The Morning After Part I
680 Words
The morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the Hayes family estate, but Zara Bennett barely noticed.
Her hair was a wild halo around her face, the kind that only storms and one shared bed could create. Her thoughts, however, were in even greater disarray.
The night had been… complicated. Too close. Too charged. Too real.
And now, here she was, sitting on the edge of the king-sized bed, staring at the ornate rug like it had all the answers.
Zara’s POV
“Ugh,” she muttered, tangling her fingers in the sheets. “I am never trusting thunderstorms again.”
A creak behind her made her spin — and there he was. Julian Hayes. Sitting cross-legged on the other side of the bed, arms wrapped around his knees, staring at the floor like he hadn’t spent the last twelve hours pretending nothing had happened.
“Morning,” he said, his voice deceptively calm.
“I see you survived the storm without running screaming into the night,” she shot back, tossing a pillow at him.
He caught it with ease, smirking. “I survived because I had the best company.”
Zara froze. “Excuse me?”
“You,” he said simply, letting the corner of his lips twitch. “You’re very… tolerable in extreme weather.”
She blinked at him. “That’s the best compliment I’ve ever received.”
Julian rolled his eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself. I meant it literally. You didn’t kill me in my sleep, so… points for restraint.”
Tension Lurking Beneath the Humor
Zara folded her arms. “You were… weird last night.”
“Did I scare you?” His voice lowered slightly, eyes not leaving hers.
“No,” she said quickly. “I mean… maybe. You were… intense.”
He leaned back on his hands, gaze darkening just enough to make her stomach clench. “Intense? Or jealous?”
She blinked. “Jealous? Of who?”
“That guy at dinner,” he said, his jaw tight. “The French one — Aiden. Did you enjoy that little display?”
Zara huffed, flopping backward onto the mattress. “Honestly, Julian, it’s just a game. We’re… we’re fake.”
“Are we?” His voice dropped lower, softer. “Because last night felt very real.”
Her heart did a little flip. She turned her face away, trying to breathe. “That’s… impossible.”
“Maybe,” he whispered, moving just a fraction closer. “Or maybe you’re finally noticing what I’ve been trying to hide for years.”
She swallowed hard. “Julian—”
And that was when the door clicked open.
Parent Interference
“Oh! There you two are!” Vivienne’s bright voice cut through the tension. “We’ve been discussing something very important.”
Zara groaned inwardly. “I hate them already.”
Julian didn’t look relieved — only sharper, more guarded.
“You’re both looking a little… cozy,” Vivienne continued, stepping fully into the room. “So we thought, why not throw a proper engagement party tonight? The press, your friends, the works! What do you think?”
Zara’s jaw dropped. “Excuse me? Tonight?”
Julian blinked. “We… we can’t—”
“Oh, nonsense,” Vivienne said, completely ignoring him. “Everyone’s expecting a celebration, and what better way than to finally show off our darling fiancée and fiancé?”
The parents exchanged a victorious smile, as if they’d just orchestrated world peace.
Zara groaned again. “You’re out of your mind.”
Julian, however, shot her a look — one part warning, one part amused. His hand brushed against hers for a brief second.
“Guess we’re going to be… very convincing,” he murmured, low enough only she could hear.
Her chest tightened. “Oh, this is going to be a disaster.”
“No,” he said, voice deeper now. “It’s going to be interesting.”
And for the first time since the storm, Zara realized something terrifying:
It might not be fake anymore.
- Writer
