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“But we knew this isn’t about love or anything romantic,” he says slowly, almost in a murmur. I can hear a thread of uncertainty in his voice, and it stings more than I’d like to admit.
“Yes.” I take another sip of whiskey and avoid his gaze. “Yes, we knew that.”
We sit in silence for a moment longer, the steady tick-tock of the grandfather clock in the hallway keeping time with my racing heart.
Felix clears his throat, breaking the silence. “But… if it helps any, I have enjoyed our time together.” He looks at me from beneath long lashes. “Maybe more than I initially thought I would.”
My heart skips a beat. I meet his gaze and see nothing but sincerity there. A warmth blooms inside my chest, but it’s bittersweet — a painful reminder of the reality that hangs over us.
“I’ve enjoyed our time together too,” I whisper, holding his gaze.
His lips curve into a small, genuine smile, and for a moment the world feels a bit less bleak.
We sit there for a while longer, just listening to the rhythm of each other’s breathing, the gentle hush of the wind outside. The whiskey burns a slow track down my throat as I take another sip. The room is thick with unsaid words and unexplored feelings.
Suddenly, he stands up, his movements careful, deliberate. He walks over to the window and stares out into the night. His back is to me, but I see his slumped shoulders and feel a pang of sympathy, a mirror to my own emotions.
“Felix…” I begin, unsure of where this conversation is going, unsure if we are strong enough to weather it.
He doesn’t let me finish. He turns around abruptly and pierces me with his gaze. “I just don’t want anything to change.”
There’s desperation in his voice, raw and exposed. I don’t know what to say. I’ve revealed too much about my true feelings, I’m afraid, and though I wish I could take them back, that won’t be happening.
Silence falls between us once more. His gaze holds mine as if he’s looking for something — a sign, a hint — something to reassure him that he hasn’t crossed a line.
“I don’t either.” A part of me wants to reach out, to offer comfort with a touch, but I keep my hands firmly gripping my glass.
He slowly nods, takes one more look at me as if trying to commit every detail to memory, then turns back towards the window.
This part of the conversation might be over, though, but there’s still more I want to say. More I need to know.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were going to propose tonight?”
He takes a deep breath and turns back to face me. “I wanted your surprise to be authentic. It needed to look real, and I thought that if you knew it was coming…”
His explanation makes sense, but there’s something about the way he avoids eye contact that leaves me wondering if there’s more to the story. I shake off the feeling, reminding myself that we’ve been friends for years, and he has always been good at keeping secrets.
“You did great, though,” he says.
“You too,” I murmur at the carpet.
He comes and sits next to me, and it’s like fire through my veins. I’m aching to be touched by him.
Lifting my eyes, I catch his gaze. He stares back at me and, just like that, I know I haven’t been imagining things. He has feelings for me as well.
Without giving myself time to think, I close the distance between us and press my lips against his. At first he freezes, but a moment later he’s responding in earnest.
The kiss is gentle at first, a tentative exploration of uncharted territory. But as our lips move together, the kiss quickly grows deeper and more passionate, fueled by the unspoken emotions simmering beneath the surface.
Felix’s arms wrap around me, pulling me closer as we lose ourselves in the moment. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, a mixture of exhilaration and fear coursing through my veins. It’s a dangerous game we’re playing, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. And yet, as our lips finally part, I can’t bring myself to regret it.
“Wow,” he breathes, his eyes wide with surprise. “That was… unexpected.”
“Tell me about it,” I whisper.
I’m still reeling from the intensity of our connection, but despite the uncertainty swirling inside me, there’s one thing I know for sure: this fake marriage just got a whole lot more complicated.
A shiver runs down my spine as Felix’s fingers trace patterns along the curve of my back. I’m aching to feel his touch all over, and though I don’t know what that means for the future, I don’t care.
