“Why would I introduce you to him?” grumbled Skylar, storming towards the billing counter. She didn’t know why she always overreacted in Christian’s presence. She had never met someone as persistent as him!
“I won’t leave you until you do.” Skylar glared at the determined look on his face and seethed at his stubbornness. It was because of him she had to lie. Now it would be an impossible task to find herself a Mike.
“You can persist until you give up. You can’t make me do stuff I don’t want to,” she gritted out in a low voice meant only for him to hear.
“Then you don’t know me at all. I never give up on what I want!” With a grim expression on his face, he emptied her cart and handed them his bank card. Skylar’s mind went into overdrive. What did he mean by that? Why would he want her?
Later, he picked up the packets and stormed away towards his car, with Skylar following him angrily. After that exchange, they didn’t say a word to each other. Skylar stared outside the window while he drove on with the same grim look on his face. They reached Caleb’s house in two minutes and unloaded the packets.
Skylar went to the kitchen to sort it out all by herself, still fuming at Christian’s stubbornness. Thankfully, Christian disappeared with his phone somewhere and she could prepare lunch in peace. She could hear her grandparents playing with the twins in the living room to keep them occupied.
After an hour, she sorted the groceries and made lunch for all. She emerged from the kitchen to sit with her grandparents in the living room.
“What has got you so upset?” asked her granny in a whisper. Skylar shook her head and closed her eyes to control herself from blurting out the truth.
“You can tell me, dear.” She took a deep breath to tell her granny about her disinterest in Christian, but stopped seeing the devil coming down the stairs.
“Nothing, granny. Lunch is ready. Shall I serve the kids first?”
“Yes. I’ll get them to the table.” Skylar preferred to ignore Christian, who watched her as he approached them. Eager to get away from his penetrating gaze, she rushed to the kitchen to serve the kids. To her utter displeasure, Christian followed her there.
“Tell me what to do. I’m in the mood to help you.” He flashed her a grin that immediately made her suspicious. What improved his mood now? She was sure something was cooking in his mind.
“Thanks, but I don’t need help.” She served food in two plates but Christian pounced on them, carrying them to the dining room.
“Maybe you don’t, but I need the practice for later.” Skylar’s jaws dropped as she tried to understand what exactly he meant by that. Why would he need to practice helping her in the kitchen? He chuckled at the puzzled look on her face. Realization struck her, and she wanted to pull her hair out in frustration for being so dumb. She should have come up with a fitting retort.
“Whoever finishes their food first gets a gift from me. Are you ready, Vivi and Blade?” he announced. It made Skylar roll her eyes at the man. He always had a charming side for everyone else but her.
“I’ll be first and get the gift, Uncle Chris!” exclaimed Blade.
“No, I’ll be first,” said Vivienne.
“Let’s see who wins! Now start eating. Chew your food well or you’ll be out of the game.” Her grandparents seemed bowled over by him and it made her frustrated. How would she point out his faults to them? They seemed blind to his faults. How would she prevent the marriage from happening? Deep in thought, she carried the food to the table for everyone to serve themselves.
The doorbell rang, and Christian went to open the door. A haggard Lillian came home and smiled at them.
“Mmmm, what a delicious smell! Is there anything left for me? I forgot to have breakfast and now I’m dying of hunger!” she chuckled, watching the kids eat normally for a change.
“There’s enough, Lillian. Come and join us!” said Skylar.
“I need a shower first. I’m coming in five minutes. Good to see the twins so civilized today. What magic have you cast on them, Skylar? I swear you’re a better mom and wife than I am!” She laughed at Skylar’s flushed cheeks and went to her room.
Skylar gaped after Lillian and then sneaked a look at Christian. God! Why did he have to stare at her all the time?
“She’s joking! I’m the worst!” she said while Grandpa chuckled at her stupid comment.
“No, she’s right. You’ll make a good wife and mom to someone someday!” said Granny with a twinkle in her eyes. It seemed as if they threw a bait and obviously, it worked. Christian frowned at them all with disbelief.
“Someone? Don’t you mean me?”
“Yes, my dear boy. I’m sure she meant you. So when are you two getting engaged?” asked her grandpa. Skylar wanted to escape the conversation, but suddenly a hand clamped on her thigh from under the table. She almost jumped up, startled out of her mind, only to realize it was Christian’s. When did he move next to her?
“I have a work tour coming up, Grandpa Phil. Once I wrap it up, we can plan the engagement.”
“Fine. So will it happen this month?” asked Granny eagerly.
“Make it next month. Please, with only immediate family members,” insisted Christian. Skylar couldn’t protest at all in front of her grandparents. She scowled and listened to the conversation while every cell in her body battled against their decision.
She picked his hand up and threw it away angrily, but it returned to its position. Her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment and she looked around, but they seemed oblivious to what was going on.
How could they not consult her? It was as if the engagement didn’t involve her at all.
“I won’t be here next month. Sienna’s birthday is coming up and I’ll return to New York next week,” she grumbled.
“That’s alright, dear. We will go to New York to get you engaged,” said her grandpa, making her sulk even more. Christian flashed her a victorious smile. It made her want to punch him hard.
Lillian returned and cleaned up the twins, who had finished almost at the same time. They argued continuously about who would receive the gift.
“Both of you will. Happy now?” said Christian.
“Yay! I love you, Uncle Chris!” said Blade.
“I love Aunt Skye more,” said Vivienne. “Aunt Skye, are you marrying Uncle Chris?”
Skylar wanted to scream with frustration and announce to the world that she wasn’t.
“Yes, she is, Vivi. Now play while your mommy has her lunch,” said Granny.
“Mm, this pasta is heavenly, Skylar! I wonder why my brother isn’t marrying you already! I could eat this every day of my life!” said Lillian, chewing the Beefy Pasta Primavera with her eyes closed.
“I’m not..” she started having reached her limit, but Christian tightened his hold on her thigh.
“I’m planning to after returning from my trip,” he intervened, and Skylar fumed even more. She wanted to declare that she wasn’t marrying Christian, but it seemed he had sensed it already.
“Oh, another trip? When are you leaving?” asked Lillian, with disappointment.
“Tomorrow morning, around 5 o’clock.”
“Oh, the twins will be heartbroken,” said Lillian.
“You will come down to New York next month for our engagement, right?” asked Christian, and Skylar struggled against his hold. All her appetite left her and she wanted to just walk out of the room. Where was Caleb when you needed him the most? She wanted to crib and complain to him, but he was always so busy.
“Oh, yes. We’ll surely come down. Just give me the dates so that we can apply for leave at the hospital.”
Skylar couldn’t take it anymore and threw his hand away with all her might and stormed off towards her room to sulk. They all gaped at her with dread.
“Let her be. She has to come to terms with reality. She has to marry Christian ultimately. That’s the only way to make your parents happy,” said Granny with a sigh.
“I hate it this way, granny. I wanted her to like me the way I like her,” said Christian in a hushed tone.
“It will happen, bro. Don’t give up now. You’ve waited for so long for her.”
Christian looked at his sister, his face dark and upset. “How will it happen? She has a boyfriend already called Mike. She doesn’t want to marry me!” he complained with a devastated look on his face.
“What rubbish! She doesn’t have a boyfriend at all. Who’s Mike, Phil?” asked her granny, looking bewildered. Christian’s jaws dropped with surprise. So was she bluffing him?
“She might have cooked him up!” chuckled her grandpa.
“How can you be so sure, Grandpa Phil?” asked a clueless Lillian.
“Oh, we know everything about her and her group of friends. Skylar can’t keep things to herself. She blurts out everything to us.”
“Interesting!” said Christian with a wide grin on his face. It will be fun now since he wasn’t giving up at all. He would love to see who she introduces him to.