"I am not in love with her for the millionth time."

I tried explaining this to Westly but he kept disagreeing to that.

"Okay, fine...", he said taking a sip of his drink, as we sat at a bar, drinking. "You say you hate her, right? Now, give me a reason as to why you hate her."

That question caught me off guard. Why I hate her?

"Um...I...she...she was rude to me when I first met her, that's why."

"But according to what you told me how you met her, it was you who was rude to her when you first met her."

"Will you stop interrogating me?"

"Just give me one reason, just one. Why does Rafe Andrews hate Leona Wilbrose or should I say Leona Andrews." He grinned at the last line.

"I am not answering that question because it's ridiculous, okay? Now shut up or else you will be paying for the drinks." I threatened.

"The drinks are on me tonight but you just tell me why you hate her."

I slammed down my glass on the table and got up. "You know what? I am going. Enjoy alone."

He grabbed my hand and pulled me back. "Whoah, whoah...wait a minute. Why are getting so angry about it?"

I rolled my eyes and sat back on the stool and he said, "Last question; I promise. Even if you don't love her...but later on, you start to catch feelings for her, will you accept them?"

I shot him a glare but answered anyway. "No."

"Why?"

I lowered my eyes and stared at the floor distantly. "Accept my feelings only for her to leave me in the end?"

"Why will she leave you, bro? She's your wife!"

I looked up at him as my heart clenched at that thought. "Exactly! She's my wife just for another four months. After that? She will go back, she will leave me and I will be alone again."

"Ouch. That must be a hurtful thought. Why are you overthinking so much?"

"I'm not overthinking. I am just stating a fact. So, please leave this topic." I requested him and he nodded slowly.

"Hey, I am holding a small party at my house tomorrow. And you are invited, of course." He spoke, finally changing the topic.

"Who all will be there?"

"A few of my teammates and you and...um...Leona." He replied.

I nodded. "Okay, I'll...ask her."

"I'll text you the details later.

I hummed in response and finished my drink as Westly got up and excused himself and went towards the direction of the washroom.

I leaned back against the counter and sighed softly, running my fingers through my hair.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw someone taking a seat beside me and I glanced to see a woman sitting there and she offered me a seductive smile.

I nodded curtly at her and looked away but she shifted closer and placed her hand over my bicep.

Can't people just stay away?

I glanced at her with a bored look and she again smiled like before and I stopped myself from cringing.

"Can I buy you a drink, handsome?" She asked in a slutty voice.

I shifted away and lifting my left hand, pointed to the ring on my ring finger. "Thank you but I am married, I'm not interested." I told her, politely telling her to fuck off.

I'm married for God's sake! Can't they see the ring?

"Oh, I am sorry." She muttered and leaning back, got up walking away from there, finally leaving me alone.

I sighed deeply and waited for Westly to come back.

.

.

.

"You know these are the times when I really, really regret marrying you." I spoke feeling exasperated, standing outside her door waiting for her to get ready.

"You know what? I always regret marrying you." She spoke back.

"What do you take so long to get dressed? If you want I can help you get dressed instead." I teased, leaning my back against the door.

"Shut up, idiot. I don't need you help!"

"It will be better if I leave first; you can come later when you are ready. I'm going!"

"Wait! I don't know where he lives!"

"I'll share you the location...buh-bye, kid."

"No, wait! Wait!" And she pulled open her door not knowing I was leaning against it making me fall down on the floor on my back.

"Oops." She placed her palm over her mouth to stop herself from laughing but failed as she burst into laughter.

I cursed underneath my breath as I got up rubbing the back of my head.

"By the way, why are you dressed like this?" She asked taking in my outfit.

I looked down at myself, I was wearing a plain, black full sleeves t shirt and a pair of black jeans. "Is there a problem?"

"You are dressed so casually...we are going to a party."

I rolled my eyes and grabbed her hand to drag her out saying, "It's Westly's party, he himself would be dressed in a t shirt and sweatpants."

"But aren't there gonna be other people too?"

"He doesn't care." She hummed and quietly followed me.

I felt some pain in the back of my head due to falling and I winced slightly and rubbed it.

She poked my bicep with her finger and I looked at her. "What?"

She bit her lips and said, "Is it hurting a lot?"

"Um...I..." I didn't expect her to care but anyway, I cleared my throat. "A little bit..."

"I'm sorry...I didn't know you were standing--"

"It's okay; it's not your mistake." I cut her off, giving her a small smile.

She nodded and said nothing else.

.

.

.

We stood near the pool in Westly's house talking to one of his teammate, our particular drinks in our hands.

There weren't many people, just us, a few of his teammates and and one of Westly's cousin who was in the town and her friend too.

When Westly's vice captain left us alone to get another drink, I turned to Leona but that wasn't a good decision and she threw her whole drink on my face.

What the fuck?

My eyes shut automatically before it could go in my eyes too and my jaw clenched as I slowly wiped it away and opening my eyes glared at her who was giggling.

"Have you gone mad?! Why did you do that?" I had to stop myself from yelling.

She shrugged nonchalantly. "Just felt like doing it."

"Oh, you are so dead."

"What are you going to do now, huh?" She challenged. "Throw a drink back at me?"

I eyed the pool behind her and smirked. "Something much better." And I took a threatening step forward making her take a step back.

"W-what are you doing?" Fear started to arise within her.

In a swift movement, I bent down and picked her up in my arms, walking to the edge of the pool.

She thrashed in my arms. "Rafe, no! Don't you dare!"

"You should have thought that before throwing that on me."

"I am sorry! Please don't do this!"

"Too late." And I released her from my arms and the last thing she shouted was, "I can't swim, idiot!"

Well, fuck! I thought as she fell into the pool, her body immediately started to go deeper.

I wasted no time in jumping into the pool and diving in, going after her.

If uncle gets to know I drowned his only daughter, he will drown me too, maybe in a worse way.

I swam faster and grabbed her arm, pulling her up and I swam us to the surface.

Reaching the surface, I wrapped my arms around her waist, holding her there as we breathed heavily.

A few seconds later, she smacked my shoulder. "I could have drowned, idiot!"

"Couldn't you have told me earlier that you can't swim!"

"Who the fuck gave you the idea to throw me in the pool in the first place!"

I felt guilty about and didn't answer for a few seconds after which I asked softly, "Are you okay though?"

"No! Because I was about to freaking drown!" Then her lips started to tremble and tears formed in her eyes.

"Hey, hey...I am sorry. I shouldn't have done that." I assured her.

She wrapped her hands around my neck and hugged me suddenly burying her head in my neck.

I tightened my hold around her waist and gently stroked her hair with the other hand.

"You are safe, baby." I whispered softly.

She pulled me back immediately and again smacked me on my shoulder. "I could have been safer if your idiotic ass didn't throw me in the pool."

I rolled my eyes and swam us to the edge of the pool and helped her get out first and then got out after her.

As we stood near the pool, Westly's cousin and her friend decided to make their way out there as I ran my fingers through my wet hair.

I could hear them whispering to each other but I paid no attention to them until one of them said, "Look at him, he's so hot!"

Um...I am supposed to say thank you or just ignore them?

Leona must have heard that too because her head snapped to them and she gave them a deadly glare. "Bitch! He's married and he is my husband! Have some shame!" And she grabbed my arm and dragged me from there.

He is my husband.

She called me her husband.

I cannot explain in words how happy her few sentences made me. All I wanted to do right now was to grab her face and kiss her hard.

She finally agreed that I am her husband. Finally. The thing I had been dying to hear from her. I was smiling so hard that my cheeks started to hurt.

Once inside, I took her to one of the guest rooms and closing the door, faced her, the smile never leaving my face.

She still looked angry with her arms folded across her chest and a scowl plastered on her face.

When she saw me smiling, she spoke, "Now what are you smiling like an idiot for?"

I shook my head biting my lips and moved towards the washroom to grab a towel.

Next, I started to gently dry her hair with the towel as she started to protest. "I can do it myself."

"Shut up and let me do it." And I continued drying her hair.

After drying hers, I dried mine and dropped the towel on the floor, taking a step closer to her. "Say that again."

She was baffled. "Say what?" And she took a step back.

And I took another step forward making her take a step back. My voice turned low and husky. "That I am your husband."

"Y-you have...you have gone mad, Rafe." She looked nervous and took another couple of steps back until her back hit the door and stepping forward, I placed my hand on either side of her head, leaning closer.

"Say it, Leona." I whispered huskily in her ear.

I swear the moment she says it again, I am going to kiss the living hell out of her, I am going to kiss her till she won't even remember her name.

My breath fanned her cheeks as she shut her eyes tightly. "Rafe..."

"Yes, baby?" My lips were just inches apart from hers and I smirked slightly seeing the blush forming on her cheeks.

"If...I...if I say it...will you stop doing...what you are... doing?" She stuttered, biting her lips and my eyes flickered down to them making me want to kiss her even more.

I brushed my lips against her cheek. "Mmm..."

She gulped audibly. "Rafe...you are...you are my husband."

There was no force in the world that could stop me now from kissing her except my fucking best friend who thought it would be a very nice moment to knock on the door, shouting my name. "Rafe!"

"Fuck!" I cursed and took a step back as she opened her eyes.

"Rafe?"

"Yes! What the fuck do you want?!" I shouted, and gently pushing Leona away, opened the door.

He tried to look into the room where Leona was standing with her cheeks as red as a tomato.

I blocked Leona's view and glared at Westly. "What?" I asked boorishly.

He smiled sheepishly. "Um...I was just wondering where you were..."

My nostrils flared with rage. "Fuck you, Westly!" And I pushed him out of my way to leave.