Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

When Rachael did not say anything, Andrew sighed. He knew she was overthinking again.

"Look at me—" He grabbed her shoulders and turned her around. "What did I tell you about overthinking?"

"I am not overthinking, I just thought—" she sighed. "You know what, let's just forget about it. I know it's stupid—"

He had told her why he didn't want her to meet his family, Rachael couldn't help but overthink even though she knew she was wrong.

"No, it's not stupid," he remarked. "It's something that you are feeling, how can it be stupid?"

"Rach—" He grabbed her hands. "I only have a few important people in my life and you have met them already. And the other people, they really aren't important. But if you are feeling this way, I'll take you to meet them. i will—"

"No—" She shook her head. "You don't have to do that. I don't wanna meet them."

He did not say anything, he just silently waited for her to finish.

"I know you have your reasons and I respect it. It was really just a random thought that popped in my head when your grandmother called you and you didn't answer it." She lowered her head and started awkwardly fidgeting with his shirt button. "I know it's kinda stupid and I didn't wanna tell it to you but—"

"Silly—" Andrew muttered as he wrapped his hands around her. "Do you even know how lucky I feel everyday when I see you by my side? I would give up anything just to keep you by my side. You are the most important thing in my life right now."

"And if anyone comes up to me and says that you are not good enough for me or questions your position in my life, I swear, I will make sure he—" He did not complete his sentence. He swallowed the rest of his words and hugged her tightly.

But if anything would ever dare to do such a thing, that would definitely be the end of that person's existence.

.....

[Emma's Apartment]

Occasionally glancing at each other, Emma and George were awkwardly sitting at opposite ends of the couch.

"Are you sure you don't want some more coffee?" Emma asked for the fifth time.

To which George answered in the same way he had been for the last four times. "No, I am good."

After their sweet kiss outside the cafe, they came home and picked up from where they had left. They spend the nights kissing and cuddling each other, that also included a decent amount of touching here and there.

When they woke up in the morning, both of them felt very awkward and nervous.

'So what now?' Both of them were constantly asking themselves, as they tried to figure things out.

Emma looked at him and opened her mouth to say something but she pursed her lips when she couldn't seem to find the right words to express her feelings.

"Alright, what the hell are we doing?" George frowned and looked at her. "Are we going to sit like this all day?" He couldn't take it anymore.

Before she could say anything, he moved closer and grabbed her hand. "Last night was amazing, I had a really great time."

"I had a great time too." Emma had never felt so loved and happy for a really long time.

"See, we both had a great time." He kissed the back of her hand. "Emma, I really really like you a lot. I don't know how and when I started developing all these feelings for you but I am so happy that I did. But if you think all of this is moving too fast then I am willing to slow down a little. If you still not sure then we can—"

"No," she interrupted him. "I am sure about us and I like you too George. It's just—"

She paused for a while and explained, "It's just I never thought that something would ever happen between us ever. Today when I woke up and saw you beside me, I realized that everything was real, you and I were real. The thought of it made me feel very happy but then I started thinking of other things and then there is Rachael too—"

She sighed and helplessly shook her head. The thought of Rachael made her feel nervous again. How was she supposed to tell her best friend that she liked her brother? Forget about Rachael, she didn't even know how her parents would react to it. They had always seen George as a brother figure in her life.

"To be honest, I am worried about telling Rachael too but we will definitely figure something out. What really matters is what you want, what we want—" Pausing for a while, he asked, "So what do you want Emma? Do you want us to be official and start a new relationship?"

"Of course I want that," she exclaimed and pounced in his embrace. She wanted to be with him as much as he did.

George smiled and hugged her tightly. The initially awkwardness and nervousness they were  feeling were all gone.

"So we are doing this, right?" Emma looked at him. "You are my boyfriend now."

He vigorously nodded. "Yes and you are my girlfriend."

"You are my girlfriend," he repeated his words again. After a few seconds, he widened his eyes in shock. "Oh my God, you are my girlfriend. I have a girlfriend. I don't have to go on those stupid dates anymore."

"Of course." She cupped his face and smiled. "Try going on a date from now and I will really kill you."

And George did not doubt her words. He knew her personality very well, she would definitely cause him some serious physical damage if he did something like that.

"Why would I go on a date when I have you now?" He gently caressed her hair. "And besides, the one who sets up all the blind dates is mom. Since she knows about us—"

"What?" Emma widened her eyes in shock. "Aunt knows about us?"

"Yes."

"How? When?" She was panicking.

"For the record, I did not tell her. She figured it out on her own."

"So what do we do now?" She nervously inquired.

"What do you mean?" He shrugged. "We just have to tell everyone and—"

"No we can't." When he frowned, she explained, "Can we wait for a few days before telling others? Especially Rachael?" She wanted to drop a few hints before dropping the bomb on her.

Understanding what she meant, he agreed without any objection. "Alright, we will do as you say."

…..

[Collins Mansion, Rachael and Andrew's Room]

Placing her hand on his chest, Rachael pushed him away. "Stop, we have so much work to do."

"Just one more—" Andrew wrapped his arms around her waist and captured her lips.

"Stop—" she chuckled and pushed him away again. "We have a lot to pack." Before he could make any other move, Rachael quickly escaped.

Left with no other choice, he sighed and helplessly shook his head.

'Two more days,' he reminded himself. Once they started their vacation, no one would be there to disturb them. And that time, he would definitely not let her escape so easily.

"Andrew, help me take down the black suitcase," Rachael called him over.

After taking down the suitcase they were taking, Andrew placed it on the bed.

"What clothes do you want to take with you?" She inquired as she opened his wardrobe.

"I don't know, just select whatever you think is appropriate," he said as he walked inside the walk-in closet. When he was taking down the suitcase, his eyes had landed on a box lying in one corner. It was neatly wrapped with a red ribbon which made it look very attractive. He wanted to see what it was.

"Rach, what is in this white box?" he inquired as he picked it up.

"What box?"

Without saying anything, he stepped outside.

….

"This one—" He kept it on the bed. "Is it a gift or something?"

"Oh this—" She sighed and slapped her forehead. "Elsa gave me this when she first came here." She had kept it inside her closet and completely forgotten about it until today.

"You didn't open it?" When she shook her head, Andrew went ahead and removed the bow.

"Don't tell Elsa that I forgot about it, okay?"

"Hmm okay—" As soon as he opened the box, a small piece of see-through black fabric greeted him.

He raised his brows and picked it up. When he realized what it was, his lips curled upwards.

"What is—" Rachael stopped and widened her eyes in shock.

Andrew smiled and placed the fabric on the bed before digging deeper into the box.

When he pulled out a pair of G-strings, Rachael quickly stepped forward and snatched it from his hand. "Why are you taking them out?" She quickly shoved everything he had taken out and closed the box.

…..