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"Ria, do not be foolish. It is just a candle. I know how much you love them, so let me get it."
I angled my head to the side and pointed to his hand. He was holding three bags of items he’d bought me throughout the day.
"That Tommy Bahama bag has more than just a candle in it. So does the Sephora one."
"So?" He appeared truly confused.
"So? So stop buying me stuff. Just because I say I like something doesn't mean you have to buy it. That's a lot of money right there, and now you want to add more?"
His eyes softened and he gave me an amused smile. "Give me the candle, Ria."
"No."
"I like buying you things. It makes me happy, now give it to me," he said, but I stood my ground. "I will buy every single candle in this store if you do not give it to me." He waved his fingers for me to hand it over. His eyes glistened with humor.
I held it behind my back and Kova stepped toward me. "I don't even like it."
"You are such a damned liar—a horrible one at that." He chuckled, his eyes gleaming. I loved the playful look on his face. "Just give it to me."
Kova placed the bags on the floor then leaned in to me to reach around my back. I arched, trying to keep it out of his reach, and he pressed a kiss to my exposed neck. I tried to act firm on my decision, but my giggle gave me away.
"Don't be a dick, Kova. I don't like it—or you. Now go away."
"That is not what you said this morning…or last night," he growled in my ear, his hand on the glass jar.
I gave it to him willingly—more in fear that it'd fall on the tile floor and break—as he dropped a gentle kiss right under my ear again. His warm breath tickled my neck. Smiling, I curled into him. Kova hooked his arm around my neck and yanked me to him while his other hand was pressed to the small of my back. He laid a hard kiss to my mouth and just as I was about to give in, he looked up and froze in horror.
"Kova?" I tried to look over my shoulder to follow his gaze, but he swiftly spun around with me. I tried to look past him, but he blocked me.
"Adrianna," he said under his breath.
My smile faltered and my heart dropped at his grave tone. "What is it?"
Kova moved my sunglasses from the top of my head to sit on my nose. He corrected them, then said, "I need you to grab the bags, turn around, and go straight to my car with your head down. Do not turn back, just go and I will meet you there."
Alarm rang through my bones. I knew it. Something in my gut had warned me against coming here and now I knew why.
"What's going on, Kova?"
Kova stared down, begging me to adhere to his request. Reaching into his pocket, he handed me his keys. "Just listen to me, please. I will explain, just go to my car and wait for me."
Dipping my head slowly, I did as he asked. I reached down and grabbed the bags, then turned and quickly walked toward the exit. I could feel Kova's eyes burning on me the whole way, watching me. Just as I was about to leave, I pulled my sunglasses down just a fraction and drew to a stop to peek over my shoulder. I had to look. I needed to see what he saw, what made him go from teasing and fun to somber and serious. Carefully, I twisted around just enough to get a look.
My lips parted.
All sound faded around me.
I was numb, unable to move, unable to feel, unable to hear. I should've listened to him, because nothing could have prepared me for what I saw.
I could only stare at the couple embraced behind Kova. So in love and so…
My dad.
And my mom. My real mom.
I couldn't see her full face, but I'd met her once to know it was indeed Sophia. In my heart I knew it was. Her height and hair were similar to mine, and we had an almost identical body shape, only I was much thinner than her. Sophia turned to the side and Dad gave her a kiss on her cheek. They looked up at each other, so in love and so normal. I was stuck for a moment at the simplicity of them, and the blow of betrayal booming through me. I knew Dad was divorcing Joy, but I didn't expect him to be with anyone else, especially not my biological mother. I thought he only gave her updates about me. This was not that. There was a familiarity and understanding with her that came over time, not overnight.
My heart ached, shattered with lies and deceit. With Kova's subtle waving urging me to leave, I turned away and walked out.
