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
NOLANTossing and turning in his black silk sheets, Nolan was sweaty, itchy, and agitated.He got up and paced the room. Scorched himself in a scalding hot shower. And finally dressed in the early morning hours and went to his office to drink black coffee and watch the news. Waiting.He felt in his gut that something was wrong hours before he knew precisely what it was.His intuition was onto something. What exactly it was that was coming for Nolan, he could not be sure. A strike on the capitol? An assault on the palace, even? It was impossible to penetrate this fortress, but Adan, with his connections, could have infiltrated the palace staff somehow… with him, anything was possible.Danger was coming for Nolan, that much he knew. And it could be coming from anywhere.He unlocked his desk and retrieved a slender box from a bottom drawer, where it had been hidden behind a row of confidential files. He handled the box with
YENAMy first thought when I saw the news was: This can’t be happening.I got an alert first on my phone. Then I ran downstairs and turned on the TV in the den, and sure enough, it was there on every channel: Adan had declared war against Nolan.Evan appeared at my side and said something, but I didn’t hear him. I was deep inside my thoughts, searching my memories, trying to process what this all meant.Adan, smooth talking and insidious, had tricked me once again into thinking he was an innocent bystander, when really he had still been plotting against my husband all this time.My mind flipped through all our conversations over the past weeks. Adan must have had an ulterior motive for all the attention he’d been paying me. He’d been trying so hard to get back into my good graces.Surely he had been using me. But for what?Had I betrayed any information to him? Given him something he could use aga
YENA A wave of unexpected sadness crashed down over me. I certainly hadn’t been planning on telling Nolan that I wanted to go back to the palace. It was just what came out of my mouth in the moment. But even though it was something I said on an impulse, the way he responded still hurt. I offered to stay, and Nolan told me to go. That seemed like a pretty clear message. I felt rejected all over again. Of course, the way he put it, it did sound like Nolan had my best interest at heart. But I couldn’t help but feel that deep down, he simply did not want me back. Maybe my association with Adan was a betrayal that Nolan could not forgive. After all, I had specifically promised him I would not engage with his half-brother again after the last time Adan messed with our lives. Evan rapped lightly on my bedroom door, stirring me out of my reverie. I opened the door and found Lucy standing there, and Evan’s back retreating down the stairs already. “Lucy.” We traded sad smiles, and I pu
LUCY“Let’s get out of here for a while,” Yena said, standing. “Maybe Evan could take us to that boxing gym I told you about. Working out always helps me get out of my head when I’m feeling bad.”Lucy looked around at all the clothing and packaging that she’d come over to help Yena with. “But we have work to do. Tomorrow’s your last day and I promised I’d help you with all the business stuff.”“We’ll do it later.” Yena waved dismissively at the business supplies. “Lucy, there are bigger concerns in the world right now than whether someone gets a dress delivered on time. I mean, your ex-boyfriend just declared war on my ex-husband, for goodness’ sake.”Lucy laughed, then covered her mouth her hand to stifle it. “I’m sorry. It’s not funny. Just when you put it like that…”“It’s okay,” Yena replied, smiling. “Sitting here crying and worrying isn’t going to help anyone. Come on. Let’s go do something fun and try to forget about it all for a f