Married to my Enemy

Chapter 22

The next few days fly by so fast, I spend my days going to college and looking for jobs with my friends.

In the evenings, although Kohl and I don't talk about our relationship or the things that have happened between us, we develop a mutual understanding. We spend our nights watching movies and committing to new shows together. We laugh about our childhood stories and he finally admits that he hated me because he was jealous that his mum liked me just as much as she liked her own kids. As if I didn't know that. I laugh at how ridiculous the excuse is. I feel like there's more to it but I refuse to visit that thought when what we have right now is good. He looks at me with an embarrassed expression and apologises for thinking that I wanted to marry him for his money.

It feels nice, we're moving on.  I begin to realise that my feelings are growing much deeper for him and maybe I could stop questioning his actions by thinking that he couldn't like me, that he hates me because it doesn't seem like he does after all. I smile to myself.

Kohl interrupts my train of thoughts, "My cousin Lacey's coming over with her husband and kids tomorrow." "I know, your mum told me. I'm excited, I love them!" "Yeah, they're great... Goodnight Dara." Kohl says as he rolls into bed.

-

"Dara! Come here and hug me!" Lacey practically yells before she can even get through the door with James and her kids Alyssa and Brady. I head towards them and give them all a hug, "how have you all been?!" We take their bags into the spare rooms.

"When I found out James had work in London, I had to beg him to let us tag along so we could visit you guys. I missed you! You know I'm always telling all the cousins, you're practically one of us!" I look at her as if I'm about to cry, "Aww Lacey you're the sweetest, I missed you too! Is there anything you wanna do while you're here?" "Oh, girl! Why don't you take me to Holland Park, I so wanna see the Japanese Kyoto garden!" "Done! I haven't been either, let's do it. Let's take Alyssa and Brady too." "Okay lemme tell them and get ready, I'm excited!"

-

We take pictures in the Kyoto garden and sit down somewhere close by on the grass while the kids play. Since we bought some snacks and some sandwiches that I prepared, we snack on it and chat away. "So, Dara, I was wondering..." "Yeah?" "How are things between you and Kohl? it's no secret that the two of you didn't like each other before you got married. Not one of us could really understand Kohl's mum's decision but when I see the two of you together, it kinda seems like she's a great cupid?" Lacey giggled. "Ah, we're good, we really are. I feel like we're getting to know each other again but I'm scared? I guess." "Aw Dara, why are you scared?" "I don't know how to explain it, for as long as I've known we've never seen eye to eye and now it completely throws me off that we're becoming friends and that I might even be falling for him?"

Lacey does a little dance. "Do you even know how James and I got together?" "Not really, no. How did you guys meet?" "Well it's kinda similar to you guys but also not, we actually started as good friends and we were strictly platonic until sparks kinda flew and we couldn't deny that we were better as more than friends. So, I get it. You need to stop being in your head about it all and just take a leap of faith. You're already married now if you don't try and explore your feelings, it won't do anyone any good. Believe me, girl, we all see how Kohl looks at you, when I see him now, I question whether he even hated you to begin with!"

I take her advice and process it. We start to pack up and make our way home. Lacey asks me if I would watch her kids tomorrow night while she and James go on a date just before they leave to go back. "It's fine if you can't! I would've asked Aunty but it seems like she's busy." "No, no, are you kidding? Of course, I can, you and James go, okay. Enjoy yourselves!" "Aw Dara! When I tell you, it's been so long since we've gone on a date! Thank you!"