More Than Pretend - Chapter 7
Chapter SEVEN
Nimi
Standing outside Ava’s front door, my finger hovered over the doorbell, teetering between courage and caution. What am I doing here unannounced? I finally pressed it, the sound echoing like a commitment I couldn’t reverse.
The door swung open, and there she was—hair slightly tousled, no makeup, yet stunning in her natural beauty. Her eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in curiosity. “Hi”
Her voice, a warm cadence that I now found addictive, invited me in without even trying. “Hey,” I managed, my voice a shade softer than usual, almost apprehensive.
“Morning,” she replied, her voice tinged with curiosity but laden with restraint. “What brings you here? And how did you even know where I lived?”
The question hung in the air like a challenge, but it was a fair one. I hadn’t given her all the pieces of my life, yet here I was, unannounced, standing on her doorstep.
“I didn’t mean to barge in this way, but I thought we should talk,” I said, regret lacing my words. “You know, about everything that’s going on.”
“About the photo?” Her eyebrows arched in an unspoken question.
“Yeah, and, um, other things,” I mumbled, my gaze unintentionally dropping to the ground. “May I come in?”
She stepped aside, granting me entry into her sanctuary. The living room was cozy, a stark contrast to my sterile government residence. Family photos graced the walls, and potted plants stood in the corners like silent, loyal guardians. It was a home in the truest sense of the word.
As she closed the door, I couldn’t help but notice a slight tremble in her hands. Had I rattled her with my sudden appearance? “You’re making it seem like a police interrogation,” she joked, but her eyes held a cautious gleam.
I chuckled. “No, not an interrogation. But a conversation that could change some things for both of us.”
Her eyebrows arched upward, a blend of skepticism and interest. “Alright, I’m listening,” she said, crossing her arms.
“What about your Grandma and sister? At least let me greet them before we talk?”
“No need.”
My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might puncture my ribcage. My political career had put me under brighter spotlights, but never had so much seemed to hang on a single conversation. I knew that the words I chose next could either close the door on an opportunity or open a new chapter for both of us. “Before we dive in,” I began, locking eyes with her, “I want you to know my intentions are genuine, even if my omissions may suggest otherwise.”
I waited, holding my breath, as Ava looked at me with a gaze that seemed to weigh my very soul. “At least sit down?”
I looked around and settled into the plush sofa in the living room as my eyes darted over the family photos and potted plants before returning to her. “So, about that photo,” I started, cautiously venturing into the murky water. My gaze met hers; her eyes were pools of hesitancy and mild accusation.
“Yeah, it’s everywhere, isn’t it?” she replied, her voice tinged with a sharpness I hadn’t heard before. “You’re the Governor and a widower, Nimi. Don’t you think those are important details to share?”
She had every right to feel deceived, and the weight of me not telling her settled around me like a fog. “Ava, listen, it’s not what you think,” I stammered, searching for the right words and hating myself for not having them ready. “I didn’t hide who I am to deceive you; I did it to give ‘us’—whatever this is—a fair chance.”
“A fair chance at what?” Her voice wavered, caught between skepticism and curiosity.
“At something real,” I said, my voice softening. “Sometimes titles and preconceived notions get in the way of genuine connections. I wanted to know you and for you to know me without all the noise.”
She stared at me, her eyes searching mine, likely weighing the sincerity of my words. It felt like an eternity passed in those seconds, and my heart pounded as if it was campaigning to leap out of my chest. “So, you were trying to protect what could be ‘us’?” She finally said.
“Exactly,” I nodded, relief washing over me like the first rains of the season. “I wanted our connection to be organic, not influenced by my public life.”
“You know, in some circles, withholding information is basically deception,” she quipped, eyebrows raised.
“In other circles, it’s called keeping a little mystery,” I shot back, a grin tugging at my lips.
She sat beside me. “Mystery? That’s what we’re calling governmental leadership these days?”
“If by ‘mystery,’ you mean a never-ending cycle of meetings and obligations, then sure.”
She laughed. “Well, if I’d known I was sitting with Mr. Governor, I might’ve insisted on a fancier date.”
“What? Roasted yam and plantain with fish isn’t up to first lady standards?” I feigned shock, my voice thick with pretend horror.
“Oh, it is. I love local delicacies just as much as you do, if you haven’t noticed. But had I known, I would have added some caviar to the mix. You know, a corn and caviar fusion dish.”
“Now that’s a governance I can get behind. Culinary innovation for the win.”
Our laughter filled the room, lightening the atmosphere. For a moment, I forgot about hashtags, public opinion, and political ramifications. It was just her laughter filling the space, and me being the reason behind it. It was like all the worry and stress just floated off, leaving behind a good, happy feeling. Our eyes met, and suddenly it felt like it was just something really special connected us two.
I could see the excitement in her eyes, and I knew she felt it too—this buzz between us one couldn’t just make up. For a moment, I let myself really feel it, this awesome connection we had. What mattered was this: I really, really liked her. And that was a chance I was willing to take.
“Look, Ava, I just want us to be two people getting to know each other,” I said, veering back to serious. “Labels complicate things.”
“They do,” she agreed. “But they also clarify things. And sometimes life needs a bit of both.”
“Fair point,” I nodded. “So, no more holding back?”
“No more holding back.”
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of what I was about to say. I turned to face her. “Ava, how about we help each other out in a way that’s beneficial to both of us?”
A mix of surprise and curiosity washed over her face, making her eyes sparkle. “I’m listening,” she said, her voice tinged with cautious interest.
“Well, you’ve got this graphic design competition coming up, right? And the ever-persistent matchmaking from your grandma?” I began gauging her reaction carefully. “I could give you a hand with those. Get you those things you needed, and maybe even throw your grandma off your trail.”
Her eyes narrowed a bit, not in suspicion, but in deep thought. “Go on.”
“In return,” I hesitated for a split second, “you could help me by, well, us being a couple. Publicly. It would help me politically, give me a more stable image, you know?”
A flash of skepticism crossed her eyes, but it was fleeting. “You want to fake a relationship to gain political points?”
“It’s not entirely for show,” I defended, my voice tinged with urgency. “I mean, there’s something between us, Ava. We both know it. And while we explore that, we could also put it to some practical use.”
A silence settled between us, heavy but not uncomfortable. She looked away; her gaze drifting to the family photos on the wall. She was contemplating, weighing the pros and cons, just like I had. “It’s a lot, Nimi. I’ve got to think about my family, privacy, and reputation.”
“I get it,” I responded, sensing her hesitation. “Take all the time you need.”
I heard a few whispers and someone clearing their throat, coming from the door close to the dining table. It had to be her grandma listening to our conversation.
She looked in that direction, shook her head, and smiled. Then, finally, locked eyes with me again. “Ahh, I think I’m in. But under one condition.”
“Shoot.”
“You’ll be my date to my cousin’s wedding,” she said, a playful glint now in her eyes.
A rush of warmth flooded my chest. “That’s a deal I can easily agree to. One more thing, though.” I said the words carefully as I looked at Ava. Her face was an open book—curiosity laced with a dash of concern.
“What could it be now?”
“About sharing photos of us together on your social media. Maybe we should hold off on that for a bit. You know, to keep the trolls at bay.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Trolls? I thought the whole point was for us to be public.”
I rubbed the back of my neck, a habit when I felt a bit cornered. “Yes, but I don’t want you becoming a target, you know? The internet can be a cruel place, especially when politics are involved.”
A thoughtful expression settled over her face, her lips pursed slightly. “I get it. Safety first,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of disappointment but understanding all the same.
What I wasn’t saying out loud, though, was another lingering thought: keeping our relationship off her social media gave both of us an easy out. If this ‘arrangement’ didn’t work or if things got complicated, we had a little room to maneuver without being scrutinized by the entire world. I was attracted to her, sure, but was I ready to dive headfirst into something without a safety net? My career and, honestly, my past were too delicate for reckless moves.
Ava seemed to chew on my suggestion a little more before nodding. “Alright, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have photos for ourselves, right?”
I grinned, my shoulders dropping a little in relief. “Absolutely, we’ll have our own memories; they just won’t be public—at least not immediately.”
As she smiled back, I felt the tension that had built up slowly dissipate. A sense of ease, a feeling of rightness that settled into the space between us, replaced it. The chemistry was palpable, almost like you could reach out and touch it. I took that as a good sign. A tiny affirmation that even if we were stepping into this for practical reasons, there was something genuine sprouting beneath it all.
“But I warn you,” she said, her voice dropping to a playful, sultry tone that sent shivers down my spine, “I take fantastic pictures. You’ll be tempted to show them off.”
I chuckled, the sound richer and more relaxed than I’d felt in a long time. “Oh, I have no doubt, Ava. And who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll want the world to see them too.”
As those words escaped my lips, I hoped it would come true.
The contrast between their meet-cute and then the social media blow up/discovering he is a big deal is soooo good. Love this chapter!