Chapter 21 - Back to reality.

The rest of her time at the resort had gone has expected for Cara. She and Nicholas didn't spend a day without each other. They were formal in public and freaky underneath the sheets. But alas all good things had to come to and end and the Convention was over in a flash, reducing the time they spent together into nothing but a mere memories.

Slowly, the sudden realisation of reality dawned on them both. They were going back to New York.

New York where Cara was going to marry Alexander. New York where she had to uphold her family's reputation and act invisible to Nicholas.

As she packed her clothes she slowly started to wonder if there ever was a way out of her predicament. If she really could just bolt and leave her parents to deal with all the drama.

She really didn't think she could. She just didn't have the heart to do it.

Nicholas walked into her room at that moment. He was already dressed and ready to go. He had spent a little longer than usual shaving the fuzz he had. He had also been thinking about a lot of things and he also knew what was going to become of them and the beautiful thing that they both shared.

He knew no matter how hard they tried to explain what they had people would never understand and he knew Cara would have it way worse than him.

He stood at the edge of her door for seconds, watching her pack her stuff in the small suitcase. He wanted to say something but he just didn't know the words to say, or how to say them.


"It doesn't have to end this way."

He said softly and Cara paused a little, a whisper of a smile on her face.

She turned to him, her hair was in a bun at the nape of her neck and the yellow flowery sundress she had on with white sandals looked really good on her.

There were small bags under her eyes, of course with the two of them spending time together they didn't have that much sleep.

"It was fun while it lasted Nick."

She said and he shrugged.

"So what now? That's the end?"

"Come on... We both knew how it was going to end. I go back to New York and marry your brother and you go back to Jean."

"Jean?"

Nicholas asked in surprise and Cara turned to him and nodded.

"Yes. Jean your girlfriend."

He laughed shockingly. what gave her that impression? He thought.

"Jean is not my girlfriend."

He said to Cara who was folding her hands and looking at him with a pointed look.

Cara sighed. It was a sigh of relief.

"Well, she certainly thinks she is. She told me that at the bridesmaid fitting. You have to be careful with that one."

She warned and Nicholas raised his eyebrows as he walked closer to her.

"Do I really have to be careful with her is this you just being jealous?"

"Jealous? Of you?"

Cara scoffed.

"Don't flatter yourself. You may be hot and all but you're not all that."

"Ohh! Not all that?!"

Nicholas exclaimed as he landed on her bed.

He rested his head on his hands as he watched her from below.

She rolled her eyes, looking at his toned arms and his shirt riding up his waist.

"I mean... You think I'm not all that yet you still couldn't get away from me."

He said huskily.

"Only because you kept tempting me."

She whispered as she closed her suitcase.

"You're going to have to stop pretending you don't want me as bad as I want you."

"I mean... Look at me."

He said and Cara rolled her eyes.

"Do you have to be so cocky?"

"I know you like it."

He said as he grinned.

Then he pulled her close to him and she fell on top of him straddling him.

He bent down, his lips against her cheek, brushing it lightly and still that light touch sent shivers through her nerves, shivers that made her whole body tremble.

"If you want me to stop, tell me now," he whispered. When she still said nothing, he brushed his mouth against the hollow of her temple.

"Or now."

He traced the line of her cheekbone.

"Or now."

His lips were against hers.

"Or—"

But she had reached up and pulled him towards her, and the rest of his words were lost against her mouth.

He kissed her gently, carefully, but it wasn’t gentleness she wanted, not now, not when it could be their last kiss, and she knotted her fists in his shirt, pulling him harder against her. He groaned softly, low in his throat, and then his arms circled her, gathering her against him, and they rolled over on the bed, tangled together, still kissing.



The awful guilty feeling Cara thought she would feel when she saw Alexander wasn't there when she found him waiting for her at her apartment.

She only felt surprised to see him, and slightly worried. She still had Nicholas's scent all over her, they had spent their last few moments together getting quite busy.

"Hey babe! You're back! Been waiting for a while."

He said as he rushed to hug her and Cara gently pushed him away.

"Yea. I'm tired. I need to shower quick. The heat and all."

She lied and Alexander nodded as he looked at his phone.

"Yea. I understand. How was the convention?"

"Oh it was good. Really good."

Alexander nodded his head mindlessly. His eyes fixated on the phone and the Gala he and Cara had to be in in the next few hours.

"Can you freshen up faster? We actually have somewhere to go."

He said as she scratched his head and Cara turned to look at him.

"Where? I just got back from New Jersey Alex!"

She called out and he shrugged.

"It's this gala fundraiser, it's really important and as a family we need to be there. You know, keeping in mind my father's political aspirations we have to be there to support him."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier? There's no way I can go! I'm tired and I need to rest."

Cara said and Alexander sighed.

"Rest from what Cara? You were at a resort resting for four whole days! What the hell do you need rest for?"

"I'm not going. I want to sleep."

She said as she started walking towards her room.

Alexander ran after her.

"I will not have everyone at the gala fundraiser asking me where the hell you are. I know you just got back and you're tired and all but you have only two hours to get ready and I don't care what you're saying but you're going."

"Or what?!"

She snapped as she turned to glare at him.

"Can you just be considerate for one second! I just got back from a trip! And now you want me to get ready for some stupid gala just to keep up with appearances?!"

Alexander sighed.

"I don't want to start an argument with you Cara. I really don't."

"Now, I'll be back in an hour to pick you up. Get dressed and look presentable."

He said as he walked out of her apartment and slammed the door.

Cara groaned as she collapsed on her bed.

She wasn't really exhausted, but she didn't feel like dressing up to go anywhere either and Alexander was determined to force her to go with him.

She wanted to call Malory but then decided to call Nicholas for some reason.

They had left separately, so as not to raise suspicions or anything but she wanted to know if he was in New York already.

He picked up on the first ring.

"Are you missing me already?"

He asked and Cara shrugged.

"No. I'm not. I'm just calling to know if you're in New York already."

"Yes. I am. I'm just pulling in the parking lot. I assume you must be in bed right now."

"No. Negative. I have a gala fundraiser to attend."

"Tonight?"

Nicholas asked in surprise and Cara nodded.

"Alex said it's important for your dad and the family."

Nicholas scoffed.

Of course, his brother had something to do with it.

"Good luck with that. I know you don't really want to go."

Cara shrugged.

"I don't. But I guess I don't have much of a choice do I?"

"You can just say no."

"To your brother?!"

Cara asked incredulously. It was impossible to steer Alex away when he was determined to do something.

"Have you met him?"

"I'm just saying... You shouldn't let him ride you like that."

There was a short silence from Cara, Nicholas was right. She did let Alex get away with a lot of things.

"Well... He has his ways. I have to go."

"Okay. I'm guessing this might be the last call you make to me while being sober "

He said jokingly and Cara laughed.

"We'll have to see about that. Who knows, I might have some best man duties for you to do."

"Anything but that."

Nicholas groaned.

Cara chuckled and there was a long uncomfortable silence for a few seconds.

"I'll be thinking about you."

He said after a while and Cara shrugged.

"That's not a very good idea. I'll be busy planning a wedding."

"Who knows. You might change your mind."

Nicholas said as he shrugged.

Cara sighed.

"I don't have much of a choice if you've noticed."

She blinked away painful tears.

Nicholas remained in his car as he furiously tapped on his steering wheel.

"There's always a choice."