ADAN
Adan pressed his palm flat against the brightly lit jewelry case, making the glass fog up with his body heat.
In all the photos of Yena in the news and tabloids, she was dressed to kill. Wearing her original eveningwear with sophisticated jewelry no doubt given to her by Nolan. In Adan’s own personal experience with Yena at the school campus, she’d always been wearing more casual clothes, but still she always looked stylish and undeniably beautiful.
“See anything you like?” A woman with honey-blonde hair wrapped into a tight bun approached from behind the counter.
“Well, maybe you can help me. The woman I’m shopping for… she’s very classy. But I don’t want anything too over-the-top. It’s a gift to congratulate her on an accomplishment. Nothing too romantic, you know?”
The woman nodded her head just once. Adan offered her a charming smile, making her blush. He smel
NOLANThe prince stepped out of the limo and onto the sidewalk outside Yena’s parents’ house. Took a deep breath, crossed the path up to the front porch, and knocked on the door.It swung open seconds later and there stood Yena, her glossy pink lips parted in a big, genuine smile.“Hi,” she said. “Come on in.”“Thanks.” Despite his best efforts, Nolan’s own mouth burst into a bright, wide smile, too. “How are you?”He took a step inside and was blasted with the smell of bacon, eggs, fresh bread, and cinnamon.“And this is for Tina,” he added, holding out a bottle of red wine with an ancient-looking label.“Aw, thanks.” Yena took the bottle from him. “And I’m good. I’ve got a surprise for you, right over here.” She gestured to the dining room to his right.Nolan turned to find that the furniture in the
I pressed my lips closed tight and gulped down the saliva that was suddenly filling my mouth.Nolan licked his own lips. And for a moment I thought the magnetic force that started pulling our bodies together was something that could not be stopped. I think both of us were trying to resist it, but the space between us was just getting smaller and smaller…And then Evan’s voice came ringing out from behind me, saying, “Sorry to interrupt.”I dropped my hand from Nolan’s chest and wheeled around to see my brother, sweaty from a workout, leaning against the doorway. He had his arms folded across his chest and was wearing a sweat-drenched sleeveless t-shirt. His biceps were red and actively bulging, freshly engorged from a heavy workout.“It’s… Evan, right?” Nolan asked, smiling cordially. But I knew he was not happy to see Evan.And for his part, Evan was not even trying to conceal h
“Okay,” Yena said, “jacket’s done. You should have it pressed before you wear it, of course, but besides that you’re all set.”Tina pushed a lock of her dark hair behind her ear and stood, collecting some spent dishes from the table and hurrying over to the sink.“Thank you, again. Both of you.” Nolan stood and wiped his hands on a napkin but was still hesitant to touch the pristine jacket afterward.“I’ll go put it in a garment bag.” Yena smiled up at him. “Bathroom’s there if you want to wash up.”Nolan glanced over at Tina, but the woman still had her back turned to them, sorting dirty dishes in the kitchen sink busily.The little washroom on the main floor of Yena’s family home was, perhaps, the smallest room Nolan had ever wedged himself inside of. He washed his hands quickly, unable to keep his mind from spinning on what Tina had just said
Something childish in me wanted to just yell at Evan to go away when he knocked softly on my bedroom door early in the morning.But I’m not a child. I slipped on a robe and opened the door. He was standing a few feet away in the hallway, looking sheepish.“I’m sorry about yesterday,” he said, shaking his head.I frowned. “Good.” My voice came out sounding harsh and Evan blushed, turning his eyes to the ground. “Why don’t we go take a walk and get some coffee,” I said. “I’ll get dressed real quick and meet you downstairs, okay?”He nodded and walked away as I closed my door again and did as promised, throwing on some jeans and a sweatshirt before following him down.“The bakery?” Evan was by the front door, lacing up his running shoes. I nodded. And we were outside a minute later, walking side by side in tense silence.“I just thought
YENAI stared at my phone in disbelief. The notifications were coming in faster than I could open them. And the highest bid – so far – was a number I could hardly believe.I had Lucy on the phone a second later. I don’t know why I started whispering when she answered. I guess I was in shock, and not ready to get too excited yet.“You are not going to believe this,” I told her. “But my new social account where I’m trying to sell a few dresses? I’m about to make some serious money on it.”Lucy squealed. “Goddess, Yena! How much are you getting for that dress?”I opened my mouth and froze. I had to force the words out. “Someone bid twelve thousand dollars on that dress I made in about an hour, Lucy.”For a moment my chattery friend was stunned into silence for the first time since I’d known her.“Right? I don’t even know if it’s for real. I haven’t replied.”“Yena, do you remember that day when we talked in the back of your limousine, the afternoon when we first met? What did I tell you
ADANAdan gritted his teeth while he read Yena’s message, a frustrated growl rumbling in his chest and throat.Thank you so much for all your help as I prepared for study abroad. I feel terrible to turn down your invitation, but I won’t have time to meet up before I leave. I wish you all the best for the new semester!! The text was annoying polite. And Yena did not even mention the gift Adan said he needed to give her. Like she didn’t want it or care at all.He wrote back to her in a tone of well-practiced patience.No problem, Yena. I completely understand. When do you take off for your big adventure?This had to be at least the third time he had asked her. He couldn’t understand why she would not just tell him.Yena never really acted like she was suspicious of Adan. She kept her guard up around him, but back before Adan started making his move against Nolan, it felt like ther
NOLANYena’s voice was breathy when she answered Nolan’s call.“How are you doing?” he asked, after they traded awkward hellos.She laughed nervously and said, “I’m okay.”“You don’t sound so sure about that.”There was a pause. Nolan kept quiet. A sudden increase in his heart rate made him aware he was still holding out hope that any day now, Yena may just come back to him. He waited to hear what she was about to say.“I’m just all over the place,” she said with a sigh.Nolan knew that there was more to be said, but Yena did not elaborate. He shook his head.Wasn’t that always the problem with them? The things that really mattered felt impossible to say aloud. It was better when he and Yena were together and could let their bodies do the talking.But, Nolan thought with a frown, maybe that had never been enough. They had sp
YENAThe money was in my account and spendable within hours. I couldn’t believe it.I was officially in business – for myself.And I was ready to spend some of my new money on exactly what I intended it for: to help me and Evan with our move, so I didn’t have to rely on Nolan for all the expenses.Packing to prepare for the trip had been feeling impossible, and I realized it was because I didn’t have the right kind of luggage for moving by airplane. And I knew Evan didn’t have any luggage at all.I shopped around for the best options and placed an order online. I smiled as I started sorting my belongings, planning for what to pack in each of the new suitcases I’d ordered.I got matching sets of rolling suitcases for my brother and myself, his in gray with blue accents, and mine in those same colors but in reverse. And I got myself a set of hat boxes and garment bags as well, and a cute little