Page 45 of Siren's Heart

The three of them exchange tense glances, their silence feeling heavy against the carefree atmosphere from only moments before.

"You mean the way Jade and Ellis are accosted now that Asher is dating that famous girl?" Dad asks, his eyes slowly widening as the wheels turn in his head.

"He means exactly like that because he's apparently dating that woman's best friend." Summer shoots me a glance that I can’t quite decide between annoyance and happiness. "Is she worth it, bro?"

Dad shoots her a shocked look, but I answer anyway.

"One hundred percent."

"Then it's settled," Mom adds, taking a page out of Dad’s book and holding Summer's mouth shut when she tries to interject. "And if worse comes to worse, we'll take a little or long vacation. There's got to be a country where those people are forbidden."

"Of course," I assure them and nod. “All the vacations you want. You know that.”

Those might not solve all the problems that could arise with our relationship becoming public knowledge, but I guess it's a start.

"I mean, there are worse things than a vacation or five," Summer admits, tapping her index finger against her lip as though she's thinking really hard about what to say next. "Okay. You have my blessings."

"Wow, thank you, oh best little sister I have. I really appreciate your blessings," I say sarcastically, but by the soft look in her eyes, I know she can see how thankful I am. She mouths, 'You owe me,' and I give her a subtle nod.

Being my sister is hardly the easiest thing in the world. She doesn't need to know, but I'd give her anything she asks for. Even though she sucks sometimes.

"Wonderful. Now tell me about all the other hot players," she demands with a mischievous grin, and my parents quickly wave goodbye, and walk out of frame. I tell her about the training, but honestly, I couldn't recall anything about the conversation, my thoughts circulating around only one person.

Her.

Millie

I look up at the skyscraper curiously through the tinted car window. It looks just as high as the one Kayla and my apartment are in, but not quite as fancy. They have a lobby and security, but it’s way more subdued compared to our building.

I'm wiped after two days filled with dance training and interviews, but I'm all the more glad that it's finally Friday, and Luca and I finally get to spend some more time together. I might have been watching the clock the whole day again, willing the seconds to go by faster, anxious to finally head over to his place.

At the same time, I’m nervous as fuck. Did he think about the whole media circus? Will he have an answer for me today? What if he decides it’s too much?

The car turns into the entryway for the underground garage. The driver that Naroa sent to bring me here exchanges a few words with an answering machine before he rolls his window up again.

Without a hitch, the gate opens, and we drive under the building. Thank God they have an underground garage. It's really one of the essentials when it comes to avoiding paparazzi.

The very nice driver comes to a stop right next to the elevators, and I thank him, handing him a generous tip for not trying to engage me in small talk, knowing Naroa has taken care of the fare.

As soon as my feet hit the concrete ground of the parking garage, though, nervousness makes my whole body tingle and my stomach jump anxiously. Fuck.

He said he wouldn’t walk away, but what if he's changed his mind? I've only seen him from afar over the past two days, and I'm sure he's talked to Asher, who's experiencing everything I've warned him about first-hand. What if that's all it took for him to decide it would be too much, and he just didn't want to tell me via text?

I take a deep breath and force myself to calm down. Even if that's his decision, I will survive. It would suck, sure. But it wouldn't be the first time, and it probably won’t be the last. It's not even the first time this cold dread grips my heart like a fist, but for some reason, this one feels more monumental. Like more is on the line. Like I have a lot more to lose.

Before I can change my mind and call the driver back to flee back home, tail tucked between my legs, I press the elevator button and jump in as soon as it opens, pushing the number Luca messaged me a few hours ago.

The higher the elevator climbs, the louder my heart beats in my chest, and the tighter the fist around my heart closes, a cold sweat covering my neck and my palms. In an attempt to distract myself, I eye myself in the mirror. I couldn't help but dress up a bit, my hair in a half-updo, soft makeup, and a beige summer dress with red flowers.

The elevator's ding echoes in my ears like an emergency siren, announcing my own personal demise.

My hands are cold and clammy when I wring them as I step out into a nice, clean hallway. It doesn’t look any more comfortable than the one in our building, but for some reason, it has a more ‘bachelor’ vibe. Maybe it’s the dark colors they use throughout. Suddenly, a door opens to my right.

"There you are!" I whirl around, and as soon as I set eyes on him, I sigh in relief. All my worries go up in smoke. The smile on his face doesn't seem like he's about to end and send me back home, or maybe it's the heavenly smell of food coming from his flat that makes all my defenses break down.

"Hi," I reply softly and walk right into his outstretched arms, sighing contentedly when they close around me, and he walks backward, kicking the door shut. "It's so good to see you," I mumble against his shirt as I slide my arms around his middle. I sigh happily when his chest vibrates with a low, amused chuckle.

"Likewise." He drops a kiss on top of my head, before he lets me go and brushes his lips against mine. “I’ve been waiting for this,” he mumbles against my lips before he steps away.

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