chapter three

Chapter three

Sophie’s POV

“So,” Adrian said, voice low and certain, “you’re going to do exactly what I say.”

I folded my arms.

“Or what?”

He didn’t blink.

“Or you’re going to wish this marriage was the least of your problems today.”

I stared at him.

“So what do you suggest Sherlock?”

“That’s easy, we change all of this, and by we.. I mean me,” he said, gesturing at all of me.

“You just gestured to all of me.”

“Yes,” he said. “Everything about you is the problem right now.”

My jaw dropped.

“Wow.”

“You’re welcome.”

He was already moving, like the decision had been signed and sealed somewhere I wasn’t invited.

“This is not happening,” I muttered as he unzipped his backpack.

“You want to walk out there like that?” he asked, eyes flicking to my legs again. “Very well, be my guest. The hallway will enjoy it.”

I glared.

“I’m not wearing your clothes.”

“Then you’re not leaving this room,” he said firmly, as though I was obliged to do whatever he said… I was starting to think he was taking this so-called ‘husband’ thing too seriously.

He pulled out a hoodie and jeans and held them out.

“Here.”

I stared, then snatched them.

“I hate you.”

“You’ll survive,” he said, like survival was the only bar I had to clear.

Getting dressed was war. They were twice my usual size. War. His clothes were twice my mine. The jeans were too long, the hoodie swallowed me whole, and everything felt wrong; it was all too loose, too warm, too him. Even the scent got under my skin; jockey, corky and did I forget to mention annoyingly masculine. I tugged the sleeves down and nearly tripped stepping into the jeans.

“This is ridiculous, this isn't going to work.… this is in no way going to work.”

“Except you rather consummate our marriage. Will you stop being negative.. It will only work if you make it work,” he said, with that annoying smirk and twinkle in his eyes that frightened me.

“Ah ah ah, pretty funny, but I rather take my chance with your pack of pack rabbit guarding your door than to ever have sex with a self-centered douchebag like you and risk losing my virginity,” the moment my last words slipped out, it was official, I had signed my death warrant and marriage certificate all in less than twenty-four hours.

He just stood there, his eyes burning into my skin, and that gruesome smile that rolled heads.

“Wait, freshmen, virgin? That means … Don't tell me you’ve never had a boyfriend before?” that smile just couldn't leave his glorious yet annoying face.

I ignored him, making a second mistake, because he closed the distance between us, putting his hand on my shoulder and turned me around. He then moved his hands down to my waist, fixing the fabric like he owned the space between us.

I stilled.

“Relax, you should be happy.. matter of fact you should be grateful, the universe decided to make your first time a golden one.. by pulling this ridiculous stunt,” he murmured.

“I promise you, I'm going to take you to the heavens and back,” he whispered.

“Don’t touch me,” I snapped, shoving his hands away.

“Don’t get shy now,” he said, amused. “Wifey.”

My eyes flashed.

“Don’t call me that.”

“Why?” he tilted his head. “Who knows if you wish well enough, it might actually happen… Who knows if you keep wishing well enough, it might happen.”

“It will never happen.”

“Give it time.”

I shoved him back.

“Don’t get comfortable, hotshot. This is temporary.”

He smiled like that word didn’t exist.

“Everything is… cause this can only ever happen in that silly head of yours.”

Then he changed quickly, flipping his s quickly, putting his shirt over his head, darker jacket on, sleeves pushed, watch adjusted, done in seconds, like he’d done this a thousand times, meanwhile I was still fighting denim that didn’t agree with me.

“Focus,” I said, annoyed. “We need to leave.”

“Finally.”

He grabbed a cap and pulled it low over my face, his thumb brushing my cheek as he adjusted the brim, then tugged the hoodie down again.

“Head down. Don’t talk.”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“Good.”

We stepped out of the room. I clipped someone’s shoulder, stumbled, and his hand snapped to my elbow, steadying me before I could make a sound.

“Careful,” he murmured without looking at me.

“Adrian!”

Of course, Stacey. And her choir.

They flooded the space, blocking the path, their eyes glued to him before sliding to me. I felt it, curiosity sharpening into suspicion.

“Who’s this?” Stacey asked, stepping closer. “I don’t think I’ve seen him before.”

Her sidekicks echoed, “yh, she knows everyone.” “Literally everyone.”

I lowered my head, pulse climbing.

Adrian shifted half a step, cleanly blocking their angle.

“This is my cousin,” he said, easy as breathing. Cousin? I swallowed a laugh that would’ve killed me.

“He doesn’t like attention,” Adrian added. “Especially from girls.”

Really?

“Wait… is he gay?” one of them blurted.

I elbowed him hard. Was that the best he could think of?

“Nah,” he said. “He’s just not interested.”

“Why?” Stacey pressed.

“Because he’s taken.”

Silence followed.

“Taken?” they echoed.

I stared at the floor, willing the moment to end.

“Yh, you could say that,” Adrian continued, “he’s married.”

My head snapped up instantly. He is enjoying this… dimwit.

“What?!”

“Married?!”

“No way!”

“Yeah,” he said, already moving. “So if you’ll excuse us, we have somewhere to be.”

He didn’t wait, as we slipped past them, his shoulder cutting a path, my steps quick and quiet in his shadow.

“Adrian!”

“Since when?”

“Married?!”

We turned the corner, and then instantly the noise dropped, and I could smell anything other than Adrian Cole.

I yanked the cap up.

“You’re unbelievable.”

“Careful,” he said. “You’re starting to look like you belong to me.”

I stopped.

“Keep dreaming.”

For a second, he held my gaze like he might say something else, then didn’t.

We kept walking down the stairs, toward the bus. I was still trying to stitch my brain back together when he slowed down.

“What?”

He didn’t answer. That, more than anything, set something off in my chest. This was the same guy who always had a line, always in control. Now? He looked like he was calculating outcomes.

Slowly, he turned his phone toward me.

It was a message from an unknown number.

I leaned in to read the message, and my world slowed down instantly.

“Hey newly weds, what you say we make this a grand affair.. I'm sure your father would love to meet the new wife of his star player.”

It was then I realised this all went south the moment I agreed to come on this stupid trip.

I looked up at him. His jaw was tight, eyes colder… he was… scared.

This wasn’t about embarrassment anymore. This could ruin everything… it would ruin our lives.

“Now… we have a problem.”