𝑀𝓎 𝑀𝒶𝓃#1~When Love Lasts
Chapter 26

I wasn't happy with the decision to stay here. I tried talking Cedric into taking me to a hotel a few more times last night, and each attempt failed miserably, which led to a slight argument every time.

I swear, the man stays getting under my skin and I just want to dig him out.

We ate our pizza in silence while sitting in the living room while watching a football game. I'm definitely not a sport following type of girl, but Cedric said he watched the game every week, so I just gave in.

It wasn't like I was even in the mood to enjoy a good movie.

I think Cedric is overreacting a little bit. Just because that woman was kidnapped and has the same color hair as me doesn't mean anything, honestly.

I am woman enough to admit that I am a bit frightened.

That box I had received was creepy. Who would send someone that unless you're deranged in the head? That also doesn't mean I'm in any more danger.

Once I had finished eating my two slices of pizza, I told Cedric I was going to bed. I couldn't fall asleep right away. I laid in bed for at least an hour thinking about how he and I were supposed to make this fake relationship believable.

He annoys the hell out of me with his egotistical comments.

I could finally shut my brain off long enough to fall asleep. I will admit knowing Cedric was in the same house to protect me made me sleep a little easier than I know I would have at a hotel.

I won't be admitting to that, though. His head is big enough without me telling him he was right and that I argued for nothing.

Damn man.

Damn bossy man.

The next morning, I'm feeling nervous about leaving the spare bedroom. This is the first morning of me sleeping over at his house, and it's only because he wants to protect me.

The smell of pancakes lured me out of hiding.

“Good morning. Slept okay?” I hear Cedric's deep sleepy voice as I enter the kitchen.

For a single man, his kitchen is pretty nice. I don't judge anyone honestly, but a kitchen always notifies you about the person who lives in the home and this one tells me the man loves to be in his kitchen. It also tells me he is big on barbecuing.

“Yes. Morning.” I mumbled and looked around for the coffeepot, but didn't see one sitting on the counter. “Um, you don't have a coffee pot.” I accused.

“What?” He asked and chuckled.

“A coffee pot, Cedric. Who doesn't have a coffee pot?” I dramatically screeched.

This is ridiculous. He is a cop. Shouldn't he be into coffee? All the cop shows I watch show the cops always drinking some type of caffeine.

“No, I don't have one. I just grab a cup I get to the station.” He shrugged and continued flipping the pancakes like not having a coffee pot was a big deal.

It was.

It so totally was a big deal.

“I need a coffee pot.” I informed him. “This will not work for me. I have to have a cup to wake me up, or I'm useless. I'm grumpy. Do you want me to become grumpy?” I asked, hands on my hips.

“Grumpy?” He asked, turned his head back towards me and looked amused.

Nothing about this is amusing. Nothing at all.

“Yes Cedric grumpy.” I snapped.

“Yeah babe, maybe I want to see you get grumpy” He grinned.

Ugh, this man.

“I'm being serious” I growled.

This is dangerous. Who doesn't enjoy caffeine after waking up? This should be a crime.

“If not having a coffee pot would be a crime, I'd arrest you. See how you like sitting behind bars, cop.” I sighed before sitting on the stool and laying my head down against the cool countertop.

“Jesus woman, you're all worked up over a coffee pot.” He grunted while tossing a few pancakes onto a plate before sliding it on the countertop towards me. “Eat, and then we will go pick on up.”

“Pick one up?” I whispered. My belly feeling like thousands of butterflies are dancing around inside it.

Why did that just make me feel some type of way? No. No, I can't start having feelings for him. Things are too complicated for us already without putting feelings into the mix.

Hiding from an unknown crazy person who sends creepy bloody gifts.

Lying to his sister and parents.

Faking a relationship.

We have enough problems to deal with without throwing that into the mixing bowl, too.

No.

Not going to happen.

“Yeah, that's what I said.” He informed me without looking at me while he fixed his plate.

“Pick one up?” I urged, making sure I heard that correctly.

“Yeah babe.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Why what?” He replied while taking a sit next to me and began cutting into his enormous pile of pancakes.

“Why are we going to pick one up?” I asked, getting fired up. He knows damn well what I'm talking about.

“You want one.” He stated like that was the only reason to get one.

“But-” I started to say, but he cut me off.

“But nothing. You want a coffee pot? I need one. We will go pick one up.” He looked at me and smirked after seeing how bothered I was getting.

“No need. I have one at home. Just drop me off.” I suggested, but it was more of a demand. I want to go back home. This is all too much for me.

“No.” He growled.

No?

Just no?

That's it?

“No?” I asked, confused and a little more agitated now.

“That's right.”

“You're not the boss of me. I have a coffee pot at home. I can get coffee at home. We do not need to go pick one up” I informed him, thinking that would end this ridiculous conversation.

“Not gonna work for me. You don't need to go back to your house right now. Whoever kidnapped that girl could try to come back for you, and right now, he doesn't know where you are. I want to keep it that way.” He told me, looking worried.

If he is this worried, maybe I should be a little worried myself.

“About that. I could always go stay somewhere else, Cedric. I don't need to stay here. You don't owe me anything just because I'm friends with Anna.” I whispered.

I don't want him to feel obligated to do this with me. He doesn't need to pretend to be in a relationship with me just to protect me.

“Not having this discussion again, babe.” He grunted before getting up, gently placed his plate in the sink and walked out of the kitchen, leaving me stunned.

I guess the discussion is over.

He needs to stop calling me babe!

“Stop calling me babe.” I shouted.

He didn't even respond back. All I heard from him was the amused chuckle that echoed through the hallway.

Damn bossy man.

I sat at the bar in silence, munching on my delicious pancakes, wondering how I was going to tell Anna that I am now seeing her brother.

Not dating, but fake dating.

We just became friends, and I'm already lying to her, which doesn't sit right with me even though, as Cedric said, it was to protect her.

I don't want her to think I used her to get him, like her past friends. I'm nothing like them and didn't and wouldn't use her just to get to Cedric. The man's far too insufferable to even go through all that trouble, even if I was that type of young woman.

Then it hits me. I don't even have anything to wear today. I refuse to leave this house wearing last nights clothes. The walk of shame without doing anything to be ashamed of is baffling. I'm going to need to go back to my house eventually.

I need things. I'm a girl. I require things. He will just have to understand that.

That's a conversation I'm already not looking forward to having. Why does he have to act like the alpha male all the time? I'm not even used to that type of man.

My ex was a soft-spoken asshole. He did and said things behind my back, but not Cedric. He is what you see is what you get type of guy, and if I'm being honest, I don't exactly know how to handle him.

He always leaves me speechless a confused, and it helps him win most, if not each one of the arguments.