Page 107 of Fake Married to the Grumps

We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, the air filled with a sense of peace and reconciliation. And then, my father clears his throat, breaking the silence with a sudden burst of enthusiasm.

"You know, Bryce," he says eagerly, his eyes lighting up a bit. "Now that you and Marissa are married, we should have a big wedding to celebrate."

My heart plummets at the thought of a big wedding. It was never part of the deal. Our marriage is fake, and a big wedding will only complicate things further. Marissa will never agree to all this.

But as I look around at my parents, their faces filled with hope and excitement, I can't bring myself to say no. So, I dig the hole deeper for myself and hope Marissa doesn't have my head for this.

"Sure, Dad," I say finally, forcing a smile onto my face. "That sounds great."

Chapter 25

Marissa

I flop onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling as I try to make sense of the mess that is my life. Bryce's kiss still lingers on my lips, a constant reminder of the complicated emotions that have been swirling inside me ever since that moment.

"Complicated doesn't even begin to describe it," I mutter to myself, rolling my eyes at the understatement of the century.

I mean, seriously, who would have thought that a simple kiss could turn my life upside down in such a short amount of time?

One minute, I'm convinced that Bryce sees me as nothing more than his sister's best friend, and the next, we're sharing a kiss that leaves me breathless and confused. Everything's blurred and confusing.

And now, things between us are more awkward than ever. We can't seem to have a normal conversation without stumbling over our words or avoiding eye contact like a couple of awkward teenagers. It's like we're both tiptoeing around each other, afraid to acknowledge what’s left unsaid.

I mean, come on, how hard can it be to just talk about what happened and figure things out like adults? But no, instead, we're avoiding each other at all costs and pretending like nothing happened.

I roll over onto my side, burying my face in my pillow as I try to drown out the cacophony of thoughts churning inside my head. I can't help but wonder if Bryce is just as confused and conflicted as I am.

Why did he kiss me?

I let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through my hair as I try to make sense of it all. I mean, does he like me? Or was it just a onetime thing, a moment of weakness that he regrets?

Yet you're also hiding from him.

And what about me? Do I like him? Or am I just reading too much into things, letting my imagination run wild with the possibility of something more?

I shake my head, trying to clear away the fog of confusion that clouds my thoughts. I mean, let's be real here. I've had a crush on Bryce for years, but that doesn't mean he feels the sameway about me. And even if he did, he's a famous actor with a complicated past, and I’m just his sister's best friend.

What if he does like you? What if he's just as scared and confused as you are? What if you're passing up the opportunity of a lifetime because you're too afraid to take a chance?

I let out a frustrated groan, burying my face in my hands as I try to silence the doubts and insecurities. I mean, seriously, why does everything have to be so complicated?

I glance up from my bed as Bryce knocks on the door, his voice breaking through the silence of the room. "Can I come in?"

I'm not ready to face him yet. While I want to be sure of where I stand, I'm too much of a wuss to actually talk to him. But I can't keep him standing out there forever. He knows I'm home.

"Come in," I call out, trying to keep my voice steady despite the nervous fluttering in my stomach.

The door creaks open, and Bryce steps into the room, his expression unreadable as he gazes at me. "Hey," he says softly, his voice laced with uncertainty. "How are you holding up?"

I force a smile onto my face, trying to mask the nervousness that churns in the pit of my stomach. "I'm good," I reply, my voice coming out a little too high-pitched for my liking. "How about you?"

Bryce shrugs, a hint of tension in his shoulders as he avoids my gaze. "I'm okay," he says, his voice betraying the underlying unease that lingers between us. "There's something we need to discuss."

A surge of anxiety floods through me at the seriousness in his tone, and I hold my breath. "What is it?" I ask, my voice tight.

Bryce takes a deep breath, his gaze flickering away from mine as he struggles to find the right words. Maybe he wants to reject me and is looking for the perfect way to phrase it so he doesn't hurt my feelings. Maybe he's here to end our fake marriage because the kiss has destroyed everything.

"My parents want us to have a big wedding," he says finally, his voice knitted with unease.

---