The Empire Of The Rose

Faking It [II]

I stared at him shocked unsure if I had heard him correctly.

"What, are you mad?" I asked him, trying to keep my voice down, even if I had the blender on, I wouldn't risk on being overheard.

"Just think about it, Alice, this is brilliant. Ryder came here all smug looking expecting that still after two years you haven't dated anyone since you're still hung up on him so imagine his surprise when he found out that you have indeed moved on from him and are engaged to this fit lad." Nicholas said with a small chuckle.

I looked at him slightly offended.

"I've dated you know." I objected.

Nicholas looked at me doubtfully.

"Really, then name one, one person that you have dated the last two years?" Nicholas told me.

I frowned.

"This is pure madness; Nicholas you don't know if this will work." I said trying to make some sense enter his thick head.

"I know for a fact that it will work, look Ali this will help me get over Alicia or at least stop thinking about her and I'm sure it will bring you the closure you need with Ryder." Nicholas told me.

"I don't need closure because I'm over him." I objected.

Nicholas gave a sight and caressed my cheek.

"You can lie to then and even to yourself, but you can't simply lie to me." Nicholas said before he pulled the engagement ring, the one he had gotten for Alicia.

"You kept it?" I asked shocked, is that had he had been playing around with last night when he was drunk and clearly moping about his break up?

"I really couldn't get rid of it; it never seemed to belong to her she barely used it besides Alicia hit me with it in the head as I was leaving." Nicholas admitted making me giggle.

I stared at the ring, it was indeed a real beauty, and we had after all spent a long time trying to find the perfect one.

I gave a sigh and met his gaze.

"Fine, I'll do it." I said before Nicholas slipped the ring on me.

It was perfect.

When we got back to the living room, I gave them their drinks only to be greeted by an awkward silence.

"This is a very nice apartment." Ryder said as he looked at us.

"Actually, they're called flats here mate." Nicholas pointed out.

I nudged Nicholas on the ribs and glared at him.

"Be nice." I told him.

Nicholas chuckled before he placed his arm around my waist pulling me closer to him.

"Of course, love, I apologize." Nicholas said as he grabbed my hand practically rubbing the engagement ring to Ryder.

"When did you two get engaged?" Naomi asked us as she cleared her throat.

"Not long ago but we really haven't told maybe people since like you said before we're always busy." I replied softly as I felt Ryder's hard gaze on me.

"You live together now?" Naomi asked as she saw that there were a lot of things scattered in the living room that belonged to Nick, I guess Beck had dropped them off yesterday while we were out, to say that Beck was eager to get rid of his brother and regain his privacy with Eleanor was a bit of an understatement.

Before I could reply Nicholas spoke.

"Well I was spending more nights here than I was in my own flat so Ali kindly suggested that it would be better if we lived here." Nicholas said before his phone rang.