Page 11 of The Marriage Agreement (Agreement)

To be honest, all I thought about was ways to back out, and not a single idea surfaced. It was like he’d magically blocked my mind from any creative thoughts.

I wrap up my notes, simultaneously wrestling with my thoughts to keep Luke Blythe out of them. As much as he keeps creeping in like an annoying fly buzzing around, I swat it away and think it’s gone. Two seconds later, it’s back, buzzing louder in my ear. I swat him harder this time.

My mind keeps comparing Luke to my mystery guy, and the more I try to kill the thought, the more my mind reveals the attraction. But he can’t be the mystery guy because the balcony guy kissed me with so much passion and had me dreaming of a possible fairytale. Luke Blythe, on the other hand, wouldn’t even look at me, let alone speak to me or shake my hand. Though he did yesterday, which shocked me.

Focus, Dele.On the legal documentation, work, and school—he won’t matter.

After work, I head to my study group. I talk and laugh with them, but I barely comprehend anything we discuss. I leave the group and head back to Osei’s place. A part of me refuses to believe that I’ll no longer live here.

Osei is watching a show when I open the door. He turns to me and starts to laugh.

“Why are you laughing?” I ask, baffled.

“For starters, Luke has been texting me all day asking your whereabouts, because you haven’t responded to any of his texts, even though I told him you were at work.”

“I shut my phone off.” That’s my only response.What’s Luke’s deal with this constant texting?

“Well, you seem to have found a way to drive him crazy. He’s not used to people not jumping at his every command.”

“I hope he’s not expecting me to ask how high every time he says jump,” I retort, and he laughs more.

“This is going to be quite entertaining for me to watch.” He gives me that annoying laugh that I detest, and he knows it, too.

“Not funny. He doesn’t like me, and the best thing for both of us is to be amicable and stay out of each other’s way. You know, the proverbial ‘stay in your lane.’” I snicker.

“Like I said, this will be a great show,” he mocks. I drop my backpack and head towards my room.

“He had all your stuff moved earlier today,” Osei shouts, stopping me in my tracks.

“Ugh!” I let out a muffled grunt.I forgot about that.I turn to Osei, who smirks at me. I move to grab my backpack, always prepared with a change of clothes. My ever flight mode.

“I just texted him that you’re here.”

“Why would you do that? Your brother is intense. I need a minute to think,” I snap at him.

“I had to, so he can stop blowing up my phone.” He shrugs.

“Fine. I have a change of clothes here, and I’ll spend the night. Tomorrow morning, I’ll decide what to do.”

“Okay with me. Let’s hope it’s okay with Luke,” he mocks.

“Why wouldn’t he be okay with it? I’m sure he doesn’t want me in his space. Doesn’t he have some socialite to bother tonight? Please, find him one.” I grumble. Osei chuckles and nods, but I don’t buy his skeptical nod. I head to my room to shower, only to discover that everything I use is gone.

It’s clear they moved it all, down to my bobby pins. I step back out to speak with Osei.

“I’m going to need to borrow a T-shirt and some soap.” I plead. He points to his room, telling me to go ahead and get whatever I need. I go in, pick the first oversized T-shirt I can find, grab his soap, then head to my room. I shower with my braids up, upset that my shower cap is gone. I change into Osei’s T-shirt and knee-length leggings from my backpack. I throw my dirty clothes into the wash, turn my phone on, and see allthe messages from Luke. I ignore every single one. He can’t have both my days and my nights. I’m going to eat, sleep, and tomorrow, I’ll think about him.

I head out to speak with Osei and stop mid-stride when I see Luke. He turns to me, and his eyes rake in slow motion—from my braless T-shirt to my leggings and painted toenails. To my dismay, my nipples harden.Fuck!His eyes are drawn to the hardened nipples, clearly visible beneath the fabric.He needs to look away. His brow arches, and a mischievous grin tugs the corner of his lips.

“There you are. Sorry, I didn’t tell him to come over, he did that on his own,” Osei shouts behind Luke, whose eyes darken. I notice his immediate tense jaw. Our eyes do not leave each other.How am I going to live 1,095 days with this guy and not beg him to have his way with me, knowing he would never notice me, let alone feel an ounce of what I feel for him?

Osei isn’t reading the translucent emotions flowing between Luke and me. He shouts, “Dinner is here, let’s eat. Dele, I ordered from our number one place,” he excitedly states. I smile at Osei. Why couldn’t the universe make this easy for me and let me feel for Osei instead of Luke, the enigma?

Osei pulls my arm, and I follow him to the kitchen. My stomach growls loudly at the smell of grilled lamb and biryani rice. My mouth waters at the flavors. I grab a plate, and Luke is right behind me, so much so that I can feel his closeness and heat from his body, which causes me to fan myself with the T-shirt. I move with my arm against my chest to prevent my nipples from sticking out. They’re so hardened that it hurts.

“After dinner, we are leaving,” Luke announces. I should argue with him, telling him I want to stay here tonight, but my tongue is tied, and my lips are sealed. I simply nod. Might as well face the reality that he’s going to disturb my night.

Osei talks nonstop during dinner, making jokes that I normally would laugh out loud at, but I just chuckle. Luke, on the other hand, seems fine, laughing with his brother without a care for the intense air flowing between us. Though his eyes never leave mine each time he laughs or responds to Osei.

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