chapter 53: patient

Bose POV:

It was exactly 9 p.m., and Chapa, as usual, was getting impatient. "Why are they late?" she asked, pacing back and forth, clearly annoyed. I couldn't help but laugh, her frustration was almost endearing. "They're only a few minutes late," I said gently, watching her cross her arms and stare at the clock. She huffed, tapping her foot.

"I'm not patient, you know that."

"I can see that," I teased, leaning back against the couch, my eyes following her as she kept pacing.

She shot me a look. "You better keep your promise tonight, Bose."

"You know I would be a fool to break it," I replied, giving her a reassuring smile, though she wasn't about to let it go that easily.

Finally, around 9:10, the doorbell rang. Blaise and Miles had arrived. Chapa practically sighed in relief as I opened the door and greeted them. "Hey, how was the night?" I asked casually.

Miles shrugged, "It was... something." Blaise gave a tired smile, but didn't elaborate. It looked like they both just wanted to get the night over with.

I handed over Blaise's sisters, who eagerly hugged me before saying their goodbyes. Sadie and Lena waved as they left, clearly exhausted but happy. I started chatting with Blaise and Miles about their night when suddenly Chapa appeared behind me, her impatience clear in her eyes.

"Hey, guys," she greeted them quickly, but her tone was a little too sharp. "I need Bose for something... urgent."

Before I could finish my sentence, Chapa shut the door in their faces. I blinked, surprised, and turned to her. "You really shouldn't just shut the door on them like that."

She smirked, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "I can shut more than just doors," she replied, her voice low, and before I could react, her lips were on mine, shutting me up immediately.

Her kiss was fierce, hungry, like she'd been waiting for this moment all night. It didn't take long for both of us to start breathing heavily as the tension between us grew. She practically led me toward the bedroom, her hands tightly gripping my hair, pulling me closer as we stumbled through the hallway. The feel of her fingers running through my hair sent shivers down my spine, making it impossible to focus on anything but her.

By the time we made it to the bedroom, she pushed me against the wall, pinning me there with a heated kiss. I could feel the heat radiating off her body, and my own was quickly matching hers. Her lips trailed from my mouth to my neck, kissing with an urgency that drove me wild.

"Show me those abs," she whispered breathlessly against my skin, her fingers already tugging at my shirt. I didn't hesitate. I pulled off my shirt, tossing it aside, and grabbed her face, pulling her back to me, kissing her deeply, feeling her melt against me.

Without breaking the kiss, I lifted her up effortlessly, her legs wrapping around my waist as I carried her to the bed. We fell onto it, her body on top of mine, her breath hot against my chest as she began to kiss me all over again. Her lips found their way to my neck once more, this time lingering longer at one spot, her kisses growing more intimate, more intense.

I could barely catch my breath. "I can't get enough of you," I muttered between ragged breaths.

She grinned wickedly, her lips brushing against my ear as she whispered, "Good, because this is only the beginning."

—

After our intense 10 minute make-out session, Chapa suddenly paused, pulling back just enough to look at me. Her eyes still dark with desire, but there was something else there now—mischief.

"I have a plan," she said, her voice low, still catching her breath.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh yeah? What plan?" I asked, shifting slightly to sit up on the bed, propping myself up with my arms. I was still a little dazed from the moment, hoping we weren't stopping so soon.

She grinned, biting her lower lip. "We should put on our pajamas and have a movie night."

I blinked, surprised by the sudden switch. Sitting up fully, I laughed softly, leaning toward her. "I thought you said this was only the beginning," I teased, hinting that I'd been hoping for more than just this. "But if you're not in the mood anymore, we can quit, of course." I tried to keep my voice light, though a part of me was genuinely concerned she'd cooled off.

She rolled her eyes and playfully shoved me. "Are you crazy?" she asked, a wicked smile creeping back onto her lips. "Who said we're quitting? I think we should finish this in the shower."

My pulse quickened again. I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face as I leaned in closer, my forehead almost touching hers. "Oh, is that so?" I asked, my voice dropping lower, teasing her.

She nodded, eyes sparkling with challenge. "Yeah. Then we can get all clean afterwards, put our pajamas on, and have that movie night."

I laughed softly, my lips brushing against hers again. "Only if there will be no horror movies sparky."

"We'll see..." she whispered back before pulling me off the bed, tugging me toward the bathroom. The night was far from over.

Miles POV:

We were standing at the door, ready to leave, when Aunt Didi gave us one last surprise.

"Don't forget," she said, her eyes flicking between me and Blaise. "I'll be booking for Maddie too. It's in five weeks, and you'll have an amazing time in Hawaii."

Blaise blinked, caught off guard. "Uh, I'll need to ask for time off work first," she said, clearly hoping to get out of it.

Aunt Didi tilted her head, confused. "But it's winter break, isn't it? Wouldn't you be free?"

Blaise froze for a moment, and I could feel the tension rise. Of course, she'd be free. It was winter break, and there was no way to wriggle out of this now. Blaise managed a tight smile. "Yes, I'll be free."

"Perfect," Aunt Didi said with a grin, satisfied. "I knew you'd be excited." She hugged us both and finally let us go.

We walked out the door, and the second we were alone, I felt the weight of what just happened sink in. Blaise wasn't Maddie, and now she was practically booked for a trip to Hawaii with my entire family. I glanced at her as we headed toward the car, her face tight with frustration. I immediately apologized, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly.

"Look, I'm really sorry about that," I said, my voice low as I tried to gauge how mad she really was. "I didn't think it'd go this far."

Blaise crossed her arms, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Miles, this is insane. Your whole family thinks I'm Maddie, and now I'm supposed to pretend I'm her... in Hawaii?" She shook her head. "This is weird. And stupid."

I sighed, knowing she was right. "I get it. I do. But hey, it's not so bad, right? I mean... a free trip to Hawaii."

She shot me a look, unimpressed. "That's not the point, Miles. It's about lying. It's about pretending to be someone else for your entire family, and now I'm supposed to keep this up for five more weeks, and on a vacation?"

I ran a hand through my hair, feeling guilty. "I know it's a lot, but I swear, it'll be okay. It's just a trip, we'll be in Hawaii—how bad can that be?" I tried to sound lighthearted, but I could tell she wasn't buying it.

"Miles," she sighed, "it's not just the trip. It's everything leading up to it. What if someone finds out? What if it all blows up in our faces? This isn't fair to you or me."

I stopped walking, turning to face her fully. "Look, I'm sorry I dragged you into this, I really am. I'll figure out a way to make it right, okay? You won't have to deal with this forever."

She stared at me, and for a moment, I thought she was going to walk away. But then she sighed, dropping her arms and rubbing her temples. "Fine," she muttered. "But if this gets worse, I'm out. I'm not pretending to be Maddie forever."

I smiled, relieved she wasn't storming off. "Deal. And hey, if nothing else, at least you'll get to spend some time in paradise."

She rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just hope this doesn't get more complicated."

I nodded, grateful that she was still on board—for now.

Mika POV:

After the party, we finally escaped into the car, leaving behind the buzzing chaos of Aunt Didi's over-the-top celebration. I slid into the driver's seat, exhaling as I gripped the steering wheel, and Andrew immediately launched into his favorite subject—his upcoming autumn fashion show. I half-listened, glancing at him with a smile as I pulled out of the driveway. He was animated, his hands moving expressively as he rambled on about the fabrics, the models, the lighting, even the music. This was classic Andrew, completely absorbed in his world of fashion, and honestly, it was hard not to admire the way his eyes sparkled when he got like this.

"I swear, Mika, this is going to be the best show yet. Everything is falling into place," he said, his voice alive with excitement. Then, out of nowhere, he added, "I'd kill to see you in the show."

I let out a small laugh, shaking my head while thinking I had actually agreed to walk for him. "That was one time," I reminded him, glancing over with a smirk. "Don't get used to it."

He leaned back in his seat, his grin softening into something more thoughtful as he stared at me. "Oh I'm already used to it. You are stunning." His voice dropped a little, like he was letting a secret slip.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the smile tugging at my lips. He had this way of making the most casual comments sound incredibly sincere. I focused on the road ahead, but I could still feel his gaze on me. After a few moments of quiet, he broke the silence, his tone softer, almost as if he was thinking aloud.

"You're too beautiful for this world."

The words hit me unexpectedly, and for a second, I almost forgot I was driving. "What?" I said, a little thrown off, but flattered nonetheless.

"I mean it," he said, sitting up slightly, his eyes locked on mine. "It's like you don't belong here—you're something else."

I laughed lightly, feeling a warmth spread across my chest. "Well, you're too charming for this world," I shot back, giving him a sideways glance. "You always know how to win people over, and you're always the perfect one."

Andrew chuckled, but there was a hint of something deeper in his eyes. "Yeah, but not with you, at least not at first," he said quietly, leaning his head back against the headrest. "Isn't it ironic, being able to charm everyone expect the person I wanted to charm?"

His honesty caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn't know what to say. "But eventually you did though, and you know it," I said, trying to lighten the mood. Then, with a teasing smile, I added, "Besides, you couldn't charm Chapa either."

He laughed, his shoulders shaking with genuine amusement. "No one can charm her! She's pure evil, Mika. Pure evil."

I laughed too, shaking my head at his exaggeration. "That's not entirely true. You're just always trying too hard around her by making bad jokes. She hates it when you try to win her over. You're practically begging for her approval."

Andrew smirked, still laughing, "I don't know how Bose deals with her. Especially with all the baby drama."

The words hung in the air for a second before I fully processed them. My foot hovered over the brake for just a split second longer than it should've, and I turned to him with a frown. "What baby drama?"

His eyes widened, and his hand shot up to cover his mouth. "Uh, nothing. Forget I said that."

"Andrew," I said firmly, side-eyeing him. "What are you talking about?"

He sighed dramatically, slumping in his seat. "Okay, fine. Bose told me they didn't use protection, you know, to... anyways, there's a good chance Chapa could be pregnant."

I blinked, my hands tightening on the steering wheel as I let the information sink in. "You've got to be kidding me. That's ridiculous. They're so... ugh." I exhaled, shaking my head. "They are literally still two kids themselves."

"I know, right? It's insane," Andrew agreed, sitting up straighter now that he'd spilled the secret.

We drove in silence for a few minutes, the city lights casting soft glows across the dashboard. The streets were quieter now, the energy from Aunt Didi's party fading into the background. I glanced at Andrew, who had fallen into one of his rare smoments of quiet contemplation.

"You really didn't have to spend so much money and effort trying to win over my aunt, and my parents the other night," I said, breaking the silence.

He turned his head, looking at me with those soft, sincere eyes that always managed to melt any irritation I felt toward him. "I'll do anything to make your family like me," he said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the fond smile creeping onto my face. "You don't have to try so hard. Seriously, it's not that big of a deal."

Andrew shook his head, his voice dropping to that low, earnest tone he used when he was really trying to make a point. "It is a big deal. I want them to know how serious I am about you."

His words made my heart skip, but I kept my eyes on the road, pretending to focus on the traffic. "Well, you're doing a pretty good job," I muttered.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as if he couldn't sit still. His hands fidgeted with the edge of his jacket, that nervous energy of his coming out again. Then, as if he couldn't help himself, he reached over and brushed a loose strand of hair away from my face, tucking it behind my ear. His fingers lingered just a second longer than necessary, tracing the curve of my cheek with the softest touch. It sent a shiver down my spine.

"You know... I don't care about impressing anyone else," he said quietly, his voice almost a whisper. "Just you."

I glanced over at him, feeling the weight of his gaze, the way he looked at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered. His eyes were so full of sincerity, it was almost overwhelming. I couldn't help but smile, feeling that familiar warmth settle in my chest again.

We pulled up to my house, the engine purring as I parked. For a moment, neither of us moved. The night felt still, and in the silence, I realized how much he really meant to me, how much effort he put into making sure I knew that. He unbuckled his seatbelt but stayed in the car, looking at me with that same intense focus.

I felt a sudden burst of excitement. I turned to him, raising an eyebrow as I grinned.

"Well, are you coming in?" I teased, keeping my voice light but laced with something a bit more enticing.

He smiled, but before he could reply, I threw open my door and bolted toward the house, my heels clicking against the pavement. I heard him laugh as he got out of the car, his voice chasing after me.

"Oh, I'm gonna get you," he called out, the sound of his footsteps quickening behind me.

I glanced over my shoulder, my laugh escaping before I could stop it. "That's not fair! I'm in heels!"

"Life isn't fair," he shot back, his voice full of mischief. Before I could take another step, I felt his arms wrap around me from behind, pulling me close. "I've got you now," he whispered into my ear, his breath warm against my neck.

I squealed as he lifted me off the ground, my legs kicking slightly in the air. "Andrew! Put me down!" I laughed, though I didn't really mean it. "It's only a few more steps to the door, and I'm too heavy!"

He chuckled, carrying me effortlessly, one arm around me while the other reached out to open the door. "Please, I could carry twice your weight," he murmured, his voice low and teasing as he nudged the door closed behind us, still holding me.

Once inside, he carefully set me down, crouching to take off my heels. As he worked, I let out a small sigh of relief, grateful to finally be out of them. "Thank you," I said with a little curtsy, teasing him.

He grinned, standing up and watching me as I made my way over to the couch. I glanced back at him, putting on the most innocent smile I could muster, even throwing in some puppy eyes for good measure. His reaction was priceless—he laughed, shaking his head.

"Okay, what do you want, sunshine?" he asked, his tone amused but curious.

"I'm a little hungry," I said, biting my lip.

Andrew's eyebrows raised, and he gave me a look that immediately made my stomach flip. "As in...?" He trailed off, his gaze dropping down to his pants in a way that made me both want to laugh and slap him at the same time.

I felt my cheeks heat up instantly. "Oh my God, no! Of course not, you idiot!" I threw a pillow at him. "I want food! You dirty-minded—ugh!"

He laughed, raising his hands in defense. "Well, you looked like you meant something freaky. I was just taken aback, okay?"

I groaned, feeling even more embarrassed. "You're impossible," I muttered, shaking my head.

Andrew took a step closer, a smirk still lingering on his lips. "So, what do you actually want to eat? Besides, you know..."

I rolled my eyes, laughing now despite myself. "There's a pizza in the freezer."

He made a face, looking at me like I'd suggested we eat dirt. "Pizza from the freezer? That's not food. I'll make you something real."

I hesitated, "Are you sure about that?" I asked, my eyebrows raised in suspicion.

Andrew grinned, already walking toward the kitchen. "Trust me. You're going to love it."

I watched as he rolled up the sleeves of his brown sweater, revealing his arms, toned and veined in that annoyingly attractive way. The way he moved, the confidence in his stride—it was all so... captivating. His outfit tonight was so stylish too, that brown sweater paired with wide beige pants that screamed old money style. I couldn't help but stare as he rummaged through the kitchen, pulling out ingredients with ease.

Five minutes later, I realized I had been standing there, just watching him, like a lovesick fool. I quickly slapped my own cheek, muttering under my breath, "Why are you like this, Mika?"

I glanced over at him again, though, because of course I did. "Need help?" I offered weakly.

He shook his head, his back still turned to me. "Nope. Just sit back and relax."

Ten minutes later, he walked over with a plate in hand, presenting me with a hot sandwich stuffed with chicken, cheese, and some other ingredients that smelled heavenly. "Try this," he said, his grin almost too proud.

I took a bite, my eyes widening as the flavors hit me. It was delicious. I immediately took another bite, making a little sound of approval. Andrew laughed, watching me devour it. "It's one of my mom's recipes," he said, clearly pleased with himself.

I looked at him, my mouth still full. "It's amazing."

He leaned in closer, eyeing the sandwich with curiosity. "Can I have a bite?"

I froze, narrowing my eyes at him. "Ew, no. That's gross."

He pulled back, looking genuinely offended. "Gross? Mika, we've literally kissed several times."

I shrugged, trying to hide my grin. "Still. I'm not sharing."

He sighed dramatically, crossing his arms. "That's just your way of keeping it all to yourself, isn't it?"

I laughed, but seeing his defeated look, I felt a little guilty. "Okay, okay. You can have one bite." I held the sandwich out to him, and he took it, savoring his victory with an exaggerated, triumphant expression.

After finishing the sandwich, I stretched out on the couch, feeling completely satisfied and ready to collapse. It was already 11 p.m., and the exhaustion from the party was starting to catch up with me. Andrew sat down beside me, looking content.

"Do you have work tomorrow?" he asked, his voice soft now, like he didn't want to disturb the calm.

I nodded lazily. "Not much. I work from home a little on Saturdays, but it's nothing major."

He looked at me with those eyes that always seemed to melt me. "So... can I stay?"

I smiled, leaning my head back against the couch. "Yeah, you can stay."