Chapter 43
1663words
"You'll find out soon."
Bran smiles down at me,
"You know I hate surprises right? What if you're going to tell me you're no longer interested in marrying me?"
I laugh smoothly but the sudden tense of his muscles has me pausing, he continues dragging me to the car,I get in and he drives off.
The entire ride is quiet, I leave it at that because maybe he's thinking about the surprise. I smile to myself and roll down the window, enjoying the feel of the cool breeze filling the space.
We arrive at a museum,I frown then look up at Bran and find him watching me.
"An Art museum?"
"Yes, come on."
We walk inside and I melt. The place is full of beautiful paintings hanging on the wall,my lips part and I can't seem to close them,one painting grabs my attention. I move forward and stare at it,it's so beautiful,
I tilt my head to the side trying to make sense of it.
The colors and design are catchy,I don't even really know why I'm so mesmerized by it.
"If you keep staring at that portrait like that I might start getting jealous."
Bran hugs me from behind.
"You like it?" He asks.
"Yes,but then I can't seem to understand it."
"You see that line over there?"
I follow all his tracings and my eyes widen when I realize what it is, I turn around in his arms.
"Is that...it's.."
"Yes,it is."
I look down at the ring on my finger,a painting of my hand with the promise ring on it.
Different emotions rush inside of me.
"How did you do it?"
"I have my ways,I paid extra for them to keep it up there,you can take it back to the house with you."
Moisture fills my eyes as I stare into his green ones.
"I love you,so much," I whisper.
He doesn't say anything but chooses to act instead, his fingers wrap around my chin, positioning my head up as he leans down to kiss me slowly.
We tour around the museum,appreciating and commenting on different paintings. After a few hours,we decided to go back to the house.
"Where do you think I should put it? I can't seem to find the right spot for it."
He moves and comes to stand in front of me.
"What about our bedroom? Just above our bed, hmm?"
He wraps his hands around my waist and pulls me to him.
"I didn't think of that,but it's not a bad idea."
I look up at him.
"Let's get it done then."
I gently try to get out of his hold but he pulls me even closer, I lift my brows in question.
"What is it?" I tense up.
"I'm sorry we haven't been spending much time together lately."
My body relaxes when one of his hands lifts to stroke my cheek, my eyes close briefly.
"I know."
He leans in and kisses for a few seconds.
"Come on,let's get that painting up."
* *Hours Later* *
I wake up alone,the left side of the bed empty. I feel the space with my hand and it's still warm, a sign that he left just now.
I throw the sheets off and stand from the bed.
"Brandon?" I knock on the bathroom door.
There's nothing but silence, so I push it open and scan the empty space,no sign of him.
I step out of the bedroom,my bare feet patting on the floor as i descend the stairs.
"Brandon?" I call out but he doesn't answer.
I pass the sitting room and head towards the kitchen,the moment I see him, I relax. His back is to me,his shoulders are tense as his head bows between his shoulder blades. I move closer and notice that he's on the phone.
I frown when I look at the time on the clock hanging on the wall, it's three in the morning.
Who could he be speaking with at this time?
I step closer to get a clear hearing of whatever it is he's saying.
"Look,I told you to stop calling at this time of the hour."
The person on the other line says something then Brandon speaks again.
"I know,I told you to stop M-"
"Brandon?"
He turns around,his facial expression one of surprise. He wasn't expecting to see me up, I poke my eye with my lower palm.
"Who's that on the phone?"
He drops the phone from his ear.
"No one," he cuts the call and places the phone on face down on the table.
My gaze moves to his phone then back to him.
"Come here, baby."
He pulls me to him by the wrist.
"Why are you up this late."
Huh? I'm the one who's supposed to ask that.
"I was looking for you," my eyes move to his phone again. "Who was that?"
"Nobody important."
Something doesn't sit right with me
"But y-"
"Don't stress about it baby, it's nothing important."
"Okay," I whisper back and wrap my hands around his neck.
We stay like that for over a minute.
"Come on,let's get you back to bed."
I shake my head No.
He pulls back a bit to stare at my face.
"What was that? No?"
"I don't want you to sneak out of bed and leave me alone again."
"I won't,I promise."
I shake my head again.
"Okay, let's negotiate then."
"Negotiate?"
"Mhhm."
"Negotiate how?"
"I prefer showing you instead."
He slams his lips on mine,his hands find their way to my ass and he squeezes, he stands and my legs wrap around his waist. I giggle as his lips dip to kiss my throat, I crane my neck to give him more access and he sucks on the tender skin.
I gasp,my core pounding for the fill of him.
He carries me upstairs and throws me on the bed,I lift and we wrestle each other's clothes off. As usual,we make love and remind each other how much we love each other.
* *The Next Day* *
"Girl you're glowing."
Sam smiles at me from across the table.
We are seated in a cafe having some coffee and cupcakes.
"Did you have amazing morning sex?"
Nao says while chewing.
"Nao," I widen my eyes.
"What? Good sex means good health."
"Not to be rude,but I agree with the pretty ladies over there."
A male voice speaks from behind me,I look over my shoulder.
"And not to be rude,but eavesdropping and jumping in on ladies conversations is rude."
He's a familiar face,I think I've seen him in one of the classes I'm in. He smiles wide and both Sam and Nao gasp.
"It's Matt Malachi," Sam whispers.
"Omg he's so handsome up close."
Nao whispers back.
I bet they think they are whispering so low but i can hear them and so can the eavesdropper. I slam my hand on the table.
"Guys, we both can hear you,you know."
"Oh," they say at the same time and straighten.
"Can I join you? And please don't say no,it's not on a daily basis I get rejected by women, but-"
"Huh,so he's cocky too," I say out loud cutting him off."
"But you're not just any women," he continues even after my interruption. "You're beautiful, intelligent and rare women,I wouldn't be surprised if you said no but then think of how wounded my heart would be."
Sam places a hand on her chest where her heart lies, with puppy eyes looking at Matt.
"Aww he can't get any cuter can he?"
"Keep that line in mind Nao,i hope you say exactly that when I tell on you to Nate."
She gasps.
"You wouldn't."
"Oh I would,and I will."
Her eyes narrow to slits.
"You're bluffing."
"Try me."
I hit her glare with my own. After a few seconds,Sam taps the table.
"Okay! Time out,I won't let my two best friends go at each other's throats. Kim,we don't want world war four now do we? So no telling Nate."
She moves her eyes to the eavesdropper.
"And yes,you can sit with us."
"What?! N-"
"Suck it in Kim,will you?"
I glare at her,Sam can be a pain in the ass sometime.
"Fine."
He slides in the seat next to mine.
"I'm Matt,and you are?"
"Oh we know who you are,I'm Samantha but you can call me Sam."
"Naomi, Nao for short," She smiles.
Then he turns to face me,I keep looking ahead, chewing my cupcake.
"Oh and that's Kimberly,she's the antisocial butterfly among the three of us."
"Mhmm,you can call her Kim."
"I've seen you in one of the classes I attend,nice to meet you Kim."
I turn to face him
"Kimberly, Kim is for my friends only, so call me Kimberly."
"Okay then, whatever you want Kimberly."
The girls chat with him as I type away on my phone. After thirty minutes or so,I look up and find Sam and Nao in a heated debate about some trendy songs on the billboard charts.
"So Kim."
I fix him with a hard stare.
"Kimberly," I correct.
"Kimberly, where are you from?"
"Blackwool."
"Blackwool,I see. I've heard of that town before,rich and successful powerful people."
I continue sipping on my coffee.
"Your parents must be successful,what does your mother do?"
"She works."
"What kind of work?"
"Publishing."
"She works for a publishing company?"
"Yes."
I go on with my one word answers, not sparing him a single look, there's
a few beats of silence before he speaks again.
"You don't have to be so hostile towards me Kimberly, i'm not a bad guy."
"Didn't say you were."
I turn my head and look him in the eyes.
"Stop trying so hard to make a conversation with me,it's not working."
Then I stand and grab my books.
"I'm out," I say to the girls.
"Oh, we totally forgot about time."
They say bye to eavesdropper then stand from the table, we walk out the cafe door, leaving him seated.
