Mr Garcia

“You haven’t even opened it yet.”

“I already know I love it.” I watch on as he unties the bow and unwraps it. He frowns when he sees the Tiffany’s box. He opens it, and his eyebrows shoot up. He pulls the cufflinks out and stares at them in the palm of his hand.

“They’re engraved.” I smile.

He turns them over and reads the inscription.

4.5.21

I love you

April

His mouth falls open as he stares at them. “I love them, and I love you.” He quickly begins to take out his current cufflinks and change them over. I smile proudly. I think he likes them.

Ten minutes later, we arrive at his house. The lights are all on, and nerves simmer in my stomach. Kevin steps out of the driver’s seat and opens the back door.

“Thank you,” Sebastian says.

“Thanks.” I smile.

“Have a good night, and congratulations, sir,” Kevin replies.

“Thank you.” Sebastian smiles as he takes my hand. He leads me up the front path to the house, and he opens the door.

“Surprise!” everyone yells.

The house is full of balloons, and streamers are hanging from the ceiling. Sebastian laughs as we walk in. There’s about thirty people here, and everyone is hugging him and laughing. Oh, it’s a happy time.

“This is April,” he announces to everyone.

I fake a smile as all eyes fall on me. I just want the earth to swallow me up.

“Hello, April!” everyone calls, and they all break out into excited chatter.

I glance over and see Brielle and Charlotte. I make a beeline for them.

“Hello.” I smile and kiss them on the cheek. “Thank God you’re here,” I whisper.

Brielle takes my hand in hers. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

We stand back and watch on as, one by one, everyone hugs and kisses Sebastian. Everyone is so excited for him.

Eventually, his eyes find mine, and he smiles tenderly across the room.

I just melt.

“God, the way he looks at you,” Charlotte whispers.

“Right?” Bree sighs. “I miss that new ‘in love’ look. Now, I just get the ‘I’m going to nail you to the bed’ look.”

Charlotte and I laugh.

Sebastian comes over and takes my hand to kiss my fingertips. “Come.” He leads me through to the other living room where presents me to others.

“Mom, Dad, Violet… this is April. April, these are my parents and my sister.”

“Ah.” His mother smiles. She’s beautiful with dark hair. She also looks kind. “Hello, my darling.” She’s softly spoken and has a Spanish accent. She kisses my cheek. “Finally, we get to meet you.”

“Hello.” I smile, feeling a little better.

His father steps forward, and my heart somersaults in my chest. He’s Sebastian’s double: tall, olive-skinned, and decidedly Spanish looking, only he’s older with grey hair. He’s a very good-looking man.

“Hello, April. It’s lovely to meet you.” He shakes my hand.

“And this is my sister Violet.” Sebastian smiles.

“Hello.” I smile.

She fakes a smile. “Hi.”

My heart drops. Not exactly a warm greeting.

Sebastian’s phone rings, and a name lights up the screen.

Jameson Miles

Huh? What the hell?

He knows Jameson Miles? Surely that’s not the same media tycoon from New York that I’ve heard of.

“Answer it,” his father says,

“Say hi to Jay from us.” His mother smiles.

Sebastian answers the phone. “What do you want?” He smirks, as if something is funny. He listens and then bursts out laughing. “You could be onto something there.” He holds his hand over the phone. “Miles says the U.K. is now in serious trouble.” He laughs as he listens again. “Thanks.”

I smile as I watch him.

“They went to boarding school together in Italy,” his sister tells me.

“Oh.”

Someone calls his parents away, and I am left alone with Violet.

I sip my wine nervously as I wait for her to say something.

“So, you’re Brandon’s friend?”

Ah, shit. This is Brandon’s mother. She knows about me, the sex club, and all the other sordid details. That explains a lot.

“I am. I mean, I was.” I shrug. “Unfortunately, we’ve lost touch.”

She nods and bites her lip, as if holding her tongue.

I stare at her, and I can feel her animosity for me.

I have to say this. I know that I have to lay it out on the table right now.

“Look, Violet. I know that Sebastian and I didn’t meet under normal circumstances.”

“No. You didn’t.”

“I just want you to know that Sebastian was the only man I ever saw at that club, and I was never romantically involved with Brandon. It was all a big misunderstanding. Brandon is a wonderful person, but he misread the situation. I know that it probably doesn’t matter to you anyway, because if I were you, I would have already made up my mind of what I thought of me, too.”

She glares at me.

“But I love Sebastian. I would do anything to make him happy.”

Her eyes hold mine.

“I know you’re still friends with Helena, and I understand your animosity toward me.”