Paid Love

13th

Megan’s POV:

I couldn’t quite grasp what had actually happened in the last seconds. All I can understand now is that I’m standing before the door. On rollers maybe or on a skateboard I was brought here. Mom, acting like a 16 year old teenager, flashed me a toothy smile and showed me thumbs up. I sighed a loud audibly sigh of desperation and surrender and opened the door.

Heartbeat.

Shock.

Heartbeat and shock were the two words that could describe me now. Despite my huge dictionary of words, the only ones I could think of were those two. Because I forgot all about Alex. I mean the hot heartbreaking Alex. The thoughts slipped from my mind. Thoughts about his perfectly combed hair, his mesmerizing masculine cologne, his viral smile , and his eyes speaking with emotions. I stood still, frozen like an iceberg in the Atlantic. Not a limb moving, I gazed at Alex who returned the same amazed gaze. He dazzled me , marvelled me, sailed me to ‘oblivion’ island. For a second I forgot to breath, and I bet Alex  forgot too because we both directly inhaled the tensed oxygenless air. Returning to my senses, I smiled warmly as a greeting , but Alex wasn’t satisfied . And thank god he wasn’t because his next action got me into a frenzy. A whirlwind of emotions. He leaned and kissed me on the cheek. That’s when I realized,foolproof , that I liked Alex ; my fake husband to be. I squinted my eyes as a current of 1000 A flowed in my body.

“You’re mom is behind us. I wanted to make it real. Sorry is my action was disturbing.”, Alex’s voice drummed in my ear.

Heartbeat and shock were thrown out of the window. The only word that could describe me now was ‘crestfallen’. It wasnt intentional. The freakin kiss was just evidence in the court of marriage. I can’t like a person who hugs me or kisses me with not a pinch of passion. Never mind, I’ll deal with emotions later. Now, I’m in a life-or-death battlefield.

“Hello my son-in-law”, mom said adding a light laughter.

“Hi, Madame . Always a pleasure to meet you.”

“Thank you,my dear. And ,please, call me Helen .”

“Ok, Helen.”, Alex said as a cute punch line. But I didn’t find it cute.

Mom laughed along,being the adorable social butterfly she is, then seated us on the neat couch. Surveying the room, I realized mom did a pretty good job cleaning while I was hopelessly and virtually killing myself with guilt. Mom rushed to the counter after checking her watch. She grabbed the car keys , and then walked back to us.

“Sorry for the inconvenience , but my husband is arriving to the airport soon. I should give him a ride. Do you mind?””

“Not at all.”

“Ok,dear. I won’t be late.”

Please be, I muttered a little too loud making Alex smile next to me.

Ding-Dong

I scowled with unadulterated bewilderment, and Alex beside me did the same thing. It’s been almost five minutes since mom’s department; she couldn’t arrive this quickly except if she had a private jet, which was impossible.

I reluctantly walked towards the door and didn’t bother to peek through the opening. Then, I pushed it open,eyes firmly closed.

“What’s up homie?”

I was pretty confident that dad hasn’t metamorphosed into an 18-year-old teenager during his absence. And when I opened my eyes my thought was confirmed.

“Josh?What are you doing here?You’re back?”

“Ye,s right in time to see my buddy getting engaged. I’m happy for you girl. Can’t wait for the kids!”, Josh rambled then unfortunately allowed himself to hysterically laugh. Hence, I allowed myself to slap him effortfuly in the face ; a gesture acting as the temporary stop button to his laughter.