Risky Business

"I remember you driving to my house in the middle of the night,

I'm the one who makes you laugh when you know you're 'bout to cry,

...Think I know where you belong, think I know it's with me"

-18-

December 24, 2014

He was in love with me. Not only that, he was completely and undeniably in love with me. I mean…when?

And how?

I'd been lusting after him long enough, when did his feelings start?

"Sonny?" I somehow forced my open mouth closed, and looked at him. Instead of his light smile, a frown was now plastered across his face, and he was gently massaging my shoulders.

I knew that I should've said something, but I was panicking. I needed to make a list. I needed to make one of why I shouldn't be with Chad.

I mean a) he's my best friend, and b) we're putting on a charade for people, and c) he's my best friend. Did I mention that he's my best friend?

I mean, excluding all Taylor Swift songs, do besties really fall for each other? Isn't that just some made up myth?

And sure, there's Ross and Rachel, Chandler and Monica, Harry and Sally, and a few other names that I'm leaving out – but they're all fictional characters. Not real. And-

"You're panicking, Sonny." Chad's blue eyes were warm, and his voice smooth and melodic, bringing me back to reality. And in reality, I was completely, utterly, and undeniably in love with him too.

So I knew just what I had to do. I needed to tell him. Except instead of speaking, my eyes darted to his lips, back to his eyes, and back to his lips again. Slowly, Chad started leaning in, and I closed my eyes, our lips finally coming together. I felt Chad stiffen for a moment, and then let out a sigh and relax. Our kiss was slow and soft, yet filled with so much passion. My hands moved from my sides, up to his neck and his hair. I let my fingers run through it, enjoying the feeling. Chad took his hands off my shoulders, placing them on my waist, so he could move me closer.

Our kiss lasted for a few more minutes, and when we finally pulled away, I crawled into his lap and pressed my ear against his chest, listening to his racing heart.

Sure, we had kissed before. But this was different. He loved me. He was in love with me.

"I'm in love with you, Chad." I whispered into his chest, and Chad started rubbing the small of my back.

"I'm so glad, Sonbeam. I'm so happy."

Ooo000ooO

December 25, 2014

"It's Christmas!" You'd think it would have been the little person with red curls jumping on the bed, waking me up on Christmas morning. Instead, it was my boyfriend.

I smiled. I liked the sound of that.

"Hi, Chad," My boyfriend flopped down, leaned over, and pecked me on the lips, causing me to smile. "I have horrible morning breath, don't."

"Nah, sweetie, you're breath always smells minty fresh." I grinned, and then buried my face in my pillow, my cheeks flushing with heat.

"I love you, Sonbeam." I couldn't get tired of that, either.

"Love you too, Chad." He shifted to where he was lying down next to me, and pulled the blanket over himself too. In the meantime, I snuggled closer to him, not quite ready to get up yet.

"Aubree woke Jase and Jamie bright and early this morning, and made them get up with her so she could open all of her presents. They're at the homeless shelter, volunteering right now." I smiled yet again. Whilst Jill was probably ogling over her Victoria's Secret presents (for after the baby gets out of her), Chad's family was out serving the homeless.

Chad's family…Jason and Jamie.

Here's the thing. Last night, after Chad and I confessed our love for each other, he explained to me that he'd told his sister and brother in law everything. Every little thing. Our whole charade, every single lie, everything.

He also told them that he was in love with me, and he wanted to make our charade a charade no more, so Jamie and Jason agreed to do the whole fireplace, chocolate covered strawberries (which were delicious, by the way) romantic setup.

It worked.

My boyfriend is the bombdiggity, and I'm his bomb…bombshell? Nah. I'm his Sonbeam.

I grinned, unwrapped myself from Chad, and rolled out of bed. I had a present for Chad, but first I wanted to make coffee and get dressed.

After some persuading, I got Chad to leave the room so I could have a little privacy. When I was on the way to the bathroom, clothes in hand, my cell phone rang.

I frowned. If it was a family member wanting to wish me a Merry Christmas, they would've texted. So, in that case, it was probably my agent. Which was weird, considering the holiday, but still, I picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Good! Sonny Munroe," Mara Gomez, my agent, rattled off, not even bothering to acknowledge the best holiday in the world. "did you forget about that lead role, or what the hell?"

Right to the point, Mara. I cringed inwardly. What lead role?

"Um-"

"Hell, you forgot." Over the years, I've noticed that 'hell' is Mara's favorite word. "The lead role that I told you about. The romantic comedy that you will film in Paris, starring opposite Zac Efron. Did you forget the hell all about it? Hell, Sonny. Hell."

I get the point Mara. Hell.

And that lead role. In the midst of putting on my charade I'd forgotten all about it. I was offered it months ago, long before Chad's birthday, long before we came up with this whole plan. And I'd wanted to accept, I was more than willing, but I just…completely forgot.

But the movie was truly an amazing opportunity. And with no ties, I could hardly turn it down.

That was then. Now, I had Chad.

"Um, Mara, I-"

"Sonny, you'll start filming the day after Valentine's Day, which means you'll need to arrive in Paris the day before the hell of a holiday. Do you hear? And I've already signed you up. Bye."

…And just when I thought that it was going to be the best Christmas ever, it was going to be…hell.

A few hours later, Jason, Jamie, and Aubree were back at home, Chad's arm was wrapped around my shoulders as he told them about how we were finally together, and I still hadn't told Chad about the Paris thing.

In truth, I was trying to shove it all the way to the back of my mind. I just wanted to savor this Christmas, enjoy the fact that Chad and I would now have cute little redheaded kids together, and forget about Mara.

"Mama, can we bake Jesus His birthday cake yet? When I was praying, He told me that He wanted me to eat some for Him!" I gawked at the tike in my lap, who had somehow wedged herself between Chad and me, wanting to cuddle with her now-honest uncle and aunt.

Seriously though…where do kids get stuff like this? I mean, I totally respect the fact that she wants some cake, but honestly, her excuse was pretty damn brilliant.

But then again, God is a good God, so He probably did tell Aubree to nag her mother. Which is, in truth, awesome. Just saying.

"Actually dear, I was going to let you bake it with your Aunt Sonny and Uncle Chad. But they'll need you to supervise. Can you do that?" I glared at Jamie, while she smirked with me. She would.

"Want to go outside with me, Sonny?" An hour and a half later, and after Chad and I were done with brushing flour off of us (Jamie was still wiping red and green icing off her daughter), I found myself hand in hand with Chad, sitting on the couch.

"Sure. As long as we don't go to that stupid nature trail." Mother Loving cousin-in-law probably would've loved it and all, but still. Ick.

"Sonny," Chad groaned, "I just want to push you down the street to that little gazebo. It looks inviting."

Did you hear that? Chad wanted to push me. What a risky little bastard of a boyfriend he was turning out to be. Kidding.

I grinned, nodding my head.

Chad scooped me up bridal style, and carried me outside to my waiting wheel chair. I wanted to walk…or hop on one foot…but Chad wouldn't let me. Why? Because he's a control freak. That is all.

As Chad started pushing me, I looked up at the sky. The sun was beginning to set, so the sky was painted with dark shades of pink, red, and purple. It was beautiful. Besides that, the Christmas light covered palm trees were swaying lightly, creating a light breeze. It was Christmas. I was with Chad Dylan Cooper, my best friend. It was perfect.

"You're awfully quite, Sonbeam." Chad said as we pulled up to the gazebo. He lifted me up, carried me inside of it, and sat me on the bench.

And now, it was really perfect. The gazebo was overlooking a lake. The lights from the palm trees were reflecting in the water, and the gazebo smelled like cinnamon and pine. I breathed in deeply, cherishing every second.

"I'm just blessed, Chad." I grinned warmly at him.

"I get that, Sonny." Chad smiled back, just as cheekily. Just then, I bit my lip. There was something I wanted to know.

"When?"

Chad looked confused. "When what?"

"When did you start…you know," I looked down at my hands as heat flooded into my cheeks. "when did you start having feelings for me?"

"Oh Sonny," Chad's eyes danced, "didn't we go over this yesterday? You're my best friend. I've always thought that you were the prettiest girl in the world. Whenever I went out on dates, I compared all of the other girls to you. None of them held a candle to your sarcasm. None of them had your laugh. None of them were the right height, had the right hair color, or fit in my arms the way that you do. I couldn't talk to any of them the way that I can talk to you. And, I don't know, one day, I just woke up…and knew that I loved you."

"But then all of our family and relatives were always saying things about us. And I always knew. But I saw how it affected you. So when you came up with that plan, I went along with it. And I kind of hoped that you'd fall for me too."

"I did." I interrupted.

"I know, Sonny, and I'm so glad. It was hard though. And I guess I just dated all of those girls to make you jealous." Now his cheeks were flushing, causing me to chuckle lightly.

"I did get jealous Chad. Seriously. Disgustingly jealous."

"You never showed it, though." Chad frowned.

"I'm a good actress." I shrugged, leaning in closer to him. For the millionth time that day, it seemed, Chad's eyes flickered down to my lips, and he placed his soft lips on mine. I sighed contentedly as one of his hands came up to cup my face, the other wrapping around my waist. I placed my arms around his neck, granting him access as his tongue trailed lightly across my bottom lip. Our bodies were flush against each other, and I was enjoying every second of it.

All too quickly though, he pulled away, stood up, and swept me up into his arms again.

"Come on, Sonny, we're gonna go open more presents and eat dinner!"

What. The. Heck?

I glared at him, unhappily. My lips were lonely, and now that I had him, I couldn't have him.

"Damn you, Chad." I mumbled as he began pushing me back to the house at a fast pace. I heard him laugh lightly behind me. He paused his pushing long enough to stop, brush the hair off the back of my neck, and place a kiss right behind my ear. I bit my lip happily.

It was the best Christmas ever, and Mara didn't cross my mind for the rest of the night.

Lyrics: Rose, L; Swift, T - You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift

A/N: I seriously, seriously do not know what to say, or do, except offer all of you my extreme/utmost gratitude for each and every one of your reviews! Seriously, THANK YOU. I'm still stunned…Thank you for all 620 (what?) of you who read the last chapter, and for all 52 of you who reviewed. I'm still stunned, and honored, so thank you. I don't deserve any of you – you are all the kindest, sweetest group of SWACers ever, and I truly appreciate it. In the last chapter, I was kind of down in my A/N – but you totally, totally…just WOWED me and I'm all giddy and mushy now. Anywho, I'd also like to give a shout out to my anonymous reviewer "Reemagirl" who I wasn't able to reply to, but her review was 1,138 words long and the sweetest, most encouraging thing ever.

I'd comment on the chapter and all, but I think I'll let you guys talk about it instead. (:

-Aly