Guess what? I am still alive! Fascinating, huh?
I am so sorry for taking so long to update my stories… I will try and write more often, okay?
Anyway, I will leave you to it.
I own nothing but my house, my computer, my coca-cola, blah blah blah…
Yes, still don't own Lie To Me or any of its characters.
*sighs*
... ... ... ... ...
Marriages change people.
When you reach the altar and say yes, you are saying yes to a lot of questions that you might not even be aware of.
Will you make dinner every night? Yes. Will you clean the house while I play poker? Yes. Will you bring me another beer? Yes. Will you tell my mother that I am not home at the moment? Yes. Will you stop wearing short dresses? Yes. Will you stop working late? Yes. Will you stay home and raise the kids? Yes… Wait, what?
Oh yes, marriages ask for more than love and passion. They ask for friendship, openness, honesty, respect, organization, tenderness, commitment…
Getting him or her to propose is surely not the hardest part, my dear friends, so keep that in mind while you think whether you are ready or not to say that little innocent word – yes.
... ... ... ... ...
Gillian walked back into the office, finding Cal and Emily still sitting on the exact same place in what seemed to be an awkward father/daughter silence.
"Don't mind me." She said ironically, bending over the table a bit so that she could reach for her food and her cell phone.
"That will be bloody hard, luv." Cal murmured under his breath before clearing his throat and looking at Gillian while she gathered her things and then sat down by his daughter's side.
"So…" Gillian said as she crossed one leg over the other one, resting her cell phone on her lap before taking a small bite of her already cold food.
"So…" Cal repeated as he leaned back on his chair, staring at the woman sitting in front of him.
He couldn't help but let his eyes travel along her body that was so well defined under that little dress of hers. He wondered if she was a good tennis player… or maybe a good squash player… if she had enough strength on her beautiful long arms…
"So Dad wants to invite you for lunch tomorrow." Emily blurted out, quickly filling her mouth with dessert so that she would have an excuse not to answer questions or make any comments for a while. She could feel them both staring at her but she decided to try and ignore them, playing it cool.
"Emily…" He said with a warning voice tone to which his teenage daughter replied with a shrug as she was still chewing.
"Cal… it's okay." Gillian smiled, putting her carton over his desk as the food didn't taste that well anymore due to its temperature. "You know I would love to have lunch with you… I always do… but I am afraid I already have a lunch date programmed for tomorrow." She replied calmly, her eyes quickly finding his.
Cal sat straight on his chair, studying her face closely and carefully.
She surely wasn't lying to him about this date of hers… and she didn't look embarrassed for it either… but there was something wrong with her face… she was hiding something behind that sweet neutral expression of hers… something about her eyes…
He raised an eyebrow once he realized that she was actually teasing him… she had put him in that situation just to see his reaction and she was enjoying the result… but still… the date was real…
Why didn't her behavior make any sense to him?
Women.
"And I thought we were done with surprises for today…" Cal's tone was humorous and the small smirk that took over his face meant he was truly amused.
Emily's eyes travelled back and forth from her father's face to Gillian's until she stopped and decided to look down at her dessert.
"I don't really get you two… you are dancing tango together but apart…" The girl said, sighing deeply before moving the fork with the last piece of dessert closer to her mouth. "I just don't get you... Adults." She shrugged yet again before taking the last bite.
Gillian couldn't help but laugh at what she read on Cal's face once Emily was done speaking.
Both father and daughter turned to her.
"What?" They asked in unison.
Gillian shook her head in disbelief, a sassy smile still playing on her lips.
"I should go…" She announced, running a hand through her hair before standing up, careful not to throw her cell phone to the floor. "It is getting late, the food is cold and I do remember baking a chocolate cake this morning and it is waiting for me at home." She added before bending over and placing a kiss on Emily's cheek. "Goodnight, honey. Take care of your old man, alright?" She asked before turning to Cal and giving him a cordial nod, then making her way towards the door.
Her hand was resting over the doorknob when she felt an arm being wrapped around her waist and a hand being spread over her stomach, rubbing it softly before applying some pressure so that her body moved closer to his.
"What about me, luv? Don't I deserve a goodnight kiss?" Cal asked in half a whisper, letting his lips rest against the soft skin of her neck once he moved her hair away with his free hand.
She leaned back against his body and allowed herself to enjoy the closeness before letting out a deep breath she wasn't aware she had been holding.
One of her hands travelled down to meet his over her stomach and she laced their fingers together before moving both away so that she could turn around and face him.
Her eyes searched his and she realized he was still wearing his mask, not allowing her to see behind the Great Wall of China that he liked to keep around him.
Sometimes she wished he would always keep it down while she was around… sometimes she found herself wishing to be given the only copy of the key to the gate… but she always found herself being confronted with the reality. He trusted her… but not enough – or so she thought.
She sighed quite deeply before slightly leaning over and letting her lips find their way towards his… cheek. She felt his body tense up… she knew that was a sign of protest and disappointment but today she wasn't going to allow him to go any further… not when she was starting to play the game… not when she had learned that he knew the rules and had already placed his own bets.
"Night Cal." She smiled against his skin before turning around and leaving the room.
The silence was broken by a laugh.
"Nice try, Dad." Emily commented from her chair.
"Nice try, Cal." Gillian said as she pressed the button to call for the elevator.
... ... ... ... ...
And that was it!
More will come as soon as I finish the next chapter of "Congratulations".
R&R if you feel like it!
See you soon,
Reesa.
