If he laughed at her again, she’d c

If he laughed at her again, she’d call off the whole thing. If he laughed…
His arms released her and he stepped back. Silence surged between them like a heavy wave gaining speed and ready to crash.
“I think we solved our problem,” he said.
She didn’t respond.
“Isn’t this what you wanted?”
She stuck her chin high in the air and hid every messy emotion that writhed like snakes in her belly. “I guess so.”
He paused, then reached for her. “We better present a united front.”
Five fingers closed around hers with a graceful strength that brought tears to her eyes. She fought them back and decided she was in major PMS mode. There was no other reason why a kiss from Nick Ryan should bring so much pleasure, yet hurt so deeply.
“Are you okay?
She gritted her teeth and smiled so brightly she could have done an advertisement for toothpaste. “Of course. Brilliant idea, by the way.”
“Thank you.”
“Just don’t stiffen up again like a corpse out there. Pretend I’m Gabriella.”
“I could never confuse you and Gabriella.”
The cutting remark slashed through her but she refused to show weakness. “I’m sure you’re right. But you’re no fantasy for me either, Pretty Boy.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“Forget it.” She led him back out into the living room. “Sorry for the interruption, guys. I think we better get going, it’s late.”
Everyone jumped up to say good-bye. Maria kissed her cheek and winked with approval. “I may not like the rush,” she whispered, “but you’re a grown woman. Ignore your father and follow your heart.”
Her throat tightened. “Thanks, Mom. We’ve got a lot to do this week.”
“Don’t worry, honey.”
They were almost to the door when Jim took a last ditch attempt. “Alexandria, the least you could do is postpone the wedding a few weeks for the family. Nick, surely you can’t disagree?”
Nick put his hand on her father’s shoulder. His other firmly clasped his fiancée’s. “I understand why you want us to wait, Jim. But you see, I’m madly in love with your daughter, and we’re getting married on Saturday. We really want your blessing.”
Everyone grew quiet. Even Taylor stopped her babbling to watch the scene before her. Alexa waited for the explosion.
Jim nodded. “Okay. Can I pull you aside for a moment?”
“Dad—”
“Just for a moment.” Nick followed Jim into the kitchen.
Alexa bit back the worry as she chatted with Izzy and Gen about bridesmaid dresses. She caught a glimpse of Nick’s serious expression as he listened to her father. After a few minutes, they shook hands and Jim looked a bit chastened as he kissed her good-bye.
They said their final farewells and got into the car. “What did my father want?”
Nick pulled out of the driveway and concentrated on the road in front of him. “He was worried about paying for the wedding.”
Guilt assaulted her in massive gulps. She’d completely forgotten about the wedding expenses. Of course, her father probably assumed he’d pay, even though times have changed. Sweat pricked her forehead. “What did you tell him?”
Nick glanced at her. “I refused to let him pay, and told him if I’d done what he asked and waited a year, I’d accept his money. But because this was our decision to rush the wedding, I insisted I foot the bill. So we made a bargain. He pays for his tux and your brother’s. I pay for all the girls’ dresses—including yours—and the rest of the wedding.”
She let out her breath in a rush and studied him in the flash of oncoming headlights. His face remained expressionless, but his gesture tugged at her heart. “Thank you,” she said softly.
He jerked as if her words punched through him. “No need. I’d never hurt your parents. No one usually has enough money to pay for a wedding in a week. And I understand family pride. I’d never strip them of that.”
She choked back emotion as they drove for a while in silence. Alexa stared out the window into the darkness. His offer suggested a real relationship between them, and made her long for more. She should have introduced her family to a real life love—not a fake. The lies of the night pressed down on her spirits as she realized she’d made a bargain with the devil for cold hard cash. Cash to save her family. But cash nonetheless.
His gravelly voice broke the silence and her gloomy thoughts. “You seemed upset about our little ruse tonight.”
“I hate lying to my family.”
“Then why do it?”
An uncomfortable silence settled between them.
Nick pressed on. “How badly do you want this money? You don’t seem too thrilled with the idea of marrying me. You’re lying to your family and holding a fake wedding. All for a business expansion? You could get a loan from a bank like most businesses do. Something isn’t adding up.”
The words bubbled up and she almost told him the truth. Her father’s sickness shortly after his return. The lack of medical insurance to pay the staggering bills. Her brother’s struggle to get through medical school while supporting a new family. The endless calls from collectors until her mother had no choice but to sell the house, already heavily mortgaged.

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

Jika dia tertawa padanya lagi, dia akan memanggil dari seluruh hal. Jika dia tertawa...Tangannya dirilis dia dan dia melangkah ke belakang. Keheningan melonjak antara mereka seperti gelombang berat memperoleh kecepatan dan siap untuk kecelakaan."Saya pikir kita memecahkan masalah kita," katanya.Dia tidak merespon."Bukankah ini apa yang Anda inginkan?"Dia terjebak dagunya tinggi di udara dan menyembunyikan setiap emosi berantakan yang writhed seperti ular di perutnya. "Saya kira begitu."Ia terdiam, lalu mencapai untuknya. "Kami lebih baik menyajikan sebuah front bersatu."Lima jari ditutup di sekitar miliknya dengan kekuatan yang anggun yang membawa air mata ke mata. Dia melawan mereka dan memutuskan dia adalah modus PMS utama. Ada alasan lain mengapa ciuman dari Ryan Nick harus membawa begitu banyak kesenangan, namun menyakiti begitu dalam."Apakah Anda baik-baik saja?Dia mengertakkan gigi dan tersenyum begitu cerah ia bisa melakukan iklan untuk pasta gigi. "Tentu saja. Ide cemerlang, by the way.""Terima kasih.""Hanya tidak menegang naik lagi seperti mayat luar sana. Berpura-pura aku Gabriella.""Aku tidak pernah bisa membingungkan Anda dan Gabriella."Pernyataan pemotongan disayat melalui dia, tetapi ia menolak untuk menunjukkan kelemahan. "Aku yakin kau benar. Tetapi Anda sedang fantasi tidak bagi saya juga, Pretty Boy. ""Aku tidak bermaksud —""Lupakan saja." Dia membawanya kembali keluar ke ruang. "Maaf untuk interupsi, guys. Saya pikir kita lebih baik pergi, sudah terlambat."Everyone jumped up to say good-bye. Maria kissed her cheek and winked with approval. “I may not like the rush,” she whispered, “but you’re a grown woman. Ignore your father and follow your heart.”Her throat tightened. “Thanks, Mom. We’ve got a lot to do this week.”“Don’t worry, honey.”They were almost to the door when Jim took a last ditch attempt. “Alexandria, the least you could do is postpone the wedding a few weeks for the family. Nick, surely you can’t disagree?”Nick put his hand on her father’s shoulder. His other firmly clasped his fiancée’s. “I understand why you want us to wait, Jim. But you see, I’m madly in love with your daughter, and we’re getting married on Saturday. We really want your blessing.”Everyone grew quiet. Even Taylor stopped her babbling to watch the scene before her. Alexa waited for the explosion.Jim nodded. “Okay. Can I pull you aside for a moment?”“Dad—”“Just for a moment.” Nick followed Jim into the kitchen.Alexa bit back the worry as she chatted with Izzy and Gen about bridesmaid dresses. She caught a glimpse of Nick’s serious expression as he listened to her father. After a few minutes, they shook hands and Jim looked a bit chastened as he kissed her good-bye.They said their final farewells and got into the car. “What did my father want?”Nick pulled out of the driveway and concentrated on the road in front of him. “He was worried about paying for the wedding.”Guilt assaulted her in massive gulps. She’d completely forgotten about the wedding expenses. Of course, her father probably assumed he’d pay, even though times have changed. Sweat pricked her forehead. “What did you tell him?”Nick glanced at her. “I refused to let him pay, and told him if I’d done what he asked and waited a year, I’d accept his money. But because this was our decision to rush the wedding, I insisted I foot the bill. So we made a bargain. He pays for his tux and your brother’s. I pay for all the girls’ dresses—including yours—and the rest of the wedding.”She let out her breath in a rush and studied him in the flash of oncoming headlights. His face remained expressionless, but his gesture tugged at her heart. “Thank you,” she said softly.He jerked as if her words punched through him. “No need. I’d never hurt your parents. No one usually has enough money to pay for a wedding in a week. And I understand family pride. I’d never strip them of that.”She choked back emotion as they drove for a while in silence. Alexa stared out the window into the darkness. His offer suggested a real relationship between them, and made her long for more. She should have introduced her family to a real life love—not a fake. The lies of the night pressed down on her spirits as she realized she’d made a bargain with the devil for cold hard cash. Cash to save her family. But cash nonetheless.His gravelly voice broke the silence and her gloomy thoughts. “You seemed upset about our little ruse tonight.”
“I hate lying to my family.”
“Then why do it?”
An uncomfortable silence settled between them.
Nick pressed on. “How badly do you want this money? You don’t seem too thrilled with the idea of marrying me. You’re lying to your family and holding a fake wedding. All for a business expansion? You could get a loan from a bank like most businesses do. Something isn’t adding up.”
The words bubbled up and she almost told him the truth. Her father’s sickness shortly after his return. The lack of medical insurance to pay the staggering bills. Her brother’s struggle to get through medical school while supporting a new family. The endless calls from collectors until her mother had no choice but to sell the house, already heavily mortgaged.