To Make Her Mine

Josh

Her eyes watered and I was the reason for her tears again.

Few days back When we spent our first night together in the cottage, I had decided I would do everything to make this work. I had ordered the roses and a dress and a good bottle of champagne the very next day.

Today evening, After we had eaten sandwiches, Eve got busy with work. I had to do a lot of things and I had very little time. So I lit the candles by the poolside and went back to another bedroom. The packages had been received on previous day by Mrs Fermiga and she kept them all in the other bedroom as I had instructed her. I arranged them all in the living room. Mrs Fermiga kept a black tux steamed for me. All things were in my favor tonight.

I wore white shirt and black tux. I was all set to work my magic. When she came to living room wearing red dress, I was awed by her beauty again. The dress was a perfect fit. I felt proud of myself in that moment. I took her by the pool. I could see her impressed by the arrangements.

I noticed she wasn't wearing her necklace. Upon asking her, she said she couldn't accept it. We were married damnit. Why did she need a reason to accept gifts from me? I was her husband and she was keeping this whole "we will keep it casual"attitude.

I admit that I had been the one who agreed to play this role in this stupid act. I shouldn't have agreed to this in the first place but when it came to her I couldn't deny her anything. Keeping this facade for long was impossible.

"As far as I'm concerned, I would do everything to keep you happy."

And her eyes watered. I saw the tears in those beautiful eyes and her brushing them off. It melted my heart to see her crying. She needed time which I had plenty. But this time I wouldn't let her get away, I would keep be there for her and make her realise that I could be trusted.

"Eve," I said," I want to be with you."

"You are here with me."

"I really want to be with you like in a relationship."

"Josh, please. We are not good together and it's been proven. It's just few months and it would be over. I will be out of your hair. So let's not get into this relationship stuff."

"Cherry. You are not getting it. Okay let's do one thing. Let's date."

"What? You are crazy."

"No, I'm serious. We didn't exactly date back then. I mean like dinner date or something like that, we just hung out with each other coz we were living under same roof. It wasn't serious dating. so let's do it now."

"Josh if you haven't noticed we are married. Isn't what you are suggesting will set tracks backwards? "

"You know this marriage isn't real. Not the way you wanted it to be or I wanted. It's more like a contract although it isn't on paper. But anyways we are together coz of it. we can still keep this casual like you said. Dinner or lunch here and there. Some vacation once in a while. I won't mind it. No strings attached."

"Why? Why are you doing this Josh?"

If I said I loved her, she would be spooked. She might want to end things faster. Taking baby steps would be the best thing right now. She needed sane reasons to do it not the crazy one I was offering her. Then it clicked me, Bridget. She would want to please her Mom. For now this reason would be enough.

"Cherry ,we are thinking about moving Bridget here, wouldn't she wonder why we don't stay together in a room. Why we don't go out ? Why we don't touch each other like we are married?"

"You have a point but we can just pretend. We don't have to do this date and stuff. You weren't into serious relationship. You cleared it long back. One of the many reasons for our break up." She looked away from me.