Chapter 3. Contract

After being quiet for a while, Mark speaks up again. "What else is in here?" He looks over the pages and asks. I look as well. "Once a week for date night, twice a month for formal dates, and sleep in the Marke room," she said. "A baby in five years?! I read. Both surprise and anger showed on my face. "You really want us to have kids, don't you? Shouldn't we decide whether or not we want one?" I want to have a child soon, and I'm not that old, but making it a requirement made it feel like work. I don't like to do chores.

"It goes well. It's not too late." John is glad to say that we haven't fought about things like getting married.

I kept on reading. "We didn't expect much PDA." I kept on reading. "Learn about each other's family and friends. Expected to introduce them as a fiance, husband, or wife." The rest didn't seem like a big deal. We just had to be together almost all the time. I thought about it. I would start to dislike him if I did that." Can't we add something like going out with friends or doing something by ourselves? I know for sure that I will stop liking someone if I spend this much time with them. I'm not saying I don't like Mark, but I think we should spend less time together.

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Mark grin. His mouth acts like he's proud, but his eyes look like they're surprised. What surprised him so much?

We spent the next hour putting the final touches on the contract for what will happen over the next few weeks and years.

"It's late already. "Why don't you stay in the guest rooms?" My dad asks. I'm so tired that I won't even try to refuse.

Mark was already falling asleep, and I think John was also pretty tired. "Thanks a lot. Most likely, we'll accept your offer." John says.

"Mark is sleeping. Why don't you wake him up and tell him where the guest room is? It's a good thing to do." My dad says. Again, I'm too tired to say no, so I just nod instead.

I wake Mark up by going to him and shaking him. If he doesn't wake up right away, I shake him again, but nothing changes. Since Dad and John aren't here, I decided to do something. I sit down on the couch next to him and tell him something. "Mr. Hernandez, your wife is ready." I have to say, that's strange and funny at the same time.

Mark wakes up slowly. "Okay, you'll have to wait. "For what?" He asks.

"Go into the guest room so she can go to sleep." I say getting up and walking to the guest room. "Do you want to sleep on the couch or in bed?" I ask.

He quickly gets up and moves on. "So, tell me what you think about everything. What do you think, like?" He asks.

I don't know what I should do. "It doesn't look like a big deal. My dad won't lose his whole business, I might be able to see my mom again, and you seem like a good person." I say what is true.

"If you really knew me, you wouldn't say that," He says almost nothing.

We got to the room in time for the guests. "Then this is your room. be back with something more comfortable soon." I leave, and when I come back, I'm wearing a T-shirt and my loose sweatpants. "Here you go. I say.

"Thank you." He turns and faces the door. "I'm sorry I treated you that way. "You acted like you knew because you thought you did."

"It's fine," she said. "Well, I guess I'll see you in the morning," I said with a pause. We both walk away after he nods. When I go to my room, Charlie is already asleep. He goes to his room.

I try very hard not to wake him up, but I just can't help it. He wakes up as if he had never been asleep and asks, "What happened?"

I sigh. I'm tired, so I don't really want to tell him, but I do. "Let's just say I'm engaged," I say. I say climbing into bed. I'm not going to even try to change.

"What?" He yells. What a waste of time. I get out of bed and change because I can't get out of this situation, so I might as well be comfortable.

I get dressed and get back into bed. "My dad put my inheritance on the line. In two months, I'll be getting married. I have to keep my end of a deal. In 5 years, I have to have a child. Date nights. PDA in public." I ramble.

"Ok, wait. Let me make sure I understand. Your dad bet your inheritance to John, and the only way for him to get it is for a member of his family to marry you, and it's his son?" I nod. "Wow. Your life just went wrong."

"What say ya?" I'm mad, so I ask.

"Sorry. Why are you so irritable? He asks in defense.

"I just finished the contract, which took me 5 hours!" I take a breath because this is important. "I began today. In particular, an hour ago."

"Oh, my bad. "What do you need?" Charlie asks out of kindness.

I'm not sure. "No. Just sleep."

"Alright. Evening, Yanna."

"Goodbye, Charles."

…

I woke up with really bad cramps, and baking and then eating is the only thing that helps. Even though it's just Mark, I have to go bake if I want my cramps to go away.

I go to the bathroom and then go down to the kitchen. "Let's see. How should I cook?" I say it aloud. I look in the cupboards. "Breakfast or cookies. Hm. Breakfast is good, in my opinion. Then everyone can get some." I talk to myself all the time.

I get everything ready, put on my headphones, and decide to listen to music. I get lost in my music and cooking. I forget what time it is. Someone walks into the kitchen and tells me it's been an hour. Mark has to clear his throat for me to notice.

I jump. "Oh god! You frightened me. Don't do that when we're married. Ever!" I say. He never does anything else but grin. The shirt I gave him isn't on him. Nothing else.

"I promise." He comes to the bar island thing to sit down. "I have a question." He says.

"What is it? As I make him a plate, I ask.

"When would you like to go shopping for rings?" He eats one piece of bacon. Before I can say anything back, he says, "Wow. This is very good. "Did you make this?"

I nod. "Yep I did. How about Wednesday?"

"Okay, but would you mind getting out of school a little early? I have an appointment." He asks.

"What's going on?" I ask you not to answer about school.

"Really, nothing. You didn't answer my question, either." Dang it. I thought I could do it without getting caught.

"I don't care that I have to miss my last class. Even so, calculus is easy." I say as I make myself a plate and turn my back on him.

When I turn around again, his eyes are kind of big. "Do you find calculus easy?" He is amazed and shocked.

"Yeah. I finish all my work in the first 20 minutes, then I draw and let my mind wander for the rest of the time." I say it without much thought and sit down next to him.

"Wow. There are some things about you that I don't know and wouldn't guess. I can't wait to learn more about you." Mark says.

I'm trying so hard to hide the redness on my neck. "I agree, Mark."