73 | careful

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I've already heard the plan from Sienna, but I just want to make sure about our agenda today.

"Well, I definitely fell asleep on the plane because I woke up too early, but I don't want to waste our precious weekend." Sienna grins. "I've had my shopping list, and we can go to the mall after we have lunch at the restaurant you recommended. Luna will be with us too, at least until Aiden finishes his work. Right, Luna?" She turns her head toward her future sister-in-law.

"Yup," Luna says, looking excited too. "I'm going to the mall with you two. I miss my brother, but I want to spend some girls' time. I wish Aiden wouldn't mind if I drag him with us so that we can spend more time together."

I sip my hot chocolate quietly. That won't be happening because Aiden has already told me that he would say no.

"Unfortunately, he can't." Luna huffs. "He'll be able to leave his office early today, but he can't go to the mall. He said he would take me out for afternoon snacks instead. I'll have to go when the driver picks me up. I'll meet Aiden at his office."

"Too bad," Sienna mumbles. "But that's totally okay. We all know that he's a busy man."

Relief washes over me. I can't imagine if the four of us actually meet. I'm not a good actress. Things will be awkward.

"He is," Luna says. Her eyes narrow as she thinks about her brother. "I'm glad that I can finally see him again. It has been a long time since he came back home to New York. It's also been quite a while since I stayed at his house here in Seattle."

I swallow. Right. Luna will be staying at Aiden's house for a few days.

However, I've already settled everything. There will be no trace that I've been living there.

"Where is he staying?" Sienna asks curiously.

"At Emerald Residence. He has a place there," Luna says humbly, sipping her cappuccino.

You mean, a penthouse. At the top of the building, I add in my heart.

"Emerald Residence?" Sienna's eyebrows raise, and my stomach churns.

The conversation is heading toward the topic I want to escape the most. I sip my hot chocolate again, trying to swallow my nervousness.

"Isn't that where you're staying, Nevaeh?" Sienna exclaims.

Her question makes me almost spit my drink. I choke, and my hand shakes lightly that it spills a few drops of hot chocolate from my drink onto my shirt. Sienna and Luna stare as I cough.

"Yeah, actually--"

"It's Nevaeh's apartment and we're staying there." Sienna doesn't even realize that she cuts me off with her excitement. "What a coincidence. The three of us will be staying in the same building."

Luna's mouth drops open. "Oh, wow." She looks speechless. "Really? That's awesome. I didn't know that you're staying there too, Nevaeh."

I want to laugh and cry at the same time. I hope that Luna won't invite us to Aiden's place because that will surely be a disaster. Everyone in the house will have to act like nothing has ever happened.

Luna leans forward and smiles at me. "If you ever need help or anything, don't hesitate to contact my brother. He actually manages the building," she says in a caring tone.

I can only give her a sheepish smile. I can't tell her that I've already known that fact, and much much more about her brother.

"What wonderful news." Luna giggles. "I'm sure that Max will be happy too once he hears about this."

No, no, no. It's better if you don't tell him.

Luna might be thinking that it's a good thing, that at least Aiden can look out for me in case of emergency, and that Max will be less worried about me.

But the truth is so much more than that. I don't think that they want to know.

I don't know what I should do to hide my nervousness. I distract myself with the chocolate stain on my shirt and grab the tissue from the table to wipe it off. Luna's eyes drop to the anchor brooch I'm wearing, and that's when I realize that I might have done a terrible mistake.

Her brows furrow, and confusion crosses her expression.

Thank God Sienna starts talking again, snapping Luna out of her thoughts.

But then, it doesn't stop Luna from glancing at the brooch again once in a while, and that makes my heart race with fear. I can't even concentrate on our conversation anymore.


"They're so different. Sometimes I wonder how they could be twins," Sienna's voice echoes in my ears while we're browsing through some clothes at the shopping mall.

Luna has left to meet Aiden in his office, and Sienna has been blabbering about the Jackson twin brothers who go to the same college as her.

I can't focus on what Sienna is talking about. I'm worried about Luna. I'm afraid that she has figured out something from this anchor brooch Aiden lent me to wear.

No, it's just a brooch. Nothing special, isn't it? I've seen many anchor pins before, so she can't possibly think that this is her brother's.

But then, the Kleins always have exclusive items, such as handbags specially made by famous designers for his mother. The Kleins indeed own some things that can't be found anywhere else. What if this anchor brooch is one of them? Or what if it's a special souvenir?

I shut my eyes in frustration, and that's when Sienna flicks my forehead.

"Hey, are you listening?" She pouts.

I haven't been a good listener for the past few hours, but I know Sienna well enough to understand that she definitely has a thing for one of the boys she's talking about.

One of the Jackson twins resembles their famous father, the rockstar, so talented in music. I guess Sienna is indeed falling for the charming and popular one. Since she's into music as well, they'll get along.

I just can't imagine her with the other twin, the quiet -- rather cold, she even said -- nerd. As far as I remember, Uncle Vaughn doesn't like nerdy boys around his daughter. Strange, I know.

"I can't believe that we're doing this again." Sienna sighs, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm the only one blabbering, and you don't tell me anything about boys. Come on."

I stare at her with a lost expression. "It's because I have nothing to say. I told you, there's no one. You know my dad's rules."

Sienna lifts one of her eyebrows. "Seriously? None? At all? It can't be. There must be someone. I can feel it."

I chuckle nervously, turning around so that I don't have to face her while lying to her. I browse through some other clothes and pull out a cute pink blazer.

"No one," I say firmly. "I've been busy adjusting to the new curriculum here. There are so many assignments and projects. I have no time for boys."

Sienna sighs again. "That sucks."

I can hear the disappointment in her voice. I'm relieved that she seems to believe my reason.

Although I trust Sienna, I'm still not sure how to tell her about Aiden. They're going to be family -- in fact, all of us are going to be -- if Max marries Luna.

I don't know what will happen to me and Aiden. Dad would be against us if he knew how I met Aiden in Seattle and how we grew close. Besides, I don't want to make things difficult between our family and Aiden's family. All this time, the Coopers and the Kleins have been getting along well. I'm afraid that my relationship with Aiden will ruin everything.

I stop browsing the clothes, realizing what I just thought. My relationship with Aiden?

I don't even know what we are. My future with Aiden is so unclear. I can't even say that I'm his girlfriend.

Now that I think about it, it sounds silly. His girlfriend?

The last time Aiden was with a woman, he was in a serious relationship with her, ready to marry her. Now, I'm not even his girlfriend. What I have with Aiden sounds nothing compared to what he had with Olivia.

Of course, he was in love with Olivia. I don't know if he can love again.

Wait, what are you thinking about, Nevaeh?

Love?

Are you seriously thinking about that word?

The reality is crashing down on me. I shouldn't be thinking like this.

I thought that I was happy that Aiden could heal, but I shouldn't expect something that seems so far away. I shouldn't.

And so I begin to feel it, as though it's coming soon.

The heartbreak.


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