Chapter 4 : He was a good liar

Everyone eventually left as it was almost sunset but to my surprise Robbie and his little family still stuck around. I didn't want him here, I didn't want his little family here as well and that thing-

Let's just say Robbie knew me well, we had practically grown up together with my bestfriend Laura. He could always tell when I wasn't being myself and today I wasn't. We were best of friends before we started a relationship. Even though Eric played his part well... my dad seemed to love him but my mom was still very cautious of him.

"Aren't you leaving? the baby must be tired." I faked a laugh at Brenda. I didn't know if she knew that I didn't like her but at the looks of it... if she knew she certainly played pretend well.

"He isn't much of a trouble maker really.. he sleeps most of the time." Brenda gave me what looked like a genuine smile. "Do you want to hold him?"

I panicked.

"No, it's alright." I quickly went to grab plates setting them on the table. Making myself busy avoiding... holding the little relationship ruiner. I looked around and saw my mom setting the dishes on the huge dining table. Eric, Robbie and my father were out of sight. That scared me.. what were they doing? Robbie had been giving Eric a cold eye ever since he arrived. Eric seemed to be fitting in perfectly with my family and friends.

Aunt Debra had been sent home early because she got a bit drunk and immediately started acting inappropriately with my so called boyfriend. I could see the discomfort on Eric's face even though.. I suppose he played it well. Aunt Debra couldn't keep her hands to herself and kept asking Eric inappropriate questions. It had me flustered, although trying to get back at Eric for last time, it was kind of funny.

Suddenly chuckles and laughter joined the huge dining room. I never understood why my parents had such a huge house when it was always practically just the two of them.

I couldn't tell what the laughter was all about but my father had a hand on Eric shoulder giving him a pat. Robbie was on the side, he looked very uncomfortable. I guess, he wasn't being treated like the boyfriend and that upset him. He should have thought of that before making someone pregnant and making me the laughing stock of the whole town.

Eric's eyes flickered towards mine and I quickly looked away... he somewhat made me nervous. I couldn't do it! It made me very nervous and awkward. His stare, made the hairs on my arms stand up. I was still not used to him and what made it worse was when we touched. I had never in my life felt like that not even for Robbie. I didn't like this not even one bit. I had not even known this man for as long as I'd like to think I have.

"The beetles, that was a time to be alive." My father chuckled taking a seat round the table where Brenda was already seated with her little-

Right... the beetles.

My father wouldn't stop talking.

"My grandparents met at a Beatles concert, their wedding song was hey Jude." Eric chuckled. "Iconic!" He added in his deep British accent that I secretly adored. I found myself smiling a bit. I loved learning bits of Eric, it was interesting. Or was it another lie? Part of his job? I quickly shook these thoughts away.

"The first time I met your mother snowflake.." my father added me in the conversation. "You danced to twist and shout." I added with a smile. This was something my father always told me through the years. He enjoyed telling me youthful days stories. I enjoyed listening to them. I looked at my mom who couldn't stop smiling as she sat beside my father.

This was what I wanted to have with someone one day.

I sat next to Eric, I was a bit taken aback when he took my hand in his and laid a soft kiss on it. It was a sweet gesture that made my heart pummel like cheetah out for the hunt. He then looked at me and smiled, I smiled back before shying away. Realizing everyone on the table was looking at us.

"So Eric what do you do?" Robbie said sternly. He knew something was up. I panicked. I didn't want him to find out, I would be embarrassed. I'm desperate enough to hire a stranger on an Internet website to play boyfriend.

Eric could tell or rather feel I tensed up.

"I'm a writer." Eric said directly at Robbie who held a snarl on his face. Clearly he didn't like Eric and I knew it.

"A writer, like Shakespeare?" Robbie laughed but no one joined onto the joke. "He is British and Shakespeare-" he tried explaining but no one laughed not even Brenda. At that moment, it dawned onto me... what did I ever love about Robbie. He seemed like a self centered egomaniac.

"Mhm, interesting choice of work son." My father said digging into his food. I was thankful, that he didn't pry much more. My father had never been this comfortable with someone whom he had just met in a day.

Robbie sneered at the word son, he thought my father only called him that. Now he had to share it with Eric.

"It is, I enjoy traveling and writing about my travels. Seeing new walks of life. Change of scenery is an awakening need in anyone's life." Eric said showing off his pearly whites.

"That is lovely Eric." My mom added.

I didn't know if I should be thankful that Eric is a mighty good liar.

"Which college did you go to?" Robbie questioned. What was his problem?

"You could guess.." Eric said unfazed by the fact that Robbie aimed to embarrass him. He once again laid another soft kiss on my hand making me shiver.

"Community college?" Robbie retorted.

"Robbie!" Brenda warned making him raise his eyebrows at her.

"He just doesn't seem like he could afford Oxford or Harvard or be one of us!" Robbie interjected. "I mean you could give a pig a bath but it's still a dirty pig."

"Robbie, I will not allow you to insult my daughters guest like that." My father said clearly having had it up to the top of his throat with Robbie's snide comments.

"I apologize Mr. Winters." He said quickly to his 'boss'. I thought to myself. Eric didn't seem bothered by the looks of it.

"It's not me you should be apologizing to-" my father threw the words relentlessly at him.

Robbie then cleared his throat.

"I apologize Michelson."

"It's all water under the bridge, mate." Eric shrugged having spoonful of lasagna.

"Well uhm it's getting late. Thank you so much for the great day. Mr. Winters and Mrs Winters. Leona it was great seeing you, same goes for you Eric." Robbie said excusing himself. His bulging muscles flexing as he stood up straight. Eric had a much leaner body. Why did I find myself comparing these two? I didn't find muscles attractive. Robbie was a bit over the top with this gym stuff. Eric had the perfect body.

"Thank you so much." Brenda added. She was somewhat always following Robbie like a lost puppy. I felt sorry for her honestly. My father seemed to still be upset with Robbie, he just nodded and continued eating. Did he like Eric that much?

My mom bid them farewell and I did the same. A small part of me hoped I would never have to see Robbie again. I loathed him and his existence. He makes sick, clearly...

-

There was something about the way he talked, was it the way his lips moved. It genuinely made me uncomfortable. He had this tight smile.. his lips were thin making it quite easy for him to always smile with his perfect pearly whites.

"Absolutely absurd right babe?" Eric chuckled pulling me closer to him. It felt warm and I felt myself smiling. I had no idea what they were talking about because all along, I had being staring into the blue like an idiot.

"Huh?" I faked a smile putting a strand of my red hair behind my ear.

"Eric here is a Manchester United fan?" My dad said like it was the most shocking thing. One thing you had to know about my father was, he had no interest in baseball or your usual American sports. He just adored soccer to the point that his favoritism team losing would put him in a sour mood.

"He is after all from Manchester." I gave him a small smile, he was literally the best pretender I shouldn't have doubted him. My family all seemed to like him except Richard, expected.

"Yes but you know I'm a Chelsea fan." My dad whined like there was something wrong with having differences. I stood up to help my mom in the kitchen as Eric and my dad argued more about football.

"He is a lovely young man." My mom gave me a quick smile. As she washed and I rinsed. I merely just nodded.

"Are you okay sweety?" My mom put her manicured hand on my forehead. I shrugged because here we go again.

"I'm fine mom." I assured her.

"It's quite late, you and Eric could just stay over." She added. My heart immediately raced.

"No no no, we will be fine."

"I have the guest room already made up and you could sleep in your room because you know your father will never allow you-"

"Yes mom." I immediately cut her off, my cheeks immediately heating my at the thought of my mom talking to me about sex. As old as I was, I still felt very awkward about it.

That night, before I slept; I made one simple prayer.

God, I know where this is going and I don't want it to go there. Please don't make me fall inlove with this stranger. I know I will only get hurt in the end.

Amen.

I struggled to sleep thinking about Eric. Was he comfortable in the guest room? I hope he was. Did he feel okay after the things Robbie had said to him? I wasn't sure but I hoped he was okay. I didn't understand why it was bothering me.

I then decided I wasn't going to sleep anytime soon so I made my way to the kitchen downstairs. On my way there I screeched a very unlady like scream. Shirtless Eric immediately put his hands on my mouth. Although this was a huge house and my parents master bedroom was on a much farther corner of the house, I still didn't want to wake them up at two am.

My eyes traced at his tattoos.

They were art.

I didn't even like tattoos.

"What the fuck are you doing Leo?" He questioned, his black jet hair looked a sexy mess.

"Uhm I wanted to go fetch water downstairs." I stuttered. I could see the glow in his eyes maybe it was the deam lights in the corridor.

"You scared me." I added, pulling away from his warm body.

He simply chuckled and Jesus Christ-

I clearly had fetish for men with straight white teeth.

"Right... well I kind of got lost instead of the kitchen I ended up in the gym room." Eric chuckled. His Adam's apple bopped up and down. I could see the little shade of dark hair going from the v on his waist to his lower region that was covered with-

"Are those my dads pijamas?" I held a laugh.

"Hey, he insisted and I couldn't say no to the father of my girlfriend. Your mom said I needed to be comfortable here." Eric teased pinching my cheeks a bit.

I blushed.

Instead of going back to my room, that night... Eric and I went to fetch water downstairs. I knew the house was huge so I gave him hints here and there like the movie room and my dad's little table tennis court lounge. He came back to my room with both our bottles of water. For a while we talked about how ridiculous the people at the cookout actually believed in our fake relationship.

I felt sad at the mention of fake but I laughed it off. We went into the balcony and made funny of Robbie's military haircut and obnoxious attitude. He browsed through the things in my room and we made fun of how blunt it was and barely any girly stuff. We laid on the bed staring at the ceiling, sleepy.. I asked him one question-

"Eric?" I questioned.

"Mhm" he replied. Now he had turned his head to stare at me. His warm brown eyes seemed to tell a story. I wanted to know.. so badly.

"What's your favorite Beatles song?" I asked.

He smiled, I loved his smile.

He put a strand of my red hair away from my face and whispered.

"Hard days night."

With that I slept peacefully in his arms. His breath in my face. I didn't seem to mind.

Eric Michelson wasn't so bad.

—