“Hey Ashley,” I heard more than one voice answering me.

“Mum, who’s that?’ I asked.

“Well, it me, your daddy and your in-laws,” she replied cheerfully, “Hi Ashley,” Mrs. Sinclair greeted me confirming that she’s there.

In-laws? “Hi…” I stutter, didn’t know what to say.

“It’s Nick there with you?’ she asked. I nodded but then realized that she couldn’t see me I immediately replied, “Yes, he’s here.”

“Good. Why don’t you turn on your face time? We wanted to talk to him too,” mum told me.

I sighed and move nearer to Nick before telling him, “They wanted a video call.”

He chuckled before moving closer to me stretching his arms behind me until our knees touched while I pressed the icon. I don’t know why I could feel my face blushed, maybe because I’m not use of sitting so close besides him.

“Hi everyone,” Nick waved cheerfully at them.

“We all are so angry with you young man. Why do you have to drag her Vegas to get married to her? You should do it here when everyone is around.” daddy started with a serious tone but I could see that he’s not serious.

Nick chuckled, “Well, you know that I need to get your daughter drunk before she could agree to marry me. She wouldn’t agree if she is sober,” I glared at him.

“Ha, ha,” daddy laughed along with everyone making me rolled my eyes at them, “Yep, you got that right. So you did manage to get her drunk huh?”

“Daddy!!” I scolded him and he just laughed again.

“Well whatever it is we all are so happy that you both finally come to your senses,” said daddy, “Even though we are quite disappointed that you didn’t have a big wedding with everyone around.”

“Yes, we all are but you don’t know how long we’ve been waiting for you both to end-up together,” add his father while the rest nodded. I rolled my eyes and sighed.

“Yeah, you both look perfect together,” joined mum sighing happily with his mother.

I just rolled my eyes again hopping they could see how I actually felt but I think no one notice it because his father added, “We all have decided to have a reception to announce your marriage to everyone,” he smiled proudly before continuing, “Ashley, you don’t know how proud Jenny and I to have you as our daughter-in-law. That’s why we couldn’t wait to announce your marriage and introduce you to everyone.”

I felt like crying hearing his words. It was so sweet. I’m lost for words don’t know what to tell them.

“And we are proud to have you Nick in our family,” said daddy giving the same proud smile, “We have sent the invitations to family and friends. We shall have the reception a day after you both come back from Vegas.”

I felt so bad and I wish I could tell them the truth but I couldn’t make myself do it. I couldn’t bear to see them hurt and heartbroken. They all look so happy and thrilled with our marriage. Nick and I looked at each other and I could see from the look on his face, he was thinking the same. I bite my lips.

I turned and looked back at our parents and smile, “We love you guys and I think you all know that. We want you guys to know that whatever we all did, you guys are always in our mind. We wouldn’t want to do anything to hurt any of your feelings,” I said to them.

All of them remained quiet and I could see mum and his mother have happy tears in their eyes while both daddy and his father still wearing the same proud face. I turned and looked back at Nick who was sitting quietly besides me. He looked nervous with what I’m going to tell them.

I turned back again towards our parents and said to them, “We know we shouldn’t rush in our marriage but both Nick and I just couldn’t wait any longer. Being apart for 4 years has made us realised how much we really love each other and we felt that we didn’t want to waste any more time being apart.”

I felt Nick arms around my shoulder and I moved nearer to him. We sitting very close right now like a loving couple, “Yeah,” nodded Nick. “I love your daughter so much Greg, that I just couldn’t resist her anymore. I just need to make her mine,” he told daddy as if he meant every word he said and I blushed like a stupid girl in love.

I could see both mum and his mother are in tears now, happy tears. I’m not surprise seeing daddy was also in tears except his father who said to us proudly, “Well we are really glad you both came to your senses at last. We all have been waiting for this moment for you guys to announce your love towards each other in front of us. You both have been acting innocent and decent in front of us way far to long.” Everyone including Nick and me laughed at his words.

“Well, we’ll discuss about the reception when you both come back home. Enjoy yourself while you’re there and by the way, congratulations,” his father said to us.

“Thanks,” both Nick and I responded at the same time and they finally said their goodbyes.

I hang up the phone and sighed. I felt Nick tighten his arms around me as if comforting me. Without realising what I’m doing, I laid my head on his shoulders.

“I couldn’t bear to tell them the truth,” I softly said to him.

“Me neither,” he said, “Did you see how happy and proud they are?”

I nodded, “I guess we have no choice but to continue pretending.”

“This time we are not pretending, we are really married,” he responded.

I heaved loudly, “Yeah right but now we have to pretend to be a loving couple.”

We both remain silence in the same position. Nick probably was thinking the same thing that I was thinking, finding a way to get from this mess. I thought we could just tell our parents the truth but both of us chicken out when we saw their happy and proud face.

“I have a solution,” I told him after a long silence.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“Since we both don’t have the heart to tell them the truth, maybe we could make them see the truth,” I said to him smiled happily.

“Elaborate further please,” he said looking at me with interest, ready to listen to my suggestion.

“We don’t even have to pretend to be a loving couple. We just act as we normally are toward each other. Scoffing and mocking each other like we always did most of the time.” I explained.

“Hmm,” was all the came out from him.

While he still thinking about it I added, “And you know what else we should do?”

“What?” he asked looking at me with interest.

“You could still continue with your playboy life i.e. dating and sleeping with every girl you like,” I said to him.

“Oh meaning I be the bad husband, who’s having an affair?” he smirked.

I shook my head, “It doesn’t have to be that way. I shall also do the same but of course I’m not the sleeping around type. Maybe I’ll go out for a date or two but definitely not sleeping around because I’m not that type of girl,” I told him as a matter-of-fact but when I saw his cheeky smile, I regret telling him that.

He chuckled, “Am I supposed to feel honoured that I’m one of the guys that you choose to sleep around with?”

I rolled my eyes at him, “You can feel whatever you want!!”

He laughed but then turned serious when he asked me, “Do you have any boyfriend?” and he stressed, “A real one?”

“Of course,” I lied rolling my eyes again.

He looked as if he didn’t believe me, “Anyone I know?” he asked.

“No, you don’t,” I said to him, “He’s someone I met while in college,” I lied again.

“Hmm?” he twisted his lip looking so cute. What did I say cute? Something must be wrong with me but he really does look cute doing that. “Are you going to introduce him to your husband?” he asked.

“My hus…….” I looked at him and then smirked, “Maybe.”

“Are you both intended to get married?” he asked again.

“Probably,” I continued lying, “We haven’t actually discuss about it,” I looked at him and asked, “What about you? Any girlfriend? Special one?”

Shaking his head he replied, “Nope. I can’t seem to find a suitable on for me.”

“You can’t find a suitable one or you don’t want to commit yourself to one?” I challenged him.

He smiled, “I guess both.”

“Just as I thought,” I smirked. “So you agree with my suggestion?” I asked him.

“Hmm,” he said thinking again and after a while he shrugged, “Well I think there’s no harm trying.”