Chapter 46
She scooted over, putting some distance between them, "I'm still out traveling. Let's talk about this later, okay?"
Melvin had already plopped down next to Jocelyn. He caught the woman who seemed to be ready to bolt and gave her a dangerous look.
"Okay, so how about giving him your number, and you two can chat for now?" Daisy was really into this.
"Ha, let's not bother for now."
Melvin had moved in close to Jocelyn, his breath on her ear, then suddenly nibbled at her earlobe.
Jocelyn sharply inhaled.
"What's up?" asked Daisy.
Jocelyn wanted to bolt, but Melvin had already wrapped his arms around her, his hand on her face, gently biting her ear, sending her breathing into disarray.
"It's nothing. Mom, a colleague is calling me out to hang out. Gotta go, we'll talk when I'm back. Bye." Jocelyn quickly hung up and tried to push Melvin away.
But Melvin wasn't about to let her go. He pinned her down on the couch, "What was that you said? Thinking about blind dates again, huh?"
Jocelyn was feeling bold now, "My family and friends don't know about you, so they're trying to set me up. How could I say no?"
These past few days snuggled up with him felt like bliss, she even wished time would just freeze like this. She was well aware that the happiness she felt was fleeting.
The most important thing was that this happiness was something she had to savor alone, quietly.
"You're a teacher; can't you come up with a good excuse?" Melvin knew she was doing it on purpose.
"What kind of excuse would stop them from wanting to set me up?" Jocelyn looked at him, "How about you think of one for me?"
Melvin's hand gently caressed her face, his fingertips brushing her lips, "Have you ever thought about saying you've got a boyfriend?" "They'd want to meet him."
"But the time's not right for that, is it?"
"How long do we have to date before it's 'the right time'?"
Jocelyn's question made Melvin's fingers freeze on her lips.
That question again.
As long as Melvin refused to go public with their relationship, it would always be an issue.
Like a secret affair, even though both of them were single, Jocelyn felt like the other woman, unable to come out in the open.
She understood Melvin's concerns-it was the fear of being tied down for life.
Still, Jocelyn had her own worries.
"Forget it, I'll clear it up with them." Jocelyn didn't want to strain the relationship that had just started to improve. She had fought for so long without success.
He was as stubborn as she was.
So, pressuring him was pointless.
Melvin looked into her eyes, "Are you upset?"
"Why should I be?" Jocelyn shrugged it off, "I know what I'm doing."
Her reaction today was a bit unusual, at least in Melvin's view; she shouldn't be this calm.
Now Melvin was intrigued and sat down beside her, "How would you explain it?"
"Just find someone with no interest in me to pretend to be in a relationship, then break up after a while. No big deal, right? Relationships end if they don't work out. The important thing is to let my family know I'm taking this seriously."
Jocelyn really wanted to find someone who shared her matchmaking woes to face this together.
Melvin's eyes narrowed, "Just find someone to pretend to be in a relationship?"
"Yep." Jocelyn responded, "Is this okay?"
"Who are you going to find?"
"Definitely not you, that's for sure."
Melvin fell silent.
Melvin pinned her down again, warning her, "You better handle this cleanly."
Jocelyn pouted, pointing at Melvin's face with a puzzled look, "There's something I've never been clear about, can you explain it to me? In our situation, who exactly can't afford to be seen?"
Melvin's mouth twitched.
"If you don't want deeper entanglements with me, then you should brace yourself. After all, I still owe my parents an explanation." Jocelyn coaxed him like a child, "If I can smooth things over with my parents, you and I can keep this underground romance going a little longer. Your happiness will be extended too."
Underground romance.
The term sounded terrible, yet it had a tingling excitement to it.
"Do whatever, just don't sleep with anyone else," Melvin had only one request; he just wanted her, that's all.
He hoped his woman would stay clean, at least until he was ready to end things.
Jocelyn shrugged, "I can't promise that. If I meet someone fitter, handsomer, and more tender and caring than you, it'll be hard to maintain this with you."
As soon as she finished, Melvin's gaze turned ominous.
Jocelyn was unfazed. It was always him causing her trouble, so she had to seize the rare chance to give him some.
Melvin weighed down on her, gazing at her dangerously, "Say that again."
"What if I said you're the only one I'll ever marry, the only one for me, would you believe that?" Jocelyn propped herself up against his shoulders, "Get off, you're crushing me."
"Jocelyn, behave yourself," Melvin warned fiercely, pinching her chin.
Jocelyn looked him straight in the eye, no longer joking, "This could happen. I still have to get married. If you can't give me marriage and a family, you can't stop me from wanting them, right? I'm telling you this now so you won't think I'm fickle when I suddenly end this with you one day."
This time, she was utterly sincere.
Melvin swallowed hard. The fact that she wasn't pushing for marriage now was her biggest compromise, a respect for his decisions and choices.
But the thought of her marrying another man and being lovey-dovey with someone else, soured his mood.
"Are you so sure someone will marry you?"
"I'm not doing anything shady; it's just like being in a relationship with you. Only it's a relationship we know won't have a future." Jocelyn smiled at him, "How about you do me a favor and cut ties with me sooner, so I can have a gap to prepare for a new romance? Otherwise, I feel a bit like a lowlife."
Melvin's fingers traced her lips, his voice deep and magnetic, "Sure, let me know when you find someone."
Jocelyn wasn't sure how serious he was, but she knew he wouldn't cling to her forever.
They just clicked. She was totally head over heels for him, and they were already a thing, yet she couldn't bring herself to dream about their future together. Jocelyn thought, "I guess this is what you call stolen happiness, fleeting by nature. So, make hay while the sun shines, and treasure every joyous day you get." Jocelyn wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips, locking them in a smooch.
She had no clue when they would go their separate ways. That was why she held these moments so dear.
"Do you think you could find someone who vibes with you as much as I do?" Jocelyn panted in his embrace, her hand caressing his Adam's apple, questioning him. Melvin, with a cigarette between his fingers, blew smoke rings, "Live your life, doll. You don't need to be all up in my business anymore."
Jocelyn's hand suddenly tightened under the covers.
"Ouch." Melvin pinched her waist in retaliation, "Are you trying to kill me?"
Jocelyn didn't care if he was hurting; her hand stayed put, "Are you gonna hook up with Willow?"
Melvin shot back coldly, "Once you're hitched, who I'm with is none of your business."