.
He waits a beat or two and my grin only grows.
“Oh shit,” he runs his hand through his hair.
“There we go,” I throw a wink at him, and he laughs.
“Well, you don't have much choice... either sick on Friday or...”
“I am not calling in sick,” and my tone is sharp.
“Okay baby,” he nods and turns to walk over to the other side of the kitchen where he continues to clean an already pristine kitchen.
I push off the stool and head for my bedroom, I needed to get sorted before the girls arrive and hopefully, I can borrow a dress or two because clearly, I'm not going to have a chance to get out before the wedding.
Annoyance pricks at the base of my neck. Why so last minute? Why did I not mention it before? I find myself pacing, one arm laid across my chest, the other bent so my fingers are on my lips. I resist the urge to bite my nails.
My phone pings and pulls me from my back and forth. Eyes shoot down to where it rests on the comforter of my bed, I see Heidi's name telling me they'll be leaving in half an hour.
Twisting, I move towards the bathroom and strip down as I wait for the shower to warm, and once it's scalding, I step under.
The water tends to my tense skin, my hands massage shampoo into my scalp and I feel my thoughts slowly slipping away, but I know as soon as I am back downstairs and near him I'll get antsy again.
I don't even know if I am mad at him.
He just put me in a mood.
Just a little thoughtless and it got my back up.
Sighing, I turn the faucet and wrap myself in a warm and fluffy towel. I moisturise my skin then pad into my bedroom and open my closet.
High waisted black jeans and a cropped white tee. Drying my hair with the towel, I drop it to the floor and run the brush through the knots. It doesn't matter how much conditioner I use, it still knots. My hair is long, probably just above my waist and it's thick. So, so thick.
I mean, it's great, until it isn't.
Turning the hairdryer on, I blow out my hair and finish it off in its loose waves. Sitting at my dressing table, I reach into my underwear drawer and grab some black panties, a white bra and black socks. Slipping them on, I then pull my socks over my jeans. I like my feet cosy. I cannot stand cold feet. Pulling the small drawer under my mirror out, I pick out my products and start with my skin care before I spend the majority of my get ready time on my make up. Sure, most girls don't like being done up with loads of make up, but without it, I feel naked. Of course, my skin feels better without it, but I need it. Like the air that I breathe. I am a girlie girl. Hair done, make up on, nice clothes.
It makes me feel good and that's what it's all about at the end of the day. The way you feel. Not the way someone else makes you feel, it's the way you make yourself feel.
That's where the problems creep in sometimes. We're all too busy wearing what other people like, nope, not me. I'm all about me.
Placing my make up away as I finish my lips in a nude lipstick, I grab my perfume and spray on my neck and wrists, dabbing them together and inhaling the sweet smell.
My phone beeps again from my fluffy comforter and I push up, striding towards where it lay and see that they're on their way.
Replying with a quick message, I slip it into my back pocket and make my way downstairs.
The annoyance before my shower still prickles beneath the surface, but not enough to cause a scene.
Stepping off the bottom step, I make my way towards the kitchen and stop when I get to the doorway, eyes a little wider, lips parted as I look at the room in front of me.
The lights are dimmed, candles are flickering and champagne sits at the side of the large dining table in an ice bucket. The kitchen slips off into a large dining room with sliding doors that will shut the room off if needed. I step a little further in, heart fluttering in my chest.
And there he is.
My fake husband, kind of.
Standing just inside the doorway with a stupid smile on his face.
The table is all set out with place settings, glasses and champagne flutes. There is low music humming from the corner speaker.
“Nate...” I trail off, eyes a little glassy.
“Firstly,” he moves closer to me, his fingers finding mine as he brings the back of mine to his lips, “you look devastatingly beautiful,” his voice is low, “you physically hurt me with how perfect you are,” he lowers my hand, and I miss the way my skin tingles.
I lean my face into my shoulder, and for some reason I feel shy.
“Secondly, I wanted to do this for you, wanted you and your friends to have a nice evening,” he steps back from me, his hazel eyes racing over my body and I feel my skin erupt into goosebumps.
“Well,” I say softly, “thank you, I really appreciate it.”
And I do.
“No need to thank me, there is wine in the fridge; beers, cocktails... you name it, we have it.”
I look over my shoulder at the kitchen, soft candles filling the corners, flickering around the room.
“Thank you,” I whisper as I turn to face him.
“Enjoy your night and I’ll see you in the morning,” he steps forward, letting his hand scoop my cheek into his palm, and places a kiss on my forehead. He lingers for just a second, but it felt like hours.
And before I can even say anything, he walks out of the room.
He confuses me, but I suppose he can. If he wanted to kiss me, he will, but it's on his terms so it seems.
Inhaling deeply, my lungs expanding, I spin when I hear the door knocker. Holding my head high, I press a smile across my lips and walk towards the front door to greet my friends.
We sit at the table, take out cartons spread across it as we enjoy another glass of champagne.
“So, how are you?” Brooke asks me, one leg crossed over the other, elbow on the table as her hand tucks under her chin.
“Yeah, I'm okay, work is busy, Nate is amazing,” I mean, it's not a lie... but kind of felt like one. “You?”
“Yup, everything is grand, business is picking up,” she pauses, eyes filling with glee as she places the delicate champagne flute on the table and bends down to where her bag is.
“Here we go…” Heidi rolls her eyes and drains the glass before topping herself up.
Brooke springs up, shoving me a box across the table, her perfectly manicured nails tapping on the lid.
“This is what I was waiting for, it’s the new model.”
“Right?” I look down to the box then back up to my friend.
“Well, thought you would want to give it a go...” she trails off, brows wiggling.
“Why?”
“I don't know, in case you're horny or something.”
“She has Nate,” Heidi says with a condescending tone, softly reminding our friend that I am in fact married. But little do they know that we’re not having sex.
“And? They can play together, or, if he isn't up to the task, she can find someone who is,” and my cheeks burn a flaming red.
“Jeez,” my voice is hushed as I slip the box off the table and drop it into my lap.
“Look, don't be so uptight about it, just give it a go. I need honest feedback and well...” she side eyes Heidi.
“Well what?” Heidi snaps.
“You won't give it to me,” Brooke sits back in her seat and crosses her arms over her chest.
“Because you don't believe me,” Heidi's voice grows a little louder, her hand shooting forward and Brooke rolls her eyes.
“About what?” I feel so left out of this conversation that I find my eyes bouncing between the both of them as I wait for this story to unfold a little more.
“How good it is.”
“Yeah, because you went a little overboard in the review, and I don't know, I just don't know if people want that much information.”
“How good is it?” I find myself leaning forward, eyes narrowing on Heidi.
“Let’s just say I needed a few towels laid down beneath me.”
“Oh my God,” I duck my head, breaking eye contact with Heidi as I reach for my champagne flute and bring it to my lips.
“Exactly, and she wrote three paragraphs about how she had an out of body experience and soaked the sheets.”
And I choke on my mouthful, eyes widening as I snort and try my hardest to not let the champagne shoot out of my nose or choke and die.
“You did not,” laughter bubbles out of me, my smile widening and my cheeks ache.
“She bloody did!”
Heidi just sits there completely unfazed; nose lifted in the air as she sips her drink as if nothing was wrong.
“Heidi,” I half gasp, half laugh again.
“What?! She wanted an honest review.”
“I know babe, but there is honest and then there is honest .”
She shrugs her shoulders up and darts her hand forward, stabbing a spring roll with her chopstick and taking a bite.
“Let me know when you use it, then tell me how to write a review about the best experience of your life.”
Brooke facepalms herself, head hung low as she shakes it from side to side.
“So why the new model?” I try and deter the conversation, but only slightly.
“Had a new investor, backed my company and gave it the cash injection it needed.”
“Ohhhhh this is exciting, why didn't you say anything?” I tilt my head to the side.
“I didn't want to jinx it,” one of her shoulders lift, her lips pulling into a smile.
“I get that...” my eyes cast to the box, and I slip it closer to me.
“So will you give it a go?”
“For you...” I pause for a moment and reaching for my glass I hold it towards her, “I will.”
Our glasses clink and Heidi smirks, “Can't wait to hear what you think.”
“Are you going to try it with Nate?” Brooke asks, skating over the question and that's when his voice echoes around the kitchen.
“Try what with me?” he breezes into the room acting all innocent and shit and I try my hardest to not react.
Brooke and Heidi exchange looks before all eyes are on me.
My eyes widen, praying that they can read my mind that is screaming don't say anything, please for the love of God do not say anything.
But of course, they don't hear a single word.
“I gave James a little gift, I revamped an old toy I made and well, thought she—or both of you—could test it out.”
“Oh yeah?” He spins around quickly, eyes burning into mine.
He is just playing the part; he is just playing the part .
“What toy is this then?”
“It's a vibrator, kind of,” her cheeks turn pink as she looks at Heidi and then to me before casting her gaze back to Nate. “You can connect with anyone over the world, and they can control the vibrator, you can video call them or whatever.” She flaps her hand around, “So yeah, I want James' honest review before I put them up for sale.”
“Well...” his eyes fall to the floor for a second and then they're back on mine, burning a little more than they did before. Flames lick against my skin and I can't break his gaze even if I wanted to. “That sounds fun,” his tongue darts out and runs across his top lip, his eyes skimming across my body. He looks handsome as ever, low hanging sweatpants, black tee that clings to his muscular upper body, hair all messy and shit and the urge to run my fingers through his hair overwhelms me but I resist.
“Anyway,” I push up and take the empty bottle and place it in the bottle bin before grabbing another from the refrigerator.
Turning, our shoulders brush ever so slightly and I don't miss the way sparks run through my fingertips and fizzle out before it can reach my chest.
Nate clocks my reaction, his head lowering and my breath catches in the back of my throat. Time moves so slow that in just that split second, it's me and him. No contract, no audience, no agenda. It's just us two.
His breath is shallow, our eyes glued to each other and just as I feel myself leaning closer, his gaze drops to my parted lips.
“Just kiss her already,” Heidi shouts out and that's all it takes to snap us out of that moment, the split second of just us two comes crashing back down to reality when her words shatter the magnetic forcefield.
Nate steps aside, clearing his throat and I start to walk slowly over to where my friends are sitting.
“Safe to say I think you'll be using it together,” Heidi's brows raise as she holds her flute out for me to fill. Popping the cork, I do, I fill her glass to the fucking brim.
“Happy to help out, Little Ember, ” he taunts as he glides near the table, throwing a soft wink in my direction before he walks out of the room.
My chest aches and burns from the shallow breaths I took, desperately needing to fill my lungs with anything but him.
“Fuck,” Brooke whispers, her eyes trailing over her shoulder as she looks to where my husband disappeared and I am sat, not quite sure how to process the feelings that are currently swirling deep inside of me.
“That was so hot,” Heidi snipes in and my cheeks are still blushing pink.
I half laugh it off, draining my glass before Brooke is filling it up again.
“If you weren’t married to him, I would definitely be shagging him right about now.”
“Oh my God,” I whisper just as Nate walks back into the room and I want the ground to swallow me fucking whole.
“Thank you, but I think I’ll just stick to my wife,” and I throw my head into my hands.
Heidi is giggling, Brooke is silent, and Nate is probably loving every second of this.
“Bye ladies,” Nate says all cocky as he disappears again and this time, we wait a beat or two before we begin speaking, just to make sure he is out of earshot.
“Seriously,” I whisper, finally able to lift my head as I look at my two friends.
And then we all burst into laughter.