Chapter Five-Exposés

"Oh my God," Mia breathes. "You just proposed to her! You're engaged! I didn't even know you two were dating!" She looks at us with wide eyes. "I thought you hated each other?"

She looks back and forth at us and me and Ana look at each other. "Uh . . ." I begin.

"Um, it was just for show," Ana explains, glancing at me uncertainly. "We wanted everyone to believe that we didn't like each other so they wouldn't find out about us."

Mia beams. "So you guys are in love?"

Ana and I take another glance at each other.

"Yeah," we say in unison.

"I knew it!" she cheers! "I could see the love in Christian's eyes every time he looked at you during dinner yesterday." Mia is looking at us like we've told her she could have her own Prada store.

"Oh my God, wait till I tell mom! She's going to flip! Eek, it's going to be soo fun planning the wedding and the bridal shower and the bachelorette party!" Mia claps her hands as she bounces on her feet.

I move from Ana and grab Mia's arms as I look her in the eyes. "Mia you can't tell anyone about this, okay? Ana and I want to keep it private a little while longer so promise me you won't say a word to anyone?"

Her face falls. "But . . ."

"Promise me."

She sighs. "Fine. I promise I won't tell anyone. But can I plan the wedding?"

I roll my eyes. "Mia, we just got engaged, for Christ sakes. Give us some time to get used to the idea before you start doing the whole shebang, alright?"

She harrumphs and pouts, thinking her puppy dog eyes are going to work on me. "Not this time, sweetheart. Those pretty little eyes ain't gonna get you anywhere."

"Ugh, why do you always have to rain on my parade?" She crosses her arms over her chest.

I ignore her pouting party and raise a brow. "So are we done here?"

"No. When did you guys even start dating? And how did you even make it work when you were all the way in England, Christian?"

I look back at Ana and she looks as lost as I feel. "We, um, had a long distance relationship for most of it, but we tried to see each other as much as possible," Ana announces convincingly. She used to be a horrible liar. I guess she's been practicing.

Mia looks at Ana. "So that one time last year when you said you we're going to a friend's bachelor part in Spokane, did you actually go see Christian? And what about that time when you said a group of your classmates were all going to California for Spring Break? Ohh, and that time you went on the tour to Italy? Did you stop by to see your fiancé?" Mia grins conspiratorially at Ana.

Ana bites her lip and shrugs guiltily. "You got me."

Mia rushes towards her and throws her arms around Ana. Ana makes a hmph sound and glances at me while she hugs Mia back and pats her back awkwardly. Mia pulls away and beams at her.

"You know what this means, right?"

Ana just gazes at her. "No?"

"We're going to be sisters!" She goes to hug her again but I push her away.

"Okay, Mia, how about you let me and my fiancée talk for a minute and you go wait downstairs." I frown at her when a sudden thought hits me. "Why were you up here anyway?"

"Mom told me to come find you. I was walking up the stairs when I head talking coming from the bathroom." Her eyes shift to Ana. "Oh, by the way Ray thinks you went back home because you knew Christian would be here." She giggles. "If only he knew the truth."

"Which you're not gonna tell," I remind her.

"I already promised I wouldn't tell."

"Good. Now go tell everyone we'll be down soon." I push her out of the bathroom and then close the door. I lean up against it and close my eyes, savoring the silence.

"I've known Mia my whole life and yet I still can't seem to get used to her bubbly personality," Ana mutters in front of me.

"I know, I'm sorry. I should have realized the door was open knowing this house is filled with nothing but Nosey Nancy's."

Ana smirks at me but doesn't say anything. I don't say anything either because I'm not sure what to say.

Ana clears her throat and gives me a tight smile. "I guess we better get down there then."

"Yeah."

I open the door and step out but Ana doesn't. I turn around to see what's keeping her. I look at her when she blushes a little.

"What?"

"Um, I have to pee. I'll meet you down there."

I chuckle. "Oh. Do you want me to wait for you?"

She shakes her head. "No. I don't think we should walk down together anyways."

"Good thinking. I'll see you down in a minute."

I hear the door close gently as I begin walking down the stairs. I turn around when I remember that I need to charge my phone. When I get back down stairs I turn the corner meaning to go to the kitchen, but when I look up I see Ana standing just at the threshold of the kitchen and everyone staring at her. I walk up behind her.

"What's going on?" I ask, looking between her and my family.

"You're engaged!" my mother screeches.

My eyes immediately search for Mia's. I find her cowering behind Papa. I glower at her.

I clear my throat and take a quick look at Ana. She's frozen with fear. I grab her hand in mine and I watch everyone's eyes shift to between us.

"Yes," I answer my mother. "But we weren't planning on telling everyone so soon." I glare at Mia again. She mouths I'm sorry, but I just roll my eyes. The girl couldn't keep her mouth shut even if it saved her life.

"But . . . we thought you couldn't stand each other," my mother stutters.

I hear Elliot laugh from the side of the kitchen. "It was probably just foreplay."

"Elliot Grey!" my mother chides.

My father steps forward, his green eyes scrutinizing us. "So you're telling us that you two love each other enough to sign a legal document stating that you vow to be committed to each other forever?"

"Yes," Ana and I both say together.

My dad narrows his eyes further until they're thin slits. "And this has nothing to do with wanting your trust fund early, Christian?"

"No," I say, pulling Ana closer to me, wrapping my arm around her shoulder. "I love Ana. I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

I feel Ana look up at me, so I look down at her and smile. She smiles back.

"Forever, you say," my dad's father says. "Well why not make your forever start next weekend!" I can tell by the tone of his voice that he doesn't believe that this thing between Ana and me is real.

I look at him square in the eye. "Fine."

"What?" Ana whisper yells at me. Her panicked eyes find mine. "Next weekend?"

I shrug. "Why not? It was going to happen sooner or later. I'd rather it be sooner than later."

"But . . ."

I lift my arm from off her shoulder and turn her to face me as I hold her about the arms. "It'll be okay," I whisper.

"I know, but I thought I would've had more time . . ."

I pull away and look down at her, my eyes trained solely on her as I ignore everyone else. "Are you having second thoughts?" I ask.

She looks up at me with those baby blue eyes, and for the first time in my life I have this terrifying urge to kiss Anastasia Steele.

She shakes her head and whispers, "No."

"Are you sure?"

She nods her head as she gazes up at me. The urge to kiss her grows stronger and stronger the longer she looks at me, and then I see the back of my eyelids but feel my mouth on hers. She's stiff at first, but then when I begin to move my lips over hers she loosens up and kisses me right back. Jesus, can she kiss. I feel nothing but sensation and a burning hunger burning inside me the deeper I fall into the kiss. I hold her head and lower back as I poke my tongue at her lips. She immediately gives me entrance. I stick my tongue in her mouth, tasting her, my tongue dueling with hers. And just for a moment I forget everything, but reality suddenly creeps back in.

"Fuck, bro, let the poor girl up to breathe!" Elliot hollers.

I pull back from Ana, but I don't pull my gaze away from her. She's staring at me in wonder and I'm sure I'm staring at in her desire. I watch as her chest moves up and down rapidly. I look back into her eyes just as she blinks and pulls away. I turn and look at my family. My father and paternal grandfather are looking at me in shock and skepticism, while my mother and grandmothers are gazing at me with reverential wonder. My eyes shift to Ray, and I immediately turn away when I see the burning scowl on his face. I happen to glance at Ana, only to find her beet red with her head down.

"Well, this is going to be an interesting breakfast," Elliot remarks.

I sigh. Yeah, no shit.

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