Benefits

XXVIII.-Moments Like This-

Maine woke up on a fine Sunday morning. But unlike the warm sunny day, there's a storm going on inside of her. She spent the past 24 hours second guessing every decision she made her entire life, including their fake wedding that is about to happen a few hours from now. 

"Can I really do this?" she asked herself, still weighing in the pros and cons of staging a wedding just to escape her father's plan. The door to her room then opened and Natalie walked in. 

"Breakfast is ready" she told her. 

"Thank you" 

"Maine, I want you to answer me honestly okay?" Natalie uttered before sitting next to her. Maine then turned to her side so she can face her best friend

"Okay" 

"Do you really wanna do this?'

"Do what?" she asked, puzzled. 

"The small fake wedding you're gonna have with Richard. I mean, can your conscience carry the fact that you're playing with his emotions?"

Maine got into thinking, this is the exact reason why she's having doubts.   Yes she have feelings for him but the thing is, she's still scared. She's quite afraid that this fake wedding will give Richard the fire to pursue her again. Maine knows she's not ready for a relationship, or at least she thinks she is. She'd rather see him happy with someone else than be stuck in a chase with her but have no guarantee of having a happy ending. 

"Natalie ... I love him .. I love Richard"

"What? Oh my gosh" 

"I know ... I never thought I'd feel this but yeah ... I fell in love with him and that made things a lot more complicated" 

"Does he know?" 

"I don't think so" she replied. Her heart is pounding, she's trying to think of the best thing to do right now.

"Natalie?" 

"What?"

"I don't think I can marry him" 

--

Richard woke up unsurprisingly excited. Unlike Maine's family, the ones that are on his side are actually very happy for him. His Dad and Uncle thinks that although it came out of nowhere, him getting married is fine since it will be the start of a new generation for the Faulkersons. Robin is the youngest Faulkerson of the family, and it's been sixteen years since he was born that's why everyone is excited for another baby to arrive.

"You do know I still think you're being reckless right?" his father asked while  they're having breakfast. 

"I know, but I really just love her Dad. I'm sure she's the one" he replied, still playing his role on their plan. However, he knows that even if the wedding is real he wouldn't sweat it so much. He really loves her that's why he won't mind marrying her, fake wedding or not. 

"I just hope you won't regret this one"

"I won't"

"She's not pregnant is she?" 

"No she's not Dad, I swear" 

"What did Jenna say about this?"

His heart dropped for a moment, Richard then took a sip of the coffee and said the following words:

"She's fine with it"

 Just last night, he and his former flame had a talk about it. Richard made it clear that whatever they had is over, Jenna is fine with it and send her good lucks to them.