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Chapter 29 Selling The Show

I had kissed Wes.

I didn't think, I just did it and he kissed me back.

And it was amazing. It was surreal, like something out of a movie. It felt like we were the only two people in the world.

And my head was swaying so much from all the alcohol that I had had, I didn't even care about the dangerous territory I was walking into.

After the gentle and perfect little kiss, we pulled away when someone started tapping on a glass to get everyone's attention. Adam was going to make a speech which caused Wes and I to step out of our little moment and head to the table we were sitting at.

We didn't have a chance to talk because Adam had started his little speech. Wes kept glanced at me through the corner of his eyes, like he was trying to see where my head was at.

I just stared straight ahead at Adam in the centre of the room, standing with my sister. My face was flushed and still on fire, my lips tingling like crazy.

As soon as the speech was over, I stumbled my way out to the back garden where everything was lit beautifully with fairy lights.

My head was spinning, partly due to the alcohol and party because the kiss was lingering in my head.

I couldn't process what I was thinking.

Wes and I were friends which I had to keep reminding myself. I wasn't an idiot, I knew I was starting to get spun by him and his natural charm.

But I knew Wes and I knew what he was like. He didn't care to have a committed relationship or to even give any girl a solid chance. Everything he was doing with me was for show. He didn't like me like that.

All I was doing was getting ahed of myself and letting my emotions control me, making things confusing and complicated.

"Fi?"

I spun around to see Wes walking towards me. His eyes were warm, his features soft but a hint of worry flashed across his face.

"Hey," I mumbled softly, avoiding his gaze.

"What's going on?" He walked over to me, taking ahold on my hands. "Why are you getting shy on me?"

I bit the inside of my cheek, struggling to lock eyes with him. "I don't know. I'm sorry."

We'd let out a breathy chuckle. "About what, silly?"

I shrugged, finally looking up to see his big and warm eyes dancing with emotion. "Kissing you."

Wes exhaled slowly. He moved his hand to brush some of my hair behind my ear, his touch making my skin tingle. "My God, your adorable."

I leaned into him, exhaling a shaky breath. My head was cloudy, my feet were sore and I just wanted to kiss him again.

I felt my mind spinning with confusion.

"You have nothing to be sorry about, Fia."

I pursed my lips, frowning. "I shouldn't have done that."

Wes shrugged softly, a little grin playing on his lips. "Trust me, I didn't mind it at all." My chest was fluttering away with butterflies.

I shifted on my feet, wishing I could read his mind to know what he was feeling.

"What was that for anyways?" He had a playful and intrigued glint in his eyes.

I shrugged, looking down at her hands still holding each other's. "I don't know. I had to... sell the show, right?"

I mentally winced at my own excuse, feeling incredibly lame. Of course that wasn't true. The last thing on my mind was our fake relationship.

I looked at him again in hopes that he would shake his head and say no, not right. I wanted him to give me some sort of indication that there was more to it.

I didn't know how I felt about Wes. I knew I was starting to fall and that scared me more than anything because this is Wes we're talking about.

Not to mention everything that happened with Nate was making me hesitate on the idea of jumping into a relationship again.

Not that that would ever happen with Wes. I knew he loved me as a friend and needed me to be his match maker. I was the one setting his dates up, not the one he would actually take on a date.

This whole situation was a mess.

Wes inhaled sharply, wincing slightly. "Right..." he mumbled slowly, not entirely meeting my gaze. "Selling the show, keeping up appearances. That is why I'm here."

He didn't seem bothered. He sounded like he agreed which was enough for me to see that this was nothing but a fake relationship to him.

"It just seemed like the right moment," I sighed, shaking my head. It really was the perfect little moment. "Maybe I should have paced myself and not had so much to drink."

Wes slowly let go of my hands, letting his arms fall to his sides. "We should get inside and get you some water."

He didn't look at me as he placed his hand on my lower back and started leading me inside.

Once again, it seemed like it was settled on Wes and I being nothing more than friends, simply being flirty and faking the romance to sell our fake relationship. That was answer enough for me to know I had to get a grip on the situation and stop letting my judgement get clouded.

We had walked back inside when I ran into Mirah. She sighed as she took a look at me. "Seriously, Fia? Is it so hard for you to control yourself?"

"What?"

She gave me a dirty look, not impressed by me right now. "This is my night and you had to get drunk? Do you have to ruin everything?"

My blood boiled. I was already annoyed with Wes and my own feelings. Mirah was not doing anything to help me feel any better.

"Mirah," I sighed deeply. "I'm not doing anything. I have been on my best behaviour all night and still am."

I was drunk but I was capable of controlling my liquor. I was perfectly normal, walking and talking and acting sober without making any scene or making a fool of myself.

Maybe I didn't have to drink so much but although I did, nobody could even tell.

Mirah shook her head firmly. "You should go home and get some sleep. I don't approve of this."

I scoffed softly, giving her a tired look. "Mirah, do you see me acting like a fool? I am fine and you know it. You just want a reason to get mad at me."

"I think I can handle her," Wes spoke up softly, his tone hesitant like he was scared to speak against my sister. "She just needs some water but really, she is fine and under control."

Mirah shot both of us a doll look, shaking her head. "No. I want you to go home and sober up. The night is basically over anyways and I would much rather it continue to go by without a hitch."

I gaped at her. "Are you serious? What did I do?"

Mirah kept a stoic look on her face. "Nothing, I just don't see why you have to get drunk."

I narrowed my eyes at her, disbelief evident all over my face. "You're kicking me out to punish me like I'm a little child? I'm not a kid, Mirah. I can control myself which as you can see, I have."

Mirah exhaled slowly, keeping her temper bottled down. "This is not the time to argue with me, little sister." She spoke so bitterly, each one of her words laced with the superiority she felt.

I opened my mouth to speak but Wes beat me to it.

"It's okay," he offered me a reassuring look. "I'll get her home. She should get some sleep anyways."

I stared at my heels as Wes led me out to his car and drove us back home. I felt like my sister had just slapped me across the face and had no words in me right now.

Wes sighed as he helped me up my room, keeping an arm around my waist to keep me from stumbling all over the place.

I sat on the end of my bed, kicking off my heels.

"Hey," Wes's voice was quiet, worry flashing across his face as he bent down in front of me, taking hold of my hands again. "What's wrong, love? You haven't spoken a word since we left."

I shook my head, not looking away from my hands in my lap.

Wes sighed. "Come on. Talk to me, Fia."

I sucked in my lips, feeling like an idiot right now. I couldn't help but feel pathetic after all the interactions with my family members today. My sister pulled the last straw, making me feel lower than I had in a long time.

"I hate it," I exhaled, not meeting his gaze.

"Hate what?" His tone was filled with concern that made my chest bubble with warmth. At least someone cared.

I paused, biting the inside of my cheek. I hated Wes seeing me like this. I didn't want him to see me feeling so insecure and pathetic.

"Talk to me, please." His voice was now pleading. He gently squeezed my hands.

I sighed, tilting my head back to stare at the ceiling. "I hate being here, Wes. I hate being home, I hate being around my family."

Wes stood up, taking a seat on the edge of the bed beside me. He gently placed a hand under my chin and lowered my face, turning me so I would look him in the eye. "I know."

Peering into Wes's warm and comforting eyes suddenly struck a nerve. The next thing I knew, tears were uncontrollably rolling down my cheeks. "I'm sorry," I choked out, covering my face with my hands as I sobbed like a baby.

"Hey, hey," Wes ran a hand through my hair in a comforting manner. He sighed as he pulled me close to him, wrapping his strong arms around me and hugging me.

I buried my head into his chest and allowed myself to cry.

Wes also allowed me to just cry. He sat there, holding me as I cried into his chest for what seemed like hours.

And that was exactly what I needed right now.