Page 105 of Mr. Aster
“I’m really not in the mood,” she said, curled up with a light blanket on the overstuffed sofa that faced the illuminated pool waterfall.
“What’s wrong?” I questioned, knowing her mood was off.
“Your parents are assholes,” she said without hesitation.
“You already knew that,” I chuckled as I sat beside her.
She sighed, “I’m honestly not sure I want to go through all this.”
I became concerned but not overly stressed because I understood her fears. “Listen,” I said, rubbing her arm, and smiled when she relaxed and looked at me with eyes that needed reassurance. “I’ve already spoken to them, and they threw their fits. I also informed them there is no need to worry about the engagement, as that part was a farce.”
“Did you tell them about us fake dating, too?”
I nodded, “I did, but I also made them aware that the idea of fake dating led me to develop stronger feelings for you. Feelings that I never expected to develop.”
She exhaled, “Sebastian, I know you love that this seems to be going somewhere between you and me, but can we both call it what it was and leave everything back in Mexico?”
“I’d love to do that,” I grinned and ran my hand over her thigh, “but I can’t just turn off my feelings for you, or I probably would. It would surely make my life a hell of a lot easier.”
“It would make my life easier, too,” she finally broke her sad countenance and softly laughed. “I just don’t want to feel…” she paused, then sat up. “I don’t want to get hurt,” she looked intently into my eyes. “I have been perfectly fine, living single without any attachments. I’ve been happy and very fulfilled. I’m terrified I’m going to lose all of that and have your parents torment me on top of it.”
“As I said even before things got serious,” I ran my hand over her soft cheek, “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“You say that now, and you’ve said that before, yes,” she affirmed, “but we haven’t done much on therelationshipfront. We’ve just been screwing each other’s brains out, and hell, maybe missing out on sex for so long has just made you want to?—”
“It’s my turn to start interrupting you,” I said, chuckling. “Again, I will not hurt you, and I’m not entering a relationship because I only want sex. Regarding my parents, I’ve made it clear that they are to stay out of my personal life and are forbidden to speak to you if I’m not around to protect you from them.”
“What a fucking task. Do you realize how insane it is that your parents need to be monitored so as not to hurt me?” she exhaled and shook her head. “Did they tell you why they invited my parents to San Francisco?”
“That discussion didn’t come up when I spoke with them moments ago, so no.”
“Well, they decided to educate my parents on how they’re completely out of their league running a winery, and they offered my parents fifteen million to sign everything over to them and leave their home.”
I rolled my eyes at the predictable nature of my parents. They were trying to exact some kind of petty revenge on the parents of the woman who their son had fallen blindly in love with. My parents could blow their nose with fifteen million; it wasn’t even a drop in the bucket for us, but they knew most people wouldn’t be able to turn away from that amount of money.
“You roll your eyes,” Darcy said, “but that’s not something I want in my life. If they act like this with my parents, can you imagine them withmeif shit got real?”
“Instead of asking thewhat-ifquestions, because we can do that all day long when it comes to my parents, let’s stick to facts. Did your parents accept their offer?”
“God, no,” she said. “I told you when we first met that my parents and I don’t put a price tag on our happiness. No amount of money can bring real joy. My parents have proven that by rejecting your parents’ bullshit offer because my mom and dadfind an immense amount of happiness living here and growing grapes.”
“Then there is nothing to worry about,” I said. “I must tell you that I could never have understood that sentiment until I developed feelings for you,” I said, smiling at her. “Since I met you, I’ve learned this new and very foreign way of living in a happier moment not fueled by money. It is a very liberating feeling to appreciate life in this way.”
She softly laughed and shook her head, “I had no idea feeding you bugs and fungus would turn you into a man who sees the true value of life.”
“And yet here we are,” I smiled and brought her into my arms to hold her. “I’ve never felt like this before,” I said, kissing the top of her head where she leaned against my chest. “I can’t explain how much I love it. You are a rare treasure I don’t plan on allowing out of my life until I’m dead.”
I felt her laughing in my arms and was thankful we were managing to get through this little hiccup of a problem together, “Are you proposing marriage now, Sebastian Aster?”
“The way you say my name like that sends a tiny shiver of disgust throughout my entire body.”
“Because it’s your father’s name?”
“Precisely,” I answered. “If only I were named after an orphaned monkey, I wouldn’t have to feel this way.”
She pulled out of my arms and nudged me playfully in my chest, “You really see this going somewhere between you and me?”
“I hope it does,” I said. “I am not lying when I say I have a whole new chance to live a more rewarding and fulfilling life. I never felt this happy before, and even while I was married.”
