18

I was not only surprised to know that Rebecas had been able to recognize who Nikki was, I wouldn't have if I were in her shoes. I was also amused by her confidence to question the lady especially given where they had both ended things the last time.

"I asked you a question, what are you doing here?" Rebecca stepped forward, closing the gap between her and Nikki.

"Why? Do you own this place?" Nikki moved even closer to her, breaching the few inches Rebecca had left open. Her hand was on her waist and she eyed Rebecca from head to toes. I found it a difficult task to conceal this bravery. How was she talking in that confident manner when all she did was act like a chicken around me.

Rebecca was lost on what next to say. Like myself, it seemed she hadn't been expecting the reaction.

The make up artist looked confused and turned to look at me unsure. "Um, sir, she's ready. I'll take your credit card for payment now." She spoke in a low voice, caught up in the entanglement we were stuck in.

Rebecca turned to me, her facial expression beholding one of someone who had been struck by lightning. "Chad? Is she with you?"

Nikki shared a look with me. She looked as though she had a lot to point out but she must have felt limited, contemplating on what my reaction to her actions would be. I wish I could let her know how free she was to say whatever her mouth led her to.

"She is, we're going on a business deal." I said the lie so free. The fact was it rolled down my tongue like it was the truth.

"Business deal? And she's here at the store you take me to?" She frowned. It was obvious she could point out something was fishy.

"You don't like it here Rebecca." I reminded her.

"But-"

"This is an official trip and I need her to look amazing. If you have a problem with my business work, that's something for you to deal with." I leaned forward and took a hold of Nikki's wrist, ignoring the shock in her eyes.

"Come on, I'll pay now." I directed at the make up artist who only nodded and took us forward.

Rebecca stood frozen to the ground, shocked by how things had turned out.

*
Nikki

"What are you thinking about?" Chad asked me after a while of driving. He had announced that we were close to his mother's house by now and she was waiting for us, according to his words.

"It's nothing, just..." I trailed off, looking out the window instead. I adjusted myself in my seated position, ignoring his burning gaze in my skin. When I noticed he was finding it a difficult task to focus on the road and was instead spending his time looking at me, I had to meet his gaze.

He hadn't expect the sudden eye contact because he blinked and looked away, the smile on his face fading off.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" I demanded to know.

"I never thought you could look this beautiful." He said. I would have been ashamed of the blush that crept up my cheeks but it was replaced with shock when I caught the redness on his cheeks. Was Chad really blushing or was I seeing things?

I chose to ignore it and hid my smile by turning away from him.

I kept my gaze that way until we arrived at our destination, spending the remnant aspect of the journey in silence.

*

Chad helped me out of the vehicle and held my hand as we walked towards the main door. The wide apartment was a short bungalow, painted in brown and topped with a white roof. There was no way to identify that whoever owned it was rich but one could certainly tell the owner was comfortable.

Chad pulled his phone out of his pocket, as we walked the white path that was surrounded by grasses.

"Mom?" He called into the phone. I sucked a breath in. What was I doing here? This was a really big thing to do. I had a weird feeling we would bump into Rebecca a second time if we walked in there straight up.

"I'm outside the house." He simply said and hung up.

We waited outside the house, waiting for someone to open up and after a while, the white painted wood swung open. A tall woman I thought would be his sister squealed in delight as she saw us standing there. I flinched from the pitch and jumped into Chad's arms. He held my waist and shook his head slightly.

"She's so beautiful!" The slender woman cupped my cheeks and squeezed so tight, I thought she would ruin my makeup.

"Um, mom, please stop it, you're embarrassing her." Chad warn. Did he just refer to her as his mother? She looked like she was young enough to be his girlfriend. Her small gown stopped an inch before her knees and made her appear like a runway model. She must have had him in her teenage years because she contrasted the image in my head, a bubbly woman twice his age, and wrinkled.

"Come on in!" She beamed, holding my wrist and yanking me forward. She turned to whisper to Chad, and she wasn't good with that since I picked every single word she said. "She's even way prettier than Rebecca." She told him.

I wish the woman in question would hear the words for herself.

"Come on, have a seat." She beckoned. The living room was filled with expensive chairs, gold edges and floral patterns. The walls were lilac and the room smelled like harvested flowers. I couldn't stop looking around.

"Care to tell me your name, my dear?" She directed at me, taking a seat across from Chad and I where we sat on the two seater.

I was lost, staring between Chad and her. I had no idea if I was supposed to tell her my real name. Could she hear my heart beat?

"Cheryl Garrett." I said the same time that Chad said, "Mandy Monday." What the actual hell?

"I'm both. You see," I began to clarify, "my parents are actually separated so, I live with my mom... lived with my mom, since I'm old enough to live on my own now." I chuckled. "So I used to go by my middle name Mandy, since my mom despised my dad so much, she forced me to go by her last name, Monday."

"Oh." His mother blurted with furrowed eyebrows.

"But when I'm in official places, I go by my first name and father's name, Cheryl Garrett. My close friends and family refer to me as Mandy though." I smiled like it was the truth. Chad so owed me for this.

"Aww, that's beautiful Mandy. How long have you known my boy here?" She asked in a calm tone.

I looked at Chad and I hoped he wouldn't talk this time. "A long time now, ma'am."

"Have you two kissed before?" She took me aback by asking out of the blue.

"We h.. have, sure." I said.

"Oh my God." She fanned her face. "Can I see?"

"What?!" I freaked out, blinking like an idiot.

"Can I see you two kiss? I want to." She pushed.

"Mom, you can't be serious, we can't..." Chad tried to argue but she shut him up with a glare.

"Chad Bush!" She warned.

The silence that followed notified me on how well he respected her. If he listened to her, what was I supposed to do?

Kissing would be taking too things too far, and especially in front of her.

I turned my head in his direction but he was already leaning in closer. Was he really going to kiss me? I blinked, then closed my eyes, wondering what would happen next.