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My sister, Ava, is staying for a few days. She’d gotten into NYU and completed a business program. In the last four years, she started a new Instagram account and grew it from nothing to over a million followers. When it comes to social media, she is a master and has only just started her own business. Of course, Dad had to put his two cents in. He may not be one to scroll a feed, but he knew an opportunity when he saw it.
“Millie?” Ava calls softly.
“Hmm,” I hum, removing my clothes from the box and hanging them in the closet.
“He’s back.”
I turn to face her, my head flinching slightly. “Who’s back?”
Ava’s eyes turn bright, the emerald green shining back in a longing stare. Her lips remain flat, her expression of concern. I turn back around without saying a word.
Quickly, I dig my hands inside the box and fill them with more clothes, taking them back to the closet, where I hang them in silence. As I arrange them by color, I try my best to distract my thoughts with something more positive, like the diamond ring shining back at me.
“I don’t know anything else,” she confesses. “Or why he’s back.”
I clear my throat. “This was his home. He was bound to come back one day.”
“True, it’s just kind of a coincidence that he came back not long after you got engaged.”
I don’t know how to respond to that. For the longest of time, I had buried my thoughts of Will Romano. Occasionally, when they resurfaced because I walked past Times Square or heard a particular song, I would shut down the reel of memories because it was a slippery slope to self-destruction.
It would then open up my own questions, was he in a relationship? Or was he possibly married? Though I would think something as big as that would have leaked to me. For the most part, no one ever mentioned his name. Even Uncle Rocky, on the times we caught up, never spoke about his son. Not even in a joking matter.
It’s almost as if we never fell in love.
“Ava…” I warn her, not wanting to discuss this further.
“Look, Millie. I think you should know he saw my story. The one I put up of your hand, with the ring.”
My head turns before my body, like those possessed dolls you see in horror movies. “What do you mean he saw your story?”
“He saw my story. It showed me that he saw it.”
“I told you not to post any pictures!” I yell, folding my arms in frustration.
“I know.” She raises her hands in the air, surrendering. “But it wasn’t your face, nor the photo of Austin on one knee. Besides, what does it matter?”
“Because…” I trail off, unable to say the words, yet Ava waits patiently for me to respond. “I didn’t want him knowing.”
“What difference does it make? You love Austin, right?”
I nod, unable to look at her.
“So, what’s the big deal then?”
I take a deep breath, ignoring the pang inside my chest. It’s been four years. Four years can feel like a lifetime without someone, but at the same time, ample time to move on with life. I knew nothing of his life except that he lived in London and became the billionaire he always wanted to be. Aside from that, his personal life remains a mystery. I never caved and googled him, knowing that pictures of him with other women would still hurt, especially if those women were his age.
“If the roles were reversed, I guess, it would be hard to learn he is getting married.”
“Millie,” Ava says, placing her hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay to still have feelings. You were in love with him.”
“I don’t have feelings for him.” I glance at her, my smile fixed and unwavering. “We were over a long time ago.”
Ava doesn’t press further, switching the conversation to something less serious. She knew me well enough to leave it alone, and carried on about this guy she is seeing, yet thinking of ending things because she’s bored.
“I mean, this whole spark thing, I can’t say I’ve ever felt it,” Ava admits, plopping herself on my bed and staring at the ceiling. No surprises, she gave up on helping me unpack. “What if I can’t ignite a spark? Maybe, I’m more of a realist.”
“You haven’t found the right person, that is all.”
