Chapter 8

Chapter 8 After wrapping up the exhibition, it was almost 1 pm. I was in the car, excitedly texting Lily about my experience when I glanced up and realized Chris had parked at a restaurant I often hit up. "They say the exhibition takes about two hours," Chris said. "The private restaurant we booked couldn't wait, so I thought this one might serve the food you vibe with." "Did you stalk me?" I teased him. "No," he explained. "My mom loves to spill the tea about you." "You just remember everything she tells you?" His ears turned a lil' red, and he said, "I have a bomb memory." OK, fine. After lunch, I was low-key exhausted. I had pulled an all-nighter, and then got all hyped up in the morning. Chris saw that I was half-asleep and immediately chauffeured me home to crash. When I woke up, it was already dusk. Mrs. Lori was whipping up something in the kitchen, and Chris was grinding away in the study. I sat on the balcony, clutching a book, and flipped through it without really paying attention. I loved how the sunset bathed the pages in gold. Someone crept up behind me, but I didn't turn my head. "Chris, your balcony is hella basic." The balcony was spacious, but only a few flower pots and a rattan table and chair set were placed there. It wasn't empty, but it was totes uninspiring. Chris plopped down beside me and said, "If you want, you can spice it up." "I won't bother. I'll be bouncing in a few days." "If you're injured, where do you want to go?" "It's not that deep. My leg just hurts a little now." Chris went quiet for a sec, then said, "Your bro gave me three months." "Say what?" "Your bro said you could crash with me for three months. If you don't vibe with me after three months, he'll swoop in and whisk you away." I had no idea they made that kind of deal. I asked, "What if I'm into you after three months?" "Then we'll follow through with our engagement." "Why?" "Why not?" I protested, "You decide whether to make the engagement legit based on whether I like you after three months. What if you're not feeling me after three months?" "Impossible," Chris said. "I've been low-key crushing on you all this time, not just in the last three months." "Mister, Miss, it's grub time," Mrs. Lori showed up right on cue.