Page 17 of Something New

I don’t even care they are there.

All I care about his her.

My eyes are on her.

She has so many friends around her. They are all laughing and joking and having a blast.

I feel a pang of jealously because it is the type of life I have always been curious about.

My life is nothing like this.

I have control, rules, structures, a family I have to obey, a father who is monstrously demanding of my time and energy while giving me nothing in return. Nothing but trauma and misery.

I hate him for sending Nerissa away all those years ago. I hate him for denying me the love of my life.

I hate him because he adores Masaccio and even though Mas is my twin - it is made clear to me daily that I cannot compare to him. I am nothing compared to my twin - and it’s all because he was born a mere few minutes before I was.

The first-born son - and the runt. That is how my father views it.

Nerissa leans close to a friend as they converse over the music.

She has the eyes of every man in this place on her - and she looks like a goddess - but I can see something else in her eyes.

Sadness. Disappointment.

“I haven’t heard from him today.” Her friend says, shaking her head.

“He promised he would be here.” Nerissa says, looking around with her brows knotted together.

Riley.

That fucking boy.

Well, princess, he won’t be here. He will never be part of your life ever again. I made sure of that.

It annoys me she is so upset by his absence.

But I push it aside because after tonight it won’t matter.

Nothing else but her and I will matter.

Our worlds will converge, and we can be together as we were always meant to be.

Nerissa accepts that Riley is not going to show up, and she focuses on her friends and the party. She has an incredible night and near the end, when I can see she is getting ready to leave, I stand up to leave as well.

I want to get there before her.

I want to surprise her.

My excitement blooms like a wildfire on an open, dry field.

“Soon, little bird.” I smile, taking one last look at her gorgeous figure and that beautiful face - then I leave the VIP section. Disappearing into the crowded space below as I push my way to the exit.

I climb into my car, a smile etched onto my face.

I open the glove box and pull out the small velvet box inside it.

Opening it, I look down at the ring.

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