"Emilia"
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!"
"Emilia. It's okay" I straightened my posture ready to explain myself. Ready to tell her that I hadn't kissed another woman since Liliana died. But she had already drew her own conclusion.
I saw it in her eyes.
"Emmy..." My voice faded away.
I shouldn't get attached. This was temporary. Whatever that's going on in her head, was better than a life with me.
I couldn't stand her saying that but I couldn't disassude her.
I walked over and took the sweat from her hands. I guided her to the couch and sat her down. I noticed I had neglected to take off her wet socks earlier.
I knelt in front of her and took off her soaked soaks. Her feet were cold.
I rubbed them between my hands, trying to get some warmth back into them.
Then out of nowhere, she asked.
"If I still had money, would you have kissed me?" Her voice sounded so sad.
I exhaled and looked at her.
"I guess, we will never know. You don't have any money" I answered.
She thought about it for a minute. I hoped she would let it be. Hoped she would be uncomplicated but she was Emilia Vanderbilt, she's the type that match into kitchen and buy a husband.
"That's not exactly true. My mother left me some money. I get it when I turn twenty five. I will be twenty-five in a couple of months. I think I can still pay you, Carson Gibbs."
I felt a little relieved. I couldn't exactly give her money to start a fresh without drawing attention but I could wait it out with her until I know she was going to be okay, then, I can be Trent Gibbons and move on with the twins. But she wasn't done talking.
"But the deal has changed" she whispered.
She was interrupted by a phone call.
It was the third time this night, I might have wrapped us in a bubble in here but out there in the real world, the world carried on. And Carson Gibbs had neighbors and people who know him and they have heard of the shotgun marriage which was why Cable was working extra hard to scrub my face and hack about a dozen news stations before the real monsters found us.
"Aren't you going to pick up?" She asked me.
"No" I stated as a matter of fact. She gave me a look. I grabbed the remote and turned the TV on. "They are calling to tell me what I already know"
Both of our names were all over the news. #truelove wins.
"We are trending!" She yelled and took the remote from me to increase the volume.
"Yes, sweetheart" I said massaging her feet some more. "That's what happens when you call a press conference to announce to the world that you married me. My phone won't stop ringing, my pictures are about to be everywhere"
"Oh God" she said. "I guess I blew up both our lives. I'm real sorry Carson"
"It's fine. Don't sweat it"
She stood up and paced briefly. "Carson" she said "i have a new deal"
I stood up and I moved closer to her, too close, she took a step back and I took one forward, then she held my gaze.
"What's your new deal, Emilia?" I asked her.
"In exchange for half of the 3 million dollars my mother left me, will you stay married to me? Pretend to be madly in love with me for the cameras and to spite my grandma...and maybe, put your name down on my baby's birth certificate so he doesn't grow up a bastard" She made a face because she knows she was asking for a lot. "And maybe, Make me cum...I will throw in another 500k in it for you?"
I stared at her. Didn't say a word. Couldn't say a word.
She took a step closer to me, too close.... really too close me.
"What do you say, Carson Gibbs?" She was even closer now "Kiss me like you are hopeless and utterly in love with me. I want to know what that feels like"
For a second, I didn't move. I just looked at her, at the challenge and the plea in her eyes. And then, something in me broke open.
My silly girl.
My hand shot out, tangling in her hair, tilting her head back. The other arm locked around her waist, crushing her against me so there was no space left between us, so I could feel every curve and every frantic beat of her heart.
"Like this?" I leaned in closer to her and when I couldn't be more closer.
"Yes" she whispered.
I looked her one more time, a thousand thought rushing through my head but only one stayed with me – You can't, Carson Gibbs, You can't!.
I pulled away instantly.