The Day I Kissed An Older Man

It seemed that Lucas was not keen on letting Stella know the truth of their relationship.

"Friend? As in, 'girlfriend' or just a normal friend?" Stella teased.

"Just a normal friend," Lucas replied without hesitation.

Melody reacted somewhat awkwardly and pursed her lips. "Yes. Mister Lucas and I are friends-new friends, I might add. I heard about this event and persuaded him to bring me along and experience the sights. I hope you don't misunderstand our relationship."

to know about

which, what was your name again?" "My name's Melody," she answered. Despite playing the role of Lucas' wife for so long, she had never been so intimate with him in public. He was, after all, averse to physical contact with members of the opposite gender, yet he neither flinched nor pulled away

then please come with me." Stella smiled magnanimously and brought Lucas to the

a door as she entered with Lucas. "Where were you, Stella? We've all been waiting to raise a glass to you!" someone called

and women. They were all laughing and conversing like old friends. Melody recognized none of them, nor could she understand what they were talking about.

a quiet corner and sat down with a glass of juice. From time to time, she stole glances at Lucas from across the room, noticing that he had such a soft expression when speaking to Stella that it was almost as if he was a different person from his usual self. For some reason, Melody felt a little sad when she saw Lucas sitting there with Stella. She was his wife-granted, in name only-yet