This Is Not Happening!

This Is Not Happening!
Kayla’s POV

This is a nightmare. Straight-up, no-other-words-for-it nightmare.

I stood there in the bedroom moments later, heart hammering like I’d just run a marathon, staring at my reflection like she might have answers.

After years of keeping every single part of myself locked down tight…hidden, protected…I’d just flashed my entire naked body to a man who was technically my husband. 

Fake husband. Whatever. And worse? I’d seen his first.

Heat crawled up my neck and flooded my cheeks. I pressed my palms to my face, trying to cool down, but the second I closed my eyes, there it was again…the towel slipping, that moment when my gaze dropped, and…holy shit!

Was that normal? Like, are they all that… monstrous? Or had it just been so long since Caleb that my brain was exaggerating? 

I hadn’t seen a dick in real life in years. The image kept replaying…thick, heavy, the way it hung there before I chased him out of my room, and stupid traitorous thoughts flooded in with it. Sounds. Skin. Hands. Bodies moving. I shook my head hard, willing for the image to disappear.

“Focus, Kayla,” I muttered, slapping my own cheek lightly. “Get it together.”

I yanked on my pajamas…soft gray shorts and a tank top…like the clothes could armor me up again. 

It’s fake. It’s a fake marriage, Kayla. I don’t even know this guy. He’s not exactly doing this for money, but for whatever deal we struck, not because he’s some knight in shining armor.

I still have to pay him back. He just hasn’t mentioned his price yet.

But then the other voice crept in, quieter. He does seem…decent. Nice, even. Going all out for a total stranger? Most men would’ve laughed me out the door. Maybe I could just chill a little like Holly said. Get to know him so this whole charade doesn’t blow up in our faces.

I froze, fingers tightening on the hem of my shirt. No.

Memories of Caleb crashed in like ice water. Him walking out when I told him I was pregnant. The denial. The lawyers. The humiliation from his mother.

The way he looked at me like I was the problem. Fear slithered into my chest, cold and familiar. My walls slammed back up, hard. The cold mask I’d perfected over the years settled over my face again.

Never again. No one gets close to my heart. Especially not some cop with a monster dick and kind eyes.

I took a deep breath, stepped out of the bathroom quietly, because I was sure he had left already. I expected the place to still look like a half-unpacked war zone.

I stepped into the main area and stopped dead.

What the…?

The moving boxes were gone. Like, completely vanished. The ugly bare bulbs were replaced with a warm chandelier that actually looked expensive. 

The kitchen? Counters cleared, racks were set up, a few ingredients lined up like someone planned to cook. 

The dining table had chairs around it now, and there was even a small plant in the corner. It didn’t look like a temporary hideout anymore.

It looked like a home.

My throat tightened. When the hell did he have time to do all this? I turned slowly, taking it in, the warm lights casting soft glows that made the space feel… safe. Comfortable.

Why? Why would he do this for me? He really does seem like a decent guy. Too bad I’m not interested in anyone anymore. Not happening.

My phone rang from the bedroom. I jogged back, grateful for the distraction, and answered.

“Holly?”

“Mrs. Fake Husband!” Holly sang, way too cheerful. “I always thought I'd be getting married first, but you beat me to it. Kay. So tell me, how’s married life treating you, babe?”

I groaned, flopping onto the edge of the bed. “You’re insane. This could turn out to be the worst decision of my life.”

“Or,” she teased, “the best. Come on, Kay. Let those walls crack open just a tiny bit. Give the man a chance. He seems like he’s going to be a hot lover from what I’ve seen. And those types of men, they know how to keep things spicy.”

“Holly you sound insane! I have no idea who Nathan really is,” I shot back. “What chance? This is fake, Holly. Temporary. I don’t want spicy things. I just want this to end so I can have my son back.”

“Exactly! You don’t know him,” she said, ignoring the other things I said. “Which means you should give yourself a chance to find out. He might surprise you.”

“That’s enough, Hols. You’re a menace.” I rubbed my temple. “I really want to talk to Caden. Is it okay if I call Ava in the morning? It’s pretty late right now.”

“Of course. I just got off the phone with her like thirty minutes ago. The boys are doing great…running around like little tornadoes, eating all her snacks.”

I nodded even though she couldn’t see, but tears were already gathering. 

This was the longest I’d been away from Caden since he was born. Just me and my boy against the world since we left LA. 

And now, because of Caleb, I had to hide him away. My fists clenched hard.

I’m never letting that bastard win custody. Not even visitation. He’s not getting anywhere near my son.

“Kayla? Are you still listening?”

“Yeah,” I said, clearing my throat. “I’m here.”

“So…where’s your husband right now?”

I groaned and wandered out into the transformed living area, strolling toward the kitchen.

The words tumbled out before I could stop them…as I started telling Holly everything…the towel slipping, seeing everything, my own towel failing, the whole mortifying chaos.

Holly’s voice went high-pitched. “Wait. Was it huge?”

“Holly! Be decent for once in your life.”

“Never. You used to be way wilder than me, Kayla. Spill. How big was it?”

I swallowed, face burning, but the words just… came out. I described it…every embarrassing detail…how thick and heavy it looked, the sheer size that made my brain short-circuit. When I finished, I let out a long breath.

Holly started clapping. Actually clapping. “Yes! It’s happening. You’re gonna fall in love with him, I can feel it.”

“Not happening. Even in a million years,” I said firmly. “Look, I’m not doubting he’s a good guy. He set up the whole apartment while I was in the shower. He’s doing all this for me without taking a dime, but, Hols. I don’t think I’m ready to let someone in. I’m too selfish. I don’t want to share myself with a man, especially…”

Holly burst out laughing, cutting me off. “There’s something I want to tell you, Kay.”