The Arrangement

Chapter 8

It’s two in the afternoon when I get back home. I shake my head in disapproval as I start unloading the parcels. I went a bit overboard but it kept my mind busy.

I bought a few new outfits, something’s I wouldn’t normally wear. Shows off a bit more skin than I’m comfortable with. I also bought proper PJ’s. I just have to get used to them.

“Need some help?” Michael asks suddenly behind me, I jump and bump my head on the trunk door. “Ow.” I say rubbing my head.

“Oh s**t!” He exclaims as I turn around, he inspects my head. An unwelcome feeling rushes over me. Dammit I was doing great until he touched me.

“I’m fine.” I laugh nervously; he is so close it makes me uncomfortable. I tried so hard to get these feelings under control but it would seem retail therapy is just a myth. 

“Let me help you with these.” He says picking up a few bags. “You went on a shopping spree.” He grins.

“Don’t know what came over me.” I mumble.

His grin gets replaced by worry. “Something to do with what happened last night?”

“No.” Yes. Maybe. I don’t know! I scream in my head.

“We need to talk about that.” He says as we walk into the house.

“We don’t have to.” I reply following him, I’ve spent the whole morning trying to forget.

“I want to.” He says putting my bags down on the bed.

“Okay.” I shrug dumping the bags on the bed. Tell me again that you don’t want me only maybe when you’re drunk and sad because she upset you.

He turns to face me looking directly into my eyes, and says, “So what I did was really unforgivable, I’m really sorry.”

“Michael wait.” I say putting my hands up in front of my chest. I can’t do this. I don’t want to talk about her; he is obviously still hung up on her. I never stood a chance. “You have history with her and all this, it’s a strange situation and you don’t have to explain anything to me.”

He frowns, “I wasn’t talking about her. I want to apologise for what I did to you.”

Shit! He remembers. What do I say?

“I was a complete ass.” He says holding my gaze. I can’t look away I feel hypnotized by his eyes.

“Let’s forget about it please.” I manage, instinctively throwing my arms over my chest.

“Please don’t hate me.”

“I don’t hate you.”

“Let’s move up the engagement party.” He says out of nowhere.

Huh? What? Where did that come from? I settle on, “Why?”

“The lawyer called me this morning, he couldn’t get hold of you, and he wanted to know when we were having it.”

Sonny? s**t! I didn’t answer my phone all morning, just in case Michael called. I didn’t know what to say to him.

“When did you tell him it was going to be?” I ask trying to keep my voice as steady as I possibly can.

“Next week.” He mutters and scratches the back of his head.

“That soon.” I say more to myself.

“I wasn’t sure what to tell him when he asked. We can change the date if you want.” He says looking guilty but oh so sexy. Dammit Jennifer! Get you’re head on straight, he doesn’t want you like that.

“No it’s fine.” I reply adding, “I’ll have to get started on the planning and you need to let me know who you want to invite.”

“Are you inviting anyone?”

“Mostly just people from work. Kelly is still out of town.” I shrug.

“There’s something else.” He says softly.

Oh no. “What?” I ask anxiously.

“We have to invite John and Lilly as well as their parents.”

He doesn’t have to explain, I know why. It’s to let everybody know everything is okay financially. The news got out somehow and the Wellington’s have to show they are not broke. If only they knew. I smile; they won’t know what hit them.

“I understand and I’m okay with it, but are you?”

He shakes his head, “No, but it has to be done.”

Michael’s phone rings and he holds it out far enough for me to its Lilly.

“I’m not keeping anything from you anymore.” He says putting his phone on speaker. I barely have a chance to think about what he said. What has he been keeping from me other than his chats with Lilly?

“Michael darling, are you free tonight? We need to talk.” Lilly says so sweetly I think I’m going to be sick.

“Sorry Lilly but no. I can’t keep doing this with you; I’m hurting people I care about.” He says. I feel like I’m in the way so I turn to leave but he takes my hand, I feel a current run through my body.

“Why not?” She asks angry. “Don’t you love me anymore?”

“I think it’s time for me to move on.” Michael says studying me.

With me? Stop it! You’re reading too much into this.

“You’re kidding! You want to be with that gold digging w***e? I heard about your engagement. You won’t be happy with her, she can’t be better than me in bed.”

She sounds completely insane; she is the one that left him.

“Bye Lilly.” Michael says firmly but before he can hang up she has the last say, “You’ll regret this! I’ll make sure of it!”

I’m shocked to my core. What is wrong with this woman?

“I’m sorry about what she said. If only she knew that you’re richer than all of us and that I’m the gold digger.” He mutters still holding my hand.

Anger courses through me. “Stop doing that.”

He looks at me surprised with my free hand I put my palm on his cheek, I can’t resist the pull, he leans into my hand and I say, “Don’t sell yourself short. You’re a good man. Kind, warm and funny. Besides whatever she says doesn’t bother me she doesn’t know me so I don’t care what she says about me.”

He closes his eyes for a second, relishing my touch I think.

“Thank you.”

I need to cool down. How can just touching him drive me crazy like this?  I head for the kitchen and open the fridge.

 I keep myself busy with work and the arrangements for the party, things have gone back to normal well as normal as they can be. There is defiantly some tension between Michael and me now. Not because of Lilly though. I wonder if he felt the pull as well. Odd as it was. Michael keeps getting calls from Lilly as far as I can tell he doesn’t answer but he looks depressed and I desperately want to do something to make him feel better but I don’t know what.

I’m nervous about the party it’s almost here, four days to go. I put my shorts and a t-shirt on, to take my mind off of my nerves; I decide to spring the clean kitchen.

I climb on the counter top to get to the top, scrubbing over and over, I kick the bucket over accidentally and the water spills on the counter and the floor, I slip, trying to grab hold of anything to steady myself but I fail, Michael catches me and we fall on the floor with me on top of him.

I used to much soap. “Oh I’m sorry.” I groan.

“What were you trying to do?” He asks concerned.

“Clean.” I mumble.

“Next time you should try not to break all the bones in your body.” He laughs.

“I’m glad I could amuse you.” I tease and try to get up but I slip and fall back into his lap. I make a mental note use less soap next time. Michael crosses his arms over my chest; I close my eyes welcoming his embrace. He pulls me tighter against him.

“Hold on, let me help you up.” He says, I can hear him smiling, he seems to be enjoying himself as I am and I couldn’t care less if we don’t get up.

We finally manage to get up and stay up after a few failed attempts that I’m sure of Michael made us fall on purpose but I’m not complaining.

“Come on, get dressed. I’m taking you out.”

“Where?” I ask nervously but a tingle of excitement floods over me.

“Just get dressed.” He grins.

I do as I’m told after quickly cleaning up the mess.