RENT A HEART

Chris POV

I waited in the car for Eve in front of her mansion, ready to drive us to her family's home for dinner.

If it were up to me, after what happened yesterday, I would have stayed far away from Eve and sorted out my turbulent feelings.

I was still burning with anger over the situation, more so directed at myself than at her. I was furious that my heart still yearned for her throughout the night. I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, and couldn't concentrate at work throughout the day. All I thought about was her, and her alone.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and rested my head against the car's headrest, trying to find some semblance of calm.

A few minutes later, I heard the passenger door open, and the sweet aroma of lavender told me she had entered the car.

"Hi," she said calmly. I knew that if I looked at her, even for a split second, all the anger in my heart and the walls I'd tried to build around my heart to protect it from hurt would crumble.

"Hi," I replied, starting the car. But the next second, I felt her warm hand on my arm, which was resting on the steering wheel.

"Can you please look at me?" she said solemnly, her voice pleading.

I often forget that this is a contractual relationship, and there's no guarantee that we would end up together after the six months elapse, no matter how much I like her. So, I try as much as I can to remind myself that we're both just acting out a script we wrote ourselves.

But instances like this very moment, the kiss we shared at the club weeks ago, the sleepovers, and what happened yesterday at the reception, cloud my better judgment and give me mixed signals. They make me think that maybe she likes me as much as I do her, but I'm not so sure after yesterday.

After hesitating for a second, I finally turned and looked at her, and just like I predicted, my resolve fell like a house of cards. I noticed she looked exhausted, sad, and her eyes were red-rimmed.

At that moment, I was tempted to ask her what was wrong and if she was okay, but I resisted the urge.

I watched her open her mouth as though she wanted to say something before closing it, withdrawing her hand, and looking ahead. That was my cue, so I ignited the car engine and drove off.

The silence in the car was so suffocating I had to roll down the window and gulp in the fresh air. We arrived at the Mickelson estate some minutes later and parked.

"Wait," Eve said, and turned to look at me. This time her voice was clear and assertive, and her eyes were devoid of emotion.

"We need to bring our A-game and act like a real couple. Every Mickelson will be attending, including my cousins and nephews. I don't want us to give anyone any reason to suspect that we aren't a real couple, so please, let's just get through today."

"Fine, but I don't need the reminder," I said, a sharp edge to my voice. Just as I was about to alight from the car, I saw Frederick coming out of a car and walking towards the mansion.

"What is he even doing here?" I asked, exasperated, the simmering anger threatening to boil over.

I heard her take a deep breath before answering, "Well, my grandmother likes him and considers him family in some way."

Seeing him reminded me of yesterday's event at the garden, and instantly, I felt the familiar wave of fury wash over me.

"Wait," I said as she started walking towards the porch. I walked towards her and extended my hand, which she hesitantly took.

"Now let's go," I said, and walked in, hand in hand, determined to play the part, no matter how much it grated on me.

The dinner party was to be held in the ballroom in celebration of the birthday of the matriarch of the Mickelsons. I hadn't seen her during the wedding, but apparently, she was eighty years old.

"You should have told me it was a birthday celebration so I could have come with a befitting gift," I whispered to Eve as soon as I saw the decorations and banner in the ballroom.

"Oh, it slipped my mind, but you don't need to be bitter about the gift," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

I saw her mother approaching us with a radiant smile on her face, and I couldn't help smiling back. She reminded me so much of my mum.

"Finally, you two are here! Welcome," she said, embracing me warmly this time, which I accepted wholeheartedly.

"Come, come," she said, taking me by one hand and Eve by the other, leading us towards a table where a large group of people were gathered.

"Grandma!" Eve called out ecstatically.

"Oh, my beautiful granddaughter! I didn't think you'd make it," the grandmother said, drawing Eve into a warm embrace.

"Oh, Grandma, have I ever missed your birthday?" she said, pouting playfully. She really looked cute doing that.

"And who is this handsome young man beside you?" the grandmother asked, and that was when I stepped forward to pay my respects.

"This is Chris, and he's my boyfriend," Eve said simply, her voice laced with a hint of pride.

"Happy birthday, ma'am. I'm so sorry I didn't come bearing any gift," I said nervously, feeling a little awkward. There was an aura about her that commanded respect without her saying a word.

"Oh, come, come, come, don't be so formal. We are family now," she said, embracing me warmly. It was at that moment that I felt really bad for deceiving everyone in her family. I know it wasn't my fault at all, but I couldn't help feeling guilty. They had been nothing but lovely and welcoming to me. Hopefully, they don't find out until I'm able to turn it into a real relationship. That was my main goal after tonight.

It was a round table dinner, as the Mickelsons were such a large family, so Eve and I went to our assigned table and sat down.

The dinner was underway a few minutes later. Different entertainers were invited to perform for the grandmother, and when it was time to dance, she danced with all her grandchildren. It was a lovely sight, and I made a couple of videos when Eve was dancing with her.

"Will you dance with me?" Eve asked as soon as she came back to the table, her eyes sparkling.

"Uhm, sure... of course," I stammered, a genuine smile spreading across my face. I hadn't even realized how much I wanted to ask her myself after she finished dancing with her grandmother, but it was incredibly heartening that she had beaten me to it.

I took her hand and led her to the dance floor. She placed her hands around my neck while mine wrapped around her lower back. Our eyes locked in each other as we swayed to the soft music playing.

"You smell and look really good tonight. I mean, you've always looked really good and smelled really nice," I stammered, grimacing inwardly at how I was almost stuttering.

She just threw her head back and laughed at me, the sound like music to my ears.

"Why, thank you," she said softly, her gaze still locked on mine.

"I'll take that as you're no longer mad at me," she whispered, her breath tickling my ear.

"I don't think I'll ever stay mad at you. It's impossible, and believe me, I tried," I said truthfully, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

"I was just mad at myself," I added, not even realizing I had spoken the thought aloud.

"Why?" she asked, looking intensely at me, her expression full of genuine concern.

It was as if her eyes were communicating something to me, something I couldn't quite decipher.

Her beautiful green eyes were mesmerizing, to say the least. They held me spellbound, and I couldn't think of anything. I didn't remember what I wanted to say, and all I craved was to kiss her and knock the breath out of her.

And just as I leaned in, about to satiate my craving, the music came to a gradual stop, and the loud cheering and clapping of the Mickelsons snapped me back to my senses.

"Perfect timing," I grumbled under my breath while she just chuckled with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

I kissed her on her temple, bowed slightly, and gently led her off the dance floor.

"It is time for the most anticipated dinner!" the MC announced, and people cheered enthusiastically.

"What is so special about the dinner?" I asked Eve, my curiosity piqued.

"You'll see," she said, smiling brightly, a hint of mystery in her voice.

The servers set the table and served us our meal. I took a bite, and I couldn't believe what I'd just tasted.

"Oh my god," I blurted out, my eyes widening in surprise and delight.

"I know, right? They cook with my grandma's recipe. It's the best," she said, her cheeks flushed with pride.

"No, it's divine... I've never tasted anything like it," I confessed, utterly captivated by the explosion of flavors.

The dinner lasted for an hour, and after that, Eve's grandmother started having a chat with her grandchildren until suddenly she set her sight on our table, her gaze sharp and knowing.

"Now tell us, Chris, when am I welcoming my great-grandchildren?" she asked, her voice carrying across the room. I was so shocked at her question that I didn't know when I spat out the water in my mouth, causing everyone at the party to burst out laughing.

"Grandma!!" Eve called out, obviously annoyed and embarrassed, her cheeks burning red.

"I'm so sorry. She most times has no filter," Eve apologized, handing me a towel to clean myself.

"It's time to go. Let's go and bid our goodbyes," she said, and led me towards her family.

"Mum, Dad, and Grandma, we will be taking our leave now," she said politely.

"Nonsense," the grandmother retorted. "James!" she called, and a burly man who looked like the butler appeared instantly.

"Take them upstairs. They will be staying over 'til tomorrow," her grandmother instructed, her tone brooking no argument. And that was how I ended up sleeping over at the house of my father's and family's rivals.