Page 26 of Blinded By Hate

He never mentioned a brother.

Natalia walks back into the living room with a girl, she has blue eyes and dark brown hair. She looks like a mean version of Megan Fox. She is wearing a black workout set that compliments her curves that I’m jealous of and I can’t help but want to look like her.

She looks so familiar but I can’t pinpoint it.

Natalia looks annoyed as she walks her to the living room. “Jaclyn, this is Nicole Earnings. Nicole, this is Jaclyn King.”

Nicole Earnings.

I knew that name was familiar.

I look down at her hand and she has a big diamond on her ring finger.

This is the girl Hayden proposed to.

Twelve

Present

Nicole looks me up and down, making me feel uncomfortable with her gaze on me like that. She definitely doesn’t hide her dislike.

She looks away from me and looks back at Natalia who heads to the kitchen. “So where is he? I asked Killian and Rowan but none of them want to tell me what he’s doing. Pretty sure he is with both of them.”

“Jaclyn, come and have some wine,” Natalia says. “I don’t know Nicole, you know how he is. When he wants to be alone he’ll be alone,” Natalia answers as I get off the floor and walk to the kitchen.

Chris has his back facing us while he stirs something in a mixing bowl.

Nicole crosses her arms over her chest. “I need to know where he is because we leave for Italy soon and I need to make sure that he and my dad have everything set. He hasn’t even decided on what to wear for the wedding or reception.”

My heart drops.

Just a little.

But it’s fine.

He’s not mine anymore so I can’t act sad or butt hurt. I’m the one who left him.

I can’t be sad that I’m not the one getting married to him in Italy.

I remember telling Hayden one night that my dream wedding would be held at Lake Como at the Villa Balbiano. Hayden asked if we were to ever get married where I would want it. When I asked him he said that he wouldn’t care as long as I was happy.

I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from crying or tearing up.

It’s pathetic I still feel this way after this long. I’m not allowed to think of those memories and miss them.

Nicole continues to complain about Hayden while Natalia just looks at me and gives me a sympathetic look. I give her a reassuring smile and just listen to Nicole.

Lilah is still playing with her dolls in the living room and Chris is barely even paying attention to Nicole.

Nicole turns her head to me. “Where did you say that you and Natalia met again?”

“College. I met her in our journalism class.”

It’s like realization sparks on Nicole’s face. She widens her eyes lightly, making it noticeable that she knows exactly who I am. “So you’re that Jaclyn?”

“What do you mean by that?” I raise an eyebrow at her.

Nicole smirks. “You’re the one who dated Hayden in college right? You weren’t just a part of Natalia’s friend group?”

---