Beneath This Man

He looks up at me with a heavy frown. ‘Is there any particular date you would like to become Mrs Ava Ward?’

Oh? ‘I don’t know,’ I shrug. ‘Next year, the year after.’ I grab some toast and start buttering. He only asked me half an hour ago. I need a chance to wake up properly. There is plenty of time for all of that, and I need to speak to my parents, for a start.

He drops his jar of peanut butter on the marble island, making me jump. ‘Next year?’ he exclaims, with a look of pure disgust.

‘Okay, the year after.’ Next year is a bit soon, I suppose. I cut my toast in half and wrap my teeth around a corner.

‘The year after?’ he blurts.

I look at him and find his handsome face contorted in total disbelief. I really don’t mind. The year after that then, it’s no bother to me. I shrug and carry on chewing my toast.

His expression morphs into a scowl. ‘We get married next month.’ He picks up his jar and shoves his finger in aggressively. ‘Next f**king year.’ he mutters, shaking his head.

I nearly choke on my toast, and then chew frantically to rid my mouth of it. Next month? Is he mad? ‘Jesse, I can’t marry you next month!’

‘Yes you can and you will.’ he snaps without looking at me.

I withdraw slightly. I’ve not even told my Mum and Dad that I’m living with him, let alone marrying him. I need time. ‘No, I can’t.’ I half laugh. He has to be joking.

His fierce eyes fly to mine and he smacks his jar down. It makes me jump again. ‘Excuse me?’ he says, his voice genuinely shocked.

‘Jesse, my parents don’t even really know about you. You can’t expect me to call them up and break this sort of news down the phone.’ I silently beg for him to be reasonable. I’ve seen that face plenty of times and it always suggests that he’s not budging.

‘We’ll go and see them. I’m not pu**y footing around, Ava.’

I take a nervous sip of my orange juice while he drills displeased eyes into me. The thought of introducing Jesse to my parents fills me with dread, and what do I tell them he does for a living? His suggestion of telling them that he owns a hotel won’t wash forever.

I wilt under his fierce gaze, but I have to hold my own here. ‘You’re being unreasonable.’ I protest quietly. We couldn’t organise a wedding in a month, anyway. I take another bite of my toast and soak up the resentment emanating from every pore of my challenging man.

‘Do you love me?’ he asks sharply.

I look at him with narrowed eyes. ‘Don’t ask stupid questions.’ He’s impossible sometimes.

‘Good,’ he grunts with utter finality, returning his attention to his laptop. ‘I love you too. We get married next month.’

I drop my toast in exasperation. ‘Jesse, I’m not marrying you next month.’ I get up from my stool and take my plate to the bin to get rid of my half eaten breakfast. I’ve completely lost my appetite.

‘Come here.’ he growls to my back.

I swing around to face him, finding the fierceness is back. What’s wrong with waiting? It’s only a year or two. I’m not going anywhere. ‘No.’ I toss at him. His eyes widen. ‘And you are not going to be f**king an agreement out of me. Forget it.’ I’m standing my ground here. Start as you mean to go on and all that. I’m not very confident, admittedly, but I’ll try my hardest to fight him on this.

‘Watch your f**king mouth, Ava.’ His face screws up and his lips press into a straight line as he pins me with his glare. ‘Three.’

‘Oh no!’ I laugh. ‘Don’t even think about it!’ I start scanning the kitchen to plan my escape route, but with him nearer the exit than me, I’m facing immanent capture.

‘Two.’ He gets up and brushes his hands off.

‘No!’

‘One.’

‘Jesse, you can f**k right off!’ I scorn myself for my bad language, which has probably just heightened his annoyance. Swearing and defying him? Not a good combination.

‘Mouth!’ he barks. ‘Zero.’ He starts making his way around the island to me, and I instinctively start circling the other way. ‘Come here.’ He grinds the words out, stopping briefly before he starts coming at me from the other direction.

I ensure I remain on the other side of the island from him. ‘No, what’s the rush? I’m not going anywhere.’ I try to reason with him. I know as soon as he has me in his potent grasp, I’m screwed.

‘Damn right you’re not. Why are you delaying it?’ He continues calmly coming at me.

‘I’m not delaying. It takes a good year to organise a wedding.’

‘Not our wedding.’ He thrusts his body forward threateningly, and I dive in the opposite direction. ‘Stop running from me, Ava. You know it makes me crazy mad.’

‘Then stop being unreasonable!’ I almost laugh when he suddenly changes direction and I dive off the other way.

‘Ava!’

‘Jesse!’ I mock, weighing up the likelihood of making it through the arch and up the stairs before he catches me. I don’t fancy my chances.

‘Right!’ he yells and starts sprinting towards me.

I screech and dart off towards the archway. I know I’ll never make it up the stairs, so I fly into the gym and try to shut the glass door. He’s up against the other side, pushing against me, but I know he’s holding back so he doesn’t hurt me. He could push me off my feet with a flick of his little finger.