Invite.

“What's going on here?”, my father looked at me and Nathan simultaneously, and we exchanged looks. Well this was awkward.

“We're planning a surprise bachelor party for Tristan, so Nathan here came by to help me finalize a few ideas”, my voice was shaky and unsettled as I spoke. Nathan was still dressed in yesterday's clothes but there was no obvious indication that he slept over or anything.

“It's not even eight in the morning”, my Dad threw me a quick gaze before his eyes settled on Nathan again, who seemed uncomfortable as he gulped down under my fathers interrogative stare

“I wanted to catch her before she went to work because I'll not be available for the rest of the day to go through some things”, Nathan stuttered nervously as he scratched the back of his neck

“Hmm”, my dad gave what seemed like a nod of understanding with his eyes still fixed on the other man in the room cause yep, he was that intimidating

“What are you doing here, Dad?”, I interrupted on the staring contest my father was initiating with Nathan before he finally turned to me

“I was in the neighborhood and thought I should pop by to give you these”, he handed me a bouquet of white roses he was holding, and I cooed lovingly

“They're beautiful”, they smelt heavenly, and I wrapped my arm around him, and he kissed my forehead

“Thanks Dad”

“Yeah well I thought since I'm now the only man in your life, I should start pulling my weight around and spoil my little girl with her favorite flowers”

“You're really sweet”, my lips spread into a smile. “But that's not the real reason why you bought me these flowers, is it?”

“Not quite”, he laughed. “Your mother threatened to skin me alive if I don't get you to agree to coming to dinner tomorrow night. Those flowers are my way of bribing you into saying yes”.

“Your honesty will never cease to amaze me”

“What can I say?”, he shrugged, his playful more fun side was into motion as he laughed softly. “I'm an honest man”

“Well I'd love to come to dinner”, I kissed his cheek. “Tell Mom that next time, all she needs to do is call me if she wants something”

“I tried to tell her, but you know how persuasive your mother can be”, I heard his chuckles as I walked to the kitchen to put the flowers in water. He fixed his eyes back on Nathan, who seemed to have frozen on the spot.

“You were at the Johnson's brunch the other day, isn't that right young man?”, his interrogative tone and look back into position

“Yes I was, Sir”, Nathan nodded his head before he extended his hand for a handshake. “I'm Nathaniel McCarthy”

“Arthur Davis”, they firmly shook hands. “Pleasure to meet you, Nathaniel McCarthy”

“The pleasure is all mine, Sir”, Nathan gave a genuine smile as they broke their contact and my father gave a nod of approval while twisting the toothpick in between his lips before he asked the unspeakable

“Would you like to join us for dinner tomorrow night, Nathaniel?”

That question caused me to quickly look up and violently shake my head at Nathan to decline the offer, but the moment he locked eyes with me his lips spread into a petty smirk

“It would be a pleasure, Sir”

“Great. I guess I'll see the two of you tomorrow, 7pm sharp”, my father added happily.

“We'll definitely be there”, Nathan grinned, and I facepalmed

“Would you like to stay for a cup of coffee or something, Dad?”, I chipped in, to stir this whole situation in another direction before Nathan says or does something else that's incriminating

“No, thanks honey. I promised your mother I'll run a couple of errands for her today so I better get going”, he did that nodding with the face thing before he walked towards the door.

“I'll see myself out. You kids enjoy the rest of your day”, he blew me a goodbye kiss and I waved back.

“You too, Sir”

“Bye Dad”

Nathan closed the door behind him and turned to look at me, I was already giving him a deadly stare

“I don't want to jinx this but”, his lips turned up in a smirk. “I really do like where this is going”

“You could have just said no to that dinner invite”

“Why on earth would I possibly want to do that?”, he grew a smug smile on his face

“My parents are going to think we're dating”

“That's a bad thing because....?”, he quirked up an eyebrow. I took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of my nose in the process.

“Other people can't know about the nature of our relationship, Nathan”, I explained, and he seemed to be taking the whole situation lightly

“I think we're going to need some sort of rules in order to make this thing work”

“Rule number 1”, he put up his index finger. “There are simply no rules”, he pulled me closer to him, leaning to my height.

“Rules complicate things, Bella. I honestly think it's better if we just go with the flow. No one will know if we don't let them”, he wrapped his arms around me and pecked me tenderly on the lips.

“We're just friends to everyone else, right?”, he whispered against my lips and I nodded my head

“You and I are just friends”

Lately, it's been really busy at the restaurant, and I was giving out order after order. I was catering for a graduation party later on today, and it was all hands on deck. Having to prepare the dishes and juggle teaching the new apprentices the basics techniques in the kitchen was a challenge, but I was already getting the hang of it.

“Yo Boss”, Peter, the junior staff member called to my attention. “Your girl is asking for you at the front”

I exhaled tirelessly, closing my eyes for a second before opening my mouth to speak

“Tell here I'll be there in a second”, I said, and he gave a quick nod before disappearing from sight

When I finished with what I was doing, I walked to where Mellisa was waiting for me, taping her foot on the floor continuously as she scrolled on her phone

“What's up?”, I pocked my hands when I reached her and her eyebrow quirked up

“We have a cake tasting appointment in 30 minutes”, she placed one hand on her hip when she saw me shrug, showing no emotion on my face

“Don't tell me forgot”

“I'm really busy Mellisa and cake tasting is literally the last I need to worry about. I sent you a text telling you that I won't be able to make it”

“Well I didn't see it”, she folded her arms in a protest. “Do you know how hard it was to get this appointment?”

“Just because I can't go doesn't mean you can't. It's just cake tasting for fucks sake, there's absolutely no reason to make this a big deal. It's not like you need me there anyways”

“You know what your problem is here, Tristan?”

“No I don't, but I'm sure you're going to tell me”

“You don't appreciate the efforts and the endless sacrifices I make for this wedding to happen”, she scoffed bitterly, getting worked up

“I'm really sorry for putting you in such awful circumstances Mellisa but in case you hadn't noticed, I'm working really hard to be able to pay for this fairy tale wedding you want. If you don't see that I'm doing something, then I really don't know”, I snapped, her throwing a tantrum was the last thing I needed because I already have a lot on my plate, I was exhausted.

“I also have a demanding job of my own, Tristan, but I try by all means to accommodate the planning of this wedding as much as I can, you don't even try”

“I stopped trying when I realized that you have everything under control and that all I need to do on the wedding day is just show up”

“Tristan-”, she was using her warning tone, but I interrupted her

“I still have a lot of work to do so, I'll see you at home”, I turned my back on her, already walking back to the kitchen, but she was hot on my trail

“Don't walk away from me”, I could hear from the sound of her voice that she was getting angrier by the second. I stopped walking when she grabbed me and forcibly turned me around to face her.

“Don't fucking walk away from me”, she enunciated each word as her grip on my arm tightened, her nails were literally digging on my skin

“You're making a fucking scene”, I growled at her, noticing a couple of stares in our direction from my staff members, and she let go of my hand

“We'll finish this when you get home”, she pointed a finger at me. “Don't fucking think I'll let this slide”

"Do whatever the fuck you want Mellisa, it wouldn't be the first time anyway", I started walking away, and she growled behind me, I didn't even bother to look back at her. Just when I thought my day won't get any easier then this happens.