Page 47 of Fake To Forever

Marie leans against the kitchen counter, her arms crossed over her chest, watching me with an amused expression. “You look like you’re about to have a panic attack.”

I let out a nervous laugh, running a hand through my hair. “I think I might be.”

“It’s just a house, Haven,” she teases, but her voice softens when she adds, “and it’s just Christian.”

“Yeah,” I murmur, glancing around. “Just Christian.”

Except it’s notjustChristian. ItisChristian—the man I’m supposed to marry. The man who’s not really my fiancé, but who’s standing by my side through all of this, acting like it’s real.

Marie walks over, placing a reassuring hand on my arm. “You’ve got this.”

“Right,” I say, trying to convince myself. “I’ve got this.”

Still, I can’t help but feel a little out of place. This house—it’s beautiful, sleek, and modern. Christian’s world is polished, elegant, and I’m stepping into it like I belong here, like this is where I’m meant to be, but the truth is, I don’t know how to make sense of any of it. Christian insisted on hiring movers to pack my things and bring over, but I needed a sense of normalcy. Of having Marie bringing my meager things into Christian’s mansion to remind me this is an arrangement. Besides, I don’t have any large pieces of furniture. I either sold it all or gave it to Maggie, who’s been sleeping on a futon since she moved into her tiny, unfurnished apartment. Pretty much everything I have is going to fit into the bedroom Christian is giving me, which is huge with an ensuite bathroom and walk-in closet.

“Hey,” Marie says, her tone teasing. “I know this is a lot, but it’s going to be okay. Christian’s a good guy, and besides… you can use the pool whenever you want.”

“True,” I chuckle, but I remember what Christian and I did in the pool house, and I flush.

“You okay?” Marie asks, annoyingly perceptive as usual.

Nodding, I answer, “Yes, of course! Just got a lot going on, obviously.”

A sly grin curls Marie’s lips. “Oh, is that all?”

“Don’t you have an event at the library you need to go to?” I grumble.

She releases a dramatic sigh. “Yes, yes… I better get going. But call me if you need anything, okay? Even if it's to chat about wild, dirty fantasies you might be having about your husband to be.”

“Go away,” I declare with a mortified laugh.

She blows me a kiss before practically sashaying out of the kitchen.

Once she’s gone and things get quiet, I’m alone with my thoughts, surrounded by the boxes that contain pieces of my life now sitting in Christian’s house. The silence stretches out, and I realize how much this place still feels likehis—not ours. Not mine.

This isn’t exactly what I thought it would be like to move in with someone and have a family. Oliver is out with his nanny, coincidentally planning on going to the library event Marie just left for, and Christian is still at work. The big house is empty and silent, and I feel a little bit lonely.

I’m about to start unpacking when the front door opens, followed by the sound of footsteps. Christian. My heart skips a beat, and I quickly glance at the mess of boxes, feeling a little self-conscious about the disarray.

“Haven?” Christian calls from the entryway.

“In here,” I answer, my voice a little shaky.

He appears in the doorway of the kitchen, his tie loosened, looking every bit as tired as I feel. He pauses when he sees the boxes, then his eyes find mine, and he smiles—a warm, easy smile that immediately puts me at ease.

“Looks like you’ve been busy,” he says, walking over to me.

“Yeah, Marie helped me get everything moved in,” I reply, gesturing toward the stacks of boxes. “It’s, uh, a little overwhelming.”

He nods, glancing around the room. “Moving always is.”

“I didn’t want to make a mess of your house,” I say, suddenly feeling like I’ve invaded his space.

Christian shakes his head, his expression soft. “It’s not just my house anymore. You’re here now.”

I blink, caught off guard by how sincere he sounds. He walks over to one of the boxes and starts opening it, like it’s the most natural thing in the world, like he’s welcoming me into his life for real.

“You don’t have to rush to unpack everything,” he says as he pulls out a few items. “We can take our time getting you settled.”

---