Page 2 of The Unwanted Love

Not that I’d let my older brother get a whiff of it. And not that Nathan saw me that way. He barely noticed me at all.

When I finally worked up my courage to approach him, I dressed up and tried to seem grown up, but he looked right past me. That was two years ago. Looking back, I understand. I was stilla teenager, but my pride was bruised. So, I mostly avoided him after that because I couldn’t bear to see him dismiss me as "just a kid."

The truth is, I wanted to wait until I was grown up and wow him. And even if I wasn't expecting him today, I'm ready. I'm an adult, and now is the time. I'm not a kid anymore. Iwillwow him. He's gonna notice me this time.

"Is he… Is Nathan coming by?" I clear my throat.

Hearing his name come from my lips turns my thighs to jelly. I hope it doesn’t seem obvious that I've fallen asleep many nights whispering his name to myself. Or that I filled the pages of my diary by practicing writing Skylar Davenport. It feels right.

"It’s your eighteenth birthday party. I told him I wouldn’t listen to any of his excuses."

"E-excuses?" My heart sinks. "He…he didn’t want to come?"

"He had a meeting with his grandfather earlier today." Ben shrugs. "Arthur—that’s his grandfather—is pressurizing him to work with the Davenport Group when he’s between missions.”

"The Davenport Group?" I frown.

"Arthur, founded it. It’s a multi-billion-dollar business with interests in almost every continent."

"Wow." That’s news to me. But then, I've been careful not to speak about Nathan with my brother for the past few years. It was too painful to talk about him, knowing he didn’t even notice me.

But I turn eighteen today. The gloves are off. Now, anything I learn about Nathan, I can use to my advantage in convincing him I'm the one for him. "I had no idea he came from such a wealthy background.”

"He doesn’t. In fact, his only connection with his father’s side of the family was his paternal grandmother paying his mother a stipend until he turned eighteen.”

“Oh?” I incline my head, hungry for this chance to learn everything I can about my crush while disguising my eagerness from my brother.

I must succeed, for Ben goes on: “His mother died some years ago, and after his paternal grandmother passed away, his grandfatherArthur found about him and contacted him. He claims he never knew about him and his mother.”

That sounds complicated."What does Nathan think about all this?” I frown.

“He feels his grandfather wronged him and his mother.”

"How’s that?”

Ben’s expression grows serious. "His family life hasn’t been easy. His paternal grandmother discovered his mother was pregnant and paid her to leave his father.”

I gasp.

He nods. "He never knew his father, who’s also dead now. Arthur, however, wants to reintroduce him to his brothers."

"Sounds like Arthur is quite a character," I murmur.

Ben half laughs. "From what Nathan's tells me, Arthur’s a cantankerous old man, but he's also manipulative. He’s very proud of the Davenport name and of the Davenport Group of companies he founded. He wants Nathan to join the board of directors and, perhaps, one day, become CEO of a group company."

"And what does Nathan think about it?" I ask in a casual tone.

Ben’s brow furrows. “Nathan has his own ideas about that.” A small smile plays around his lips, as if he knows something else that Nathan’s told him but is not at liberty to reveal. “He doesn't think it’s time yet. Like me, he feels he has a role to play with the Marines and that his job there isn’t done yet." Ben’s phone buzzes, and he pulls it out.

He chuckles. "Speak of the devil, and he appears."

My heart slams into my ribcage. "You mean, N-Nathan?"

I rub my suddenly damp hands over my dress. I glance down at myself. I bought a new outfit and new shoes. And I spent ages teasing my hair into waves, in an effort to look alluring. I invited my friends here to celebrate my birthday, for the first time. I normally prefer to spend my birthday reading and, maybe, having dinner with my mother.

But this isn’t just any birthday. I'm finally an adult. And Ben managed to get leave to be home. As did, apparently, Nathan. Heinsisted I invite my friends so we could celebrate properly. I couldn't say no.

I jump up to my feet and straighten my dress. "Oh gosh, I look terrible." I wring my hands.

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