The FAFSA Bride. ||| on hold |||

Chapter 5: The Wedding Night

"We're here, were married, why can't we just be together?"

His words hit her ears and made her blush, knowing his eyes were slowly undressing her.

"Because it will complicate things," she replied. "Bryce, we don't even know each other. Our marriage is a farce, albeit, a friendly one, but it's still just a cover. It's a way for us to get what we both want."

"Look, you're overthinking things," Bryce said. "Haven't you ever had a friend with benefits? Besides what better way is there to get to know each other than to just get naked?"

"Wow, that's romantic," Michelle sneered. "I really need to invest in finding a sweeter fake husband next time."

"I can be sweet," he whispered, moving in closer. "I can be anything you want. And I promise you, I can make our marriage very happy if you let me. I can make you forget all your problems, make you feel things you've never felt before Michelle. God, there is no way it will complicate things, technically, it will legitimize our marriage."

"A legit marriage is going to make the divorce awkward, don't you think?"

"Why do we have to get a divorce at all? Why not just see where life takes us?"

"Because you've taken my insane plan and added ten layers of crazy to it, Bryce. We are not in love. We barely know each other. We are together to get scholarships and cheap housing. That is it. I'm sure you're great and probably amazing in bed or whatever, but it doesn't matter. For us to work, this needs to be platonic. Our arrangement is clear, we get married to get financial aid to pay for our undergraduate degrees. After that, we split amicably and tell our parents we a mistake getting married too young. Sex is not on the menu, pal."

"Well, I think you just ruined the fake honeymoon for me," Bryce said.

"I'm going to go down to the pool for a while," I said. "Maybe you should take a cold shower."

"Maybe you should take a hot shower, with me," Bryce said.

Michelle frowned, realizing her just on paper husband had an over zealous labido. Sure, she thought he was sexy and wondered what he would be like to kiss again. But mostly, she was afraid to let him close to her. Michelle didn't let people in. She hustled into the bathroom and slipped out her dress and into her swimsuit. Instantly, she regretted buying the string bikini with the pink ruffles. If Bryce was interested in her before, walking around half naked wouldn't ease things up. She pulled a robe from the hanger on the door, double knot the sash.

She opened the door, but to her surprise, Bryce was gone. There was a small not by the nightstand.

"Went for walk. I'll be back to see my wife, soon. -Bryce."

He was taking the whole "wife" thing too literally, Michelle decided. But she didn't have the desire to think about her situation, since there was indoor hot tub waiting for her. The hotel actually had an outdoor pool area, and the weather was gorgeous on an august night. But she guessed that the indoor pool would be quiet. She needed time to think about her life, and how at just nineteen, she'd married a perfect stranger. A stranger with a six pack and dimples that wouldn't quit, but a stranger still. She climbed into the hot tub, a single tear falling down her face. What would her mother think of this charade? Michelle shook her head, trying not think about such things. If her mother was here, everything could have according to plan in the first place.

But Bryce wasn't a problem, he was the solution. Michelle just knew better than to think a marriage with some stranger could last, even if he was handsome, charming, and kind. If she allowed herself to feel things for him, she was begging for pain.