Chapter 22: Chapter 22

"AREN'T you worried that you might get fat?"

Marcus asked me while we were having dinner tonight. It was a Friday weekend. We were having dinner in my apartment. I asked Marcus to cook his special sweet and sour chicken for me.

I sipped on my orange juice and rolled my eyes at my cousin. "I'm pregnant, Marcus. Of course, I'll get bigger."

He just chuckled. "I still can't believe you're the first one to get pregnant in the family."

I raised my eyebrows at him. "Hmm, are you sure you didn't get anyone pregnant?"

Marcus just grinned at me. "I'm always protected, my dear cousin."

I made out a face. "Shut up. Ugh. You're gross."

Marcus chuckled. "But I'm still your favorite cousin." He winked at me.

I didn't comment on that because he was right. He'd forever be my closest cousin. "Anyway, why didn't you have any invites for tonight?" I asked. This cousin of mine usually goes out every weekend. But right now, he's with me.

"Suddenly got bored of the club," he answered with a shrug. "Besides, you asked for my help. You know I couldn't say no to you."

I raised my eyebrows at him. "Wow. This is the first time I heard that from you." I've been with Marcus since high school. He was really the life of the party. So hearing from him that he was getting bored of going to clubs was something new and unusual for me.

He looked back at me. "How about you? Remember what happened the other day? That was the first time you got distracted in a meeting." There was a teasing smile on his voice.

I frowned. "Let's not talk about that, Marcus."

"What, you're avoiding the topic?"

My forehead creased. "No. That reaction was just normal, Marcus. I'm nervous and pregnant. Of course, I'd be distracted that day."

"Your husband? When will he go home?"

I put a slice of blueberry cheesecake that I bought earlier before we got here from work.

"Tomorrow." It's been five days since Adam went to Germany. When we talked last night, he'd told me that his flight back was tomorrow morning.

I gave Marcus a weird look. "And he has a name, Marcus. Stop calling him my husband, it's weird."

"But he's your husband, Claire." He said, obviously teasing me.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Just shut up. Call him Adam."

My stubborn cousin just shrugged. "I'll call him whatever I like."

After dinner, Marcus stayed for a while. We watched one of our favorite Marvel movies on the couch.

"Claire, what does it feel like to finally live in your own place?" Marcus asked me out of the blue.

I turned to him and smiled. "It's liberating, Marcus. You know how much I love my parents, but there are times that I feel suffocated with their presence." I looked around my own unit. "But now, I feel free. I feel more alive right now. I'm happy." My smile grew wider.

When my eyes went back to Marcus, I was greeted by his smile. "Seeing you happy makes me happy, Claire. You've been like this since you 've met Adam. And I wanted to thank him for somehow being an influence on your change."

"I told you he's a good person, Marcus."

"Yeah," he agreed. "But I still want you to be careful, okay? Always be cautious of your feelings."

After the movie, Marcus already said goodbye to me.

"Lock your door, Claire," he reminded me when I walked him to the doorway.

"Yes, Dad," I jokingly answered.

After Marcus, I prepared myself for bed. It was still ten in the evening, but I was already feeling sleepy.

Maybe this was what it felt like to be pregnant. As I laid myself on the king-sized bed, I suddenly remembered Adam.

It's been five days since we last saw each other. I pursed my lips. I remembered the last night we spent with each other. Adam and I had wild sex that night.

Damn. I suddenly missed his kisses, his touch...

Adam had really made me into a different person.

I was about to close my eyes when I heard my phone ring. I picked it up off the nightstand. My eyes widened when I saw Adam was calling.

I cleared my throat. “Hello, Adam?”

“Claire?"

I suddenly felt awake after hearing Adam's husky voice. Damn. Even his voice sounded so hot to me.

“Adam… why did you call?"

“I'm here outside your unit.”

“You're what?” My lips parted. Did I hear it right?

I heard his soft chuckle on the other line.

“I'm outside your unit. I don't want to press the doorbell because I wanted to check if you're still awake or already asleep."

"Huh? And what would you do if I didn't answer your call?"

"Then go home to my apartment tonight?"

I pursed my lips. "Wait there."

I ended the call and went out of my room. I tried to fix my hair with my fingers before opening the door.

I was welcomed by Adam. He was wearing a black leather jacket over his white shirt, faded jeans and a pair of combat boots. Beside him was his luggage. “Just when did you arrive?" I asked as I let him in.

“Thirty minutes ago," he smiled. "I went straight here.”

"Oh. Did you eat—"

I wasn't able to finish whatever I was saying when Adam suddenly pulled me into his arms. His strong and warm arms enveloped my small body.

“I miss you,” Adam whispered in my ears while hugging me.

My lips parted. This was the first time I heard those words from Adam and couldn't understand why my heart suddenly started beating erratically.

I even felt him kiss the top of my head. And even before I could react to what he did, he had already pulled away, cupped my face with his palms, and captured my lips.

He was kissing me like he was a man deprived of water. And I returned his kisses with the same intensity.

Damn. I couldn't deny that I missed his kisses terribly.