Renting Hearts

twenty-one- a crush

Jadesola

Jonathan wasn't joking about us getting to know each other, and he meant it when he said there were going to be no objections.

Yesterday, we had our breakfast and dinner together, and even though we did both while sitting in silence, it was weirdly comforting.

This morning, eating breakfast together wasn't as silent as it was the day before. Because Jonathan was bent on making sure that I was going to be okay at work today. I already assured him that I would be, but he seemed unsatisfied.

He went ahead and asked that I take one more week off, but I refused. I couldn't show up and off work anytime I wanted, take any amount of break I wanted only because everyone now knew about me being married to him. If I did that, I wouldn't be deserving of my salary.

As Ahmed drove us to a stop in a parking space, I gathered the strap of my handbag, silently preparing myself for whatever I was going to face.

I knew that there were going to be a lot of gazes thrown at me. Lots of questions from those who could muster up the courage and walk up to me. I had prepared my mind for every one of them.

"Are you sure you are going to be okay?" Jonathan, who was seated at the other side of the car, asked for a millionth time.

Shutting my eyes closed, I groaned, "Oh my God, Jonathan. Are you really going to keep asking?" Saying the last word, I glanced at him, and I caught the fade of the twitch at the corner of his lips.

Did Jonathan just smile? Was he, at this point, doing this intentionally? Was he in any way enjoying all the groaning and grunting I had been doing while we were on our way here?

"Give me a call if someone gives you a hard time," he continued, and a scoff escaped me. Who would give me a hard time after learning that I was married to him? I wasn't sure he knew that every one of his employees was scared of him. "Also give me a call when you're done with work. If you at any time feel like going back home to take a rest, Ahmed will be at your service."

I slowly turned to him and gave him a stare. Why would I go home just at any time?

"I only said that because of your health. I mean, even though you insisted you're okay now, you were sick just two days ago."

Applying some dramatic effect to my tone, I said, "Mr Jonathan Phillips, so now you are a doting husband who's bent on spoiling his wife, ehn."

I was only making a joke to relieve the tension between us, the tension building up in my chest. But the corner of Jonathan's lips curved in a smile, and I mean in a real smile.

I didn't know if it was the surprised look on my face; I didn't know what made it funny because Jonathan's smile stretched a little more, extending to his dark brown eyes.

I know that we had established the fact that Jonathan was hot, but have you seen him smile? He had knocked my breath away, and he wasn't even aware of it.

"Jonathan, are you smiling right now? You are smiling," I said, wide-eyed. I didn't even know why I lowered my voice, actually, it wasn't necessary.

A light frown slipped up his face, "Is there a problem now?" He asked.

"No, it's just--- I have never seen you smile." I wish I could control my grinning right now. I must look stupid.

"I do smile."

"No, you don't."

He stared at me briefly like he was thinking about what I just said to him. "Maybe you haven't been paying attention."