What Love Has Lost (7 page)

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Once we got in the private plane, Grady starts being so fascinated with the utility. We all watch Grady in amazement. First, he starts messing with the captain's radio. Rhiannon warns him to stop messing with the important buttons and such. Knowing Grady, he will listen, but he's being an idiot for playing. Second, he goes to the back and screams that Rhiannon's bathroom looks neat and clean.

I place a hand onto my chin, looking bored or annoyed.

"Look, the flusher for this toilet looks totally rad!" Grady exclaims as he continues to become more engrossed with the fancy items in this plane. Suddenly, we hear Grady flushing the toilet numerous of times. Rhiannon complains and tells to him to stop because he might destroy it.

It amuses me to have friends, such as Rhiannon and Grady.

From the corner of my eye, I see Nathan either laughing or coughing. I cannot help but form a small smile across my adorable face. No, it does not mean that I have intimate feelings towards him. It just means that Nate can make me smile sometimes, that's all!

Suddenly, we hear a bell ding throughout the cabin. "This is your captain speaking. We will be flying out of Montgomery, Alabama to Denver, Colorado. The flight will be one hour and forty-five minutes. Smoking is prohibited during the flight. Please, keep your seat belts fasten at all times and enjoy the ride." The captain explains through the intercom.

Somehow, Grady surprises us. "That was freaking awesome!"

We all stare at Grady, dumbfounded. Grady comes from a poor family. He has no siblings; therefore, he's the only child in the family. His father is a drug-addict as his mother left him. Throughout high school years, he lives with his mother and her new boyfriend, Glenn. Glenn is a good man to Grady. He treats Grady as if it's his son. Glenn is a police officer, so he works on the late shifts as well.

Grady's mother struggles with her job. She's an accountant at a local bank.

In the end, I'm just happy for Grady to find the perfect soul mate. Grady can explain to his children about how he landed on a hot wife or something. I think Grady will become a great father. He has the potential. He's a great guy. He's always there for his friends, when needed the most. He's the guy who will let any girl cry on his shoulder. Grady is the perfect guy for any girl.

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"This is your captain speaking: we have landed on Denver airport. Have a great holiday season." The captain announces, and at the same time, wakes me up because anything can wake me up very easily. Yes, I'm a light sleeper. Some people say that I snore, but honestly, I don't snore!

Slowly rising up from my comfortable spot, my eyes avert to the pillow that I slept on. Yes, I fell asleep on Nate's lap! My eyes widen - due to the fact - I was lying onto his lap the whole time. I'm scarred for the rest of my life! Nay, I'm already scarred for the rest of my life. I'm already sharing a room with a devil, and now, I'm sharing a deal with the devil!

"Ahem," someone clears his throat as it disrupts me from my rants. I look over and see Nathan stand there before me with worried look in his eyes. "Aren't you coming or are you going to be like Grady, being all fascinated by Rhiannon's family private plane?" Nathan explains.

I nod my head, vigorously. I slowly walk towards Nate's lean body and proceed to exit out of the plane while Nathan follows. "So, do you think my lap was comfortable for you?" Nathan whispers into my ear. A set of tingles goes through my body, just the same as this morning.

Goddammit, this boy is so frustrating!

"Ha, you wish Hampton." I seethe. Nathan's chuckles echoes through my brain as it increases the heart rate inside me. I can sense pebbles of sweat, forming onto my forehead. However, I force myself to make it less noticeable. Moreover, I don't want it to ruin my makeup.

"Mm, I can sense that you're withering away from the truth and the lies." Nathan continues on whispering as we both stop our tracks, being left behind by Grady and Rhiannon. "Inna, I know you. Stop running away from the truth and tell me that you want me, just as much as I want you." Nathan presses his body against mine.

This boy is making it more complicated!

"You're still holding onto our past. You replay those memories that we shared together."

No, I don't want you, so go away, and leave me alone!

"Say it," Nathan continues, with his lingering words and hypnosis charms. "Say what you feel towards me. Say that you still love me. Say that you want to be with me. Just say it, and I will leave you alone, for good. If you say those words that I am asking, then I will postpone the deal and keep my commitment to vanish out of your life." Nathan finishes as he waits for an answer.

Come on, Inna; give the boy what he wants to hear. You want him gone, and he'll vamoose sooner than you know it. If you give him the benefit of the doubt, we'll be even. He gets what he want, and you get what you want. Tell him the truth.

I inhale, deeply, before proceeding. I turn around and make eye contact with his. "You listen to me, Hampton. You are wrong. I don't grudge against the memories that we shared. I don't love you anymore. I don't want to be with you, no matter how frustrating you are at times. I don't want you. I don't love you. I will never be in love with you, ever again."

Turning around, I replay the venom words inside my mind. Of course, they are lies.

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How can I be such a coward? I'm in Denver, Colorado, with the most gorgeous place to visit because of their beautiful scenery with the Rocky Mountains, covered in snow. The words that I said to Nathan, yesterday, is very harsh, and I regret it. I regret to this day that I spoke those awful words to him.

I promise myself that I will not give him the benefit to take control of me. He says that he will postpone the deal and leave me for good. Is that what I want?

Well, that's what I've wanted in the first place. Now, I'm not so sure. What if he's playing a trick on me? What if he's saying all that, just to make me believe that he will keep his words; yet, he will do the opposite? What if...What if he's telling the truth?

Ah, snap out of it, Inna!

Right now, us four with Rhiannon's father and her two brothers are in the living room, catching up with things. Rhiannon and Grady are sitting next to each other, holding hands. Her father sits across from them. Nathan is sitting on one chair, beside me. The two brothers are sitting on each end of their father. Rhiannon continues to brag about the wedding and how she plans it.

She mentions that I'm helping her with the wedding. She and I pick out the most beautiful décor for the winter wedding. She's also religious. She wants to get married in a Baptist church, where the choir sings, "Here Comes the Bride." She has an imaginary bubble inside that tiny head of hers.

Her wedding gown is gorgeous. The invitations are beautifully designed as well. Grady and Rhiannon has a tall wedding cake, which is beautiful. Rhiannon says that the wedding cake is Red Velvet. Yum, Red Velvet is my favorite!

Then, Rhiannon continues to babble about the orchestra and the choir in the wedding. I don't remember that we agreed to hire an orchestra and a choir! Nevertheless, this is Rhiannon's big day, so I won't try to ruin this for her. If this is her moment, then she deserves to be happy. She deserves a moment where a bride has the spotlight for a day. It's a moment that every bride to be cherish.

"Guys, it's time for dinner." Rhiannon's mother intrudes and calls to us. We all look at each other and leisurely walk towards the dining hall. Yes, Rhiannon's family lives in a huge house. This isn't even their first house! It's their third or fourth? Ugh, I forgot.

Anyways, they are very wealthy to maintain four houses. She's richer than me. I only have two houses. My first house is mainly where my family and I stay, which is in the Southern part of Arkansas. Yes, I live in Alabama, now, with my two best friends, but before we moved, we all lived in Arkansas, especially Nate.

Nathan is from the northern part of Arkansas. He says that he's from Fayetteville, Arkansas. I know that's the hometown of Arkansas Razorbacks, and that they have beautiful mountains there. It's also the place where Nathan took us for our one-month anniversary.

My second house is in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I just haven't mentioned this to anyone because I don't like to gloat about wealth and such. I'm not that type of person. I hate to brag about myself and boast about the things I have. No, I'm the type of person who is well-grounded and isn't afraid to strive for what she wants.

"So, Nathan, how do you know my daughter?" Rhiannon's mother asks, while she cuts the turkey, which is placed in the center of the dining table. My eyes avert to Nathan, waiting for him to respond.

"I've dated your daughter's best friend, four years ago. Somehow, I came back to see Grady, my best friend, and he asked me to be his Best Man for the wedding. Then, I finally met your daughter the day I came to visit Alabama." Nathan explains, forming a sincere smile.

Mrs. Evers nods. "Well, Inna is a great girl. She's an honor student, and she wants to succeed in medical school, perhaps." She continues. I feel so ashamed to be the center of attention, now.

"Are you still planning on going to medical school, Inna?" Mr. Evers approaches to me.

"Oh, yes sir." I keep my answer simple and coherent.

Mr. Evers proceeds. "Have you made your decision to what you want to become, such as a pediatrician or a surgeon?"

I shake my head, vigorously. "No, I'm thinking of becoming a therapist."

"Oh, that's nice to hear. So, you want to be a physical, an occupational, an assistant, or a speech therapist?" Mr. Evers continues with his survey.

God, can I not be on the spotlight today?

I take a sip of my ice water. "Um, I was thinking of physical therapy, but if my plan falters, I might switch to occupational."

Nathan gives me an aroused look upon his face. I know what that face expression means.

♠♣♥♦

After dinner, I help Mrs. Evers and Rhiannon with the dishes, as the men goes outside and chats. It's good to spend quality time with the girls. I think I have enough torture, being around Nathan Hampton for a couple of weeks. I know that he and I are part of the wedding, but I definitely need a break from him.

Mrs. Evers turns on the water as she rinses all the dishes into the sink. Rhiannon takes out the rubber gloves since she is scrubbing them. I get the dishtowel because I'm the one drying. See, it's a working process. I know that women get along better, because we understand and cooperate with each other. On the other hand, men are so confusing, we have to go to NASA and see what technology they created for us.

"So, are you and Nathan back together?" Mrs. Evers asks.

"No ma'am. We're not."

"Oh and why is that?" she asks, again.

"Well...it's sort of complicated..." I trail, biting onto my lower lip. I know how much it turns Nathan on when I bite my lower lip. He says it's a trance or something towards him. Honestly, I'm trying so hard to force myself into not doing it in front of him. I don't want to give him the wrong impression.

"Sweetie, you don't have to explain." Mrs. Evers lets out a genuine smile.

Then, why did you ask?

I give a confused look. Mrs. Evers giggles and gently places the dishes onto the other side of the sink. Giving it to Rhiannon, she proceeds on scrubbing the remains out of the dishes with her sponge.

"I can see it in your eyes, dear. You love him, I know. You loved him before, and you are still in love with him, now. He still has feelings for you, as well..."

How does she know?

"...I know it because I had that look when I first met with Rhiannon's father. He and I went through what you're going through. Sure, it wasn't a summer romance, but it was so memorable. I met Rhi's dad when I was your age. We met in college, started dating, and had the best Christmas together. Months went by as it somehow drastically ended us. He broke up with me because of a stupid reason. I still don't know what it was about, but I know it was stupid. Yes, I was hopelessly devoted towards him. He broke my heart. I was stubborn as you. A year later, we bumped into each other. I hated his guts for a while. Then, something happened. The same spark appeared and we started dating, again. Then, we got married and raised a beautiful family, together." Mrs. Evers finishes explaining her love story. Wow, for an older person, she and I can relate.

"So, do you think that Nathan and I will do the same?" an eyebrow slowly arches upwards.

Mrs. Evers giggles. "If your heart is telling you it's meant to be, then it's meant to be. If he starts seeing that, then everything will start falling into place. Trust me, dear. It's hard to accept the truth at first, but it will get better, eventually."

"Wow, Mother, that's the best advice I've ever heard!" Rhiannon interrupts, while placing the soapy dishes into the other side of the sink. We all laugh and continue chatting about random topics, which pops into our minds. Mrs. Evers loves to hear our stories when Rhiannon and I were in high school. Rhiannon will mention every bit of detail.

She will also bring up those memories she have with Grady.

She also will bring up those awful dates she had with her previous boyfriends.

"Well, we better head upstairs and get ready for bed. It's getting late." Rhiannon announces. We all agree to Rhiannon's proposal and start getting ready for bed. The boys are still outside, but Mrs. Evers somehow gets their attention. Sure, men always complain, but eventually, they'll listen.

Suddenly, Mrs. Evers snakes her arm around my waist and whispers. "If you ever want more advice, you may always come to me. I'm sure he's waiting for you to make the next move, but it will definitely be worth it, if you do."

I come to a halt and blankly stare at her. "Are you sure? Are you sure about all this because I'm deathly afraid." I say truthfully. She looks at me with a sincere look. She nods and smiles.