Chapter 20 Catching Up

When I woke up in the morning, Wes was nowhere to be found in my room or bathroom. After a long time I had actually gotten to sleep in with no worries about classes, assignments or exams.

After brushing my teeth and throwing on his hoodie I found lying on the recliner, I made my way downstairs.

Wes was standing in the kitchen, his back facing me. I didn't know what he was cooking but I could see him flipping things on the stove while the smell of coffee hit me like a fresh breath of air.

Wes turned around to grab a plate, nearly jumping when he saw me. "Morning to you too," he smiled. "Way to sneak up on a guy."

I laughed as I walked over to him. "What are you doing?"

He grinned, placing freshly made eggs and bacon into plates. "Making breakfast for my beautiful girlfriend, of course."

My eyebrows pulled together as I glanced around and noted that nobody was around so there was no need to keep the charade going. For now at least.

"Coffee with a little cream and way too much sugar," he shot me a cheeky look as he handed me a mug. It made my stomach do a flip at the small gesture of him remembering how I take my coffee.

"Thank you, sir." I took a seat at the island and watched him as he placed the plates down in front of me.

"Your dad was about to head out when I got up," he told me as he walked over and sat on the stool beside me.

I quirked an eyebrow, intrigued. "How did that go?"

"Quite good actually," Wes chuckled, seeming surprised himself. "We talked business and sports over a cup of coffee. The usual."

I couldn't help but laugh. "My dad actually made decent conversation?"

Wes shrugged, looking pleased. "Are you doubting my ability to charm people, Fi? Looks like your dad may be warming up to me."

"One could hope," I mumbled, taking a forkful of the eggs Wes had cooked up. I nodded my head slowly. "And a good cook. Who would have thought my boyfriend could be this amazing?"

Wes grinned at me, seeming... happy hearing my comment. "Glad to be such a suitable candidate."

"You didn't have to do this," I mumbled sheepishly. "It's very sweet but I think we've sold our fake relationship quite well already. You don't need to do... all this."

Wes shifted, avoiding meeting my gaze. He bit down on his lip. "I'm not working on selling it," he sighed. He shook his head lightly. He seemed bothered by my comment, although I'm not sure why. "I just wanted to do something nice, treat you good."

I inhaled deeply, feeling guilty for assuming his intentions were anything but pure. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I just want you to... have fun, relax. It is the winter break, after all."

Wes offered me a small smile but it wasn't heartfelt, I could tell from his eyes that were still hesitant to lock with mine. "What's the plan for today anyways?"

I sat up straighter, a little relieved that the subject changed. "My cousins are flying in today so they should be here soon. We'll probably meet for lunch with my sister and Adam later."

Wes nodded. "Sounds good. Anything I need to extra prepare for to charm your cousins as well?"

I laughed but shook my head. "No. I think you'll get along with them great. Unlike my immediate family, they aren't so uptight."

After we ate we both cleaned up the dishes and loaded the dishwasher. It felt oddly very comfortable just doing chores in my childhood home with Wes, of all people. This wasn't a scene I ever pictured to be in, with Wes of all people but in the moment, there wasn't anyone else I wish was here with me.

"Knock, knock. Anyone home?"

Wes and I were in the middle fo a conversation about microwaves causing cancer when a new voice sounded through the house.

I spun around to see my cousins walking into the kitchen with their suitcases rolling behind them.

Sage's eyes went wide when she saw me. "No way Fia Romero is standing in front of me!" Sage and I both laughed slashes screamed as we ran towards each other, hugging the life out of each other.

"Where's mine?"

I finally pulled away from Sage to see her grinning twin brother, Stefan. Sage and Stefan were both my age and only lived a few hours away. Ever since we started university we hadn't gotten many chances to see each other but before, we were closer than ever. Sage was always more like a sister to me than Mirah ever will be.

"Stefano," I mused, pulling him into a hug. "It's been too long."

"Where the hell have you been?" He mumbled into my hair, laughing as we pulled away from each other. "You didn't even come home for reading week."

"You know how it is," I rolled my eyes playfully. "The suffocation of my parents."

"Never gets easy."

"And who is this?" Sage smirked, leaning agains the table and she looked Wes up and down like a hungry kid looking at a candy display.

Wes wiped his hands on a hand towel before walking over, swinging an arm around my waist. His touch took me by surprise, making a shiver go down my spine. It was just for show. I almost forgot that we were supposed to be pretending to be dating.

That included lying to my cousins. If we wanted to sell it, for the sake of my sanity and my family elder family members not being on my tail, we had to sell it to everyone.

"This," I exhaled. "Is Wes. My... boyfriend."

Wes smiled, sticking his hand out towards Stefan. "Nice to meet you guys."

Stefan smiled in return, firmly shaking his hand. "Same goes. I'm Stefan, Fia's favourite cousin."

Sage rolled her eyes, ignoring her brother. She shook Wes's hand, an eyebrow quirked. "Sage. Fia didn't mention a boyfriend. Actually, she did but I swear it was that little dweeb, kind of short and a badly needed haircut. What was his name again?"

"Nate," I sighed, shaking my head. "That is long over."

"Good," Sage snorted. "He was a bore."

My eyes went wide. "Sage!"

"What?!" She put her hands up in defence. Leave it to everyone in my family to be awfully forward. "I'm just being honest."

I gave her a dull look, no longer needed to be reminded of Nate. A breakup that was well expected, probably long over due, but nevertheless a relationship I had yet to mourn.

"I'm going to get the bags upstairs," Stefan rolled his eyes at his sister and I as he headed out of the kitchen.

"Hey man, I'll help." Wes shot me a smile as he followed Stefan out and helped him bring their suitcases up to the guest rooms.

Sage narrowed her eyes at me, still leaning against the table as she crossed her arms over her chest. She smirked at me, a knowing look in her eyes. "Wes, huh?"

I looked at her innocently. "Yes. What about him?"

She tilted her head like she was looking for clues. "When did that happen? What happened with Nate?"

I blew air out into my cheeks as I started walking to the living room. "We have a lot of catching up to do."

This may turn out to be a very long day.

"Spill." She plopped down on the couch, turning to face me with an eager look on her face. She loved her gossip and drama stories.

"Nate and I were doomed a lot longer before I admitted it to myself," I shrugged my shoulders, staring down at my hands.

I had accepted that Nate and I weren't going to work. It was the end of the road for us. We had become a burnt out flame. Although I tried for so long, there was nothing I could have done to prevent the way he felt.

I was okay with the fact that we were over because towards the end, he had been treating me badly for weeks. We both were miserable.

Despite all of that, I had known him since I was 13. We had been friends before we started dating and the relationship itself lasted over three years. It may have gotten bad towards the end but that doesn't take away the three year years of good, the three years of happiness. It doesn't get rid of the love that was between us.

And that, is something I haven't had the chance to think about because I was too busy with exams and then this lie Wes and I are pulling off because of my family.

You can't forget or get over three years of a good, happy relationship so easily. As sad as I am about it, all I can do is push it down and ignore it for the time being so this wedding goes by smoothly.

This plan of Wes and I fake dating is the only thing getting me through the winter break. The worst of my family's judgements was yet to come.

"I thought you guys were happy," Sage's eyebrows furrowed together. "You were even planning on buying an apartment together for second year."

I let out a dry laugh. "That did not last." I explained the end of the relationship to her, how mean he had gotten, how distant and dismissive he was. The only lie was when the breakup actually happened.

"And you and Wes?" She narrowed her eyes, not seeming to fully buy the story. "Was that a rebound?"

"Of course not," I sighed, shaking my head. "Wes was there for me so much. When we become friends, I didn't even realize how... bad things were with Nate. I was okay with him treating me so poorly. But then Wes, he started acting more like a boyfriend than Nate. Wes was there for me when Nate wasn't, when Nate should have been."

In this moment, I realized how true all of that was.

Wes was there for me when I needed Nate but Nate couldn't haven cared less about me. Wes was the one comforting me and smile when I so unhappy and stressed out.

It was always Wes who was there for me.

I shook my head, realizing the situation I was in. "So," I continued. "At some point it escalated. We were hanging out so much and I felt more alive than I had in a while."

Sage gave me an approving look. "He is a catch."

I grabbed a pillow and threw it at her weakly. "Hands off," I joked.

It was funny because if I wasn't fake dating Wes, I probably would have hooked him up with Sage. Played match-maker and gotten them together. They could actually be really good together now that I think about it.

But of course, under the circumstances I was not allowed to play cupid for Wes while we were back in my home town.

"What are we gossiping about now?" Stefan and Wes strolled into the living room to join us.

And the rest of the morning was spent talking about all random subjects, making me forget any lie Wes and I were telling, making me forget the wrath of my parents, and mostly making me forget all about Nate.