Sold #2 - A Desperate Love

Chapter 18

When the girls returned from the nursery with their glasses of wine in their hands, none of them could have anticipated the laughter that they found in the dining rooms as the boys talked with Michael and Darcy about their relationship. Mika was disgusted by the quiet display of affections Michael showed his new fiancée, his arm lying across the back of her chair as they all sat at the dining table, playing with her hair as he twirled it around his finger, kissing the side of her head as thought they weren't close enough already. He had done nothing since they had arrived and she couldn't believe that, although they had dated for almost a year in high school, when they were thirteen, he had seemed to have forgotten all about her. Mika had spent the past week, since knowing he was coming home, imagining the scenes that would follow his return home. She thought about having a great dinner with their friends before going back to either her apartment or his hotel room and enjoying a steamy night in together, and of course it would only last as long as he was on holiday but it would be something for him to remember on the flight back home. Which was what made his entire relationship with Darcy so unbelievable, he had always been so shy when they had been dating and even when he had been with Georgina, the only physical sign that said they were in a relationship would be the way they argued. "So, you really told her that Mike would be suing her if she didn't change it?" Ronin asked, vastly impressed with the few stories Ben had coaxed from the couple as to their relationship and how they had been spending their time since they met just seven days ago. It seemed hard to believe, but they were really in love and knew everything that was worth knowing about each other, Darcy proving that when she had stopped Michael from having an allergic reaction to a mistaken order at a restaurant, as she'd got to know Greg.

"No, she told her that unless she wanted me to go into anaphylactic shock..." Michael laughed, gladly glancing down at his beautiful fiancée with a smile as the boys listened intently, finally trying to make amends for their quick judgement over his fiancée and his relationship with her. "...and spent the next twelve days in hospital suing her ass instead of bringing Darcy here, then she'd better damned well change the order to what I'd asked for." It was obvious to everyone that Darcy felt embarrassed by the particular story her fiancé chose to share, reaching up to brush her fingers against his as his arm sat around her shoulders, leaning her head into his arm shyly. And as the girls sat down, the boys all laughing in amusement at the feisty side of their friends fiancée they would never have guessed existed, as Ben finally returned from the kitchen, with various plates of food balancing across his forearms. They were all glad to finally get the dinner out of the way, and the boys were silently thanking Darcy for the things she had done after Michael had sat down at her feet, feeling that their love had been betrayed by his friends. He had looked so sad and disappointed, even taking a few moments silence before looking up at Darcy and suggesting they go home, but she had been adamant not to give in, touching her finger to his chin, kissing him softly and then answering with a soft no as she forced him to look up at her.

He hadn't been happy about it, pushing her hand away and asking why they had to stay when they were having such a horrible time. And even Jin had been surprised by the sweet smile she showed him when she admitted that Michael was the only one not having a good time, and that was all because he couldn't mind his own business and stop trying to push her into something she wasn't ready for. No-one had expected her words or the smile that Michael gave her in return, touching her face and apologising for 'doing it again', whatever the it had been. But Darcy seemed to understand and said she forgave him and then laughed as she told him to get off the floor and make an effort to allow her to make her own decisions. Within moments he kissed her, stood up and offered to pour her a glass of wine while she sat at the table, demanding that she didn't move because he didn't want her 'running off'. The entire thing had been entirely bewildering and unexplainable for all the boys as they looked on, but if they were able to get one thing from it, it was that Michael was willing to do anything for his fiancée and not only did he want her to be happy at all times and to be close to her, he seemingly had a habit of wanting things for her that she wasn't ready to take part in. And Ben was glad to know that, when she finally was ready, Darcy would be there to assert herself to the other girls as Michael later informed him she would, but that she just wanted a little time to think things through and figure everyone out.