Strings

Chapter 26 - Part II

"C-can I ask you something, Hayden?"

I look at her. Most times, that is all I can seem to do. Just look, stare; like a fucking creep. Like its my fault she is so fucking beautiful. Couple locks of loose hair frame her face as her head leans into me.

"Hmm, go ahead" I grunt, playing with her hair and twirling them in my fingers, god they were so soft and she smelled heavenly. All lavender-y and fresh. As her auburn-brown locks of hair slips over and between my fingers, I can't remember a time I felt more content.

"That night our families had dinner; the very first time, w-when we first met actually, do you remember?"

I cant help but chuckle. It seemed like forever ago.

"How can I not? You tripped twice in like the exact same minute." I say, my voice light as I can picture Avery standing there in my hallway looking so simple and yet so so beautiful in her light beige dress, confused the shit out of her own mind on which way she was supposed to go back to the main dining area.

But that just earns me a sharp gasp and a shove from Avery.

"I absolutely did not, mister!" she says in a feeble attempt of defense.

"oh shut up, like its any surprise, you fall or trip all the time; its like your legs are made of jelly." I say laughing now.

"T-they, they are not made of jelly, my legs are perfectly fine and- I only tripped because of the ridiculous heels I was made to wear." she says huffing. My god, she is so fucking adorable; she'll be the death of me.

"Excuse me if I am wrong, but you've tripped several times since then and well most of the time you were in those puffy slippers of yours and oh- several is an understatement." I say, recalling all the times Avery would've fallen on her adorable little face if I didn't have fast reflexes.

"Okay fine, I may have a tendency to be a
little clumsy, big deal."

"Little clumsy?" I ask laughing as she huffs adorably.

"Anyways" I say, pulling her so that she resumes how she was sitting previously

"Why do you ask about it?"

She is stiff for a while, and then relaxes into me again. I realize I love how she feels next to me, as she snuggles into my side.

"Y-you asked me then why I signed those papers. The contract papers that sealed the marriage." she says softly, hesitantly. I already see where this is going.

"Yes, I remember." is all I say in response.

"I- I am sorry, I just have to ask. What was in it for you?" she says her voice almost quieter than before, something I didn't think was possible.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we obviously needed that contract since dad had taken money from your father and well it was clearly your influence that kept The Fawkes at bay, or god know what would've happened to me but what was in it for the Knight Enterprises? Why did you sign the contract?"

I don't say anything to her for a little while, and then I take a deep breath.

"I wasn't exactly settling down at the time if you know what I mean." I say scratching the back of my neck.