AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Oregon.
Chapter three
Natalia
Twenty-Three Years Old Six Months Later
“HappyBirthday,babe,”Greysonsays as he kisses my cheek, placing the last course of our meal in front of me. We are at my apartment with our friends, eating a three course birthday meal that he prepared for dinner. He made my favorite salad, an amazing brisket, and then some dessert he said was a surprise.
“Thank you,” I smile and look down at the cheesecake he placed on the table in front of me. It’s a strawberry cheesecake, my absolute favorite. My smile falters, and my heart pangs when I see the words ‘Happy Birthday, Stel’ written across the plate above it. The last time I was served cheesecake with writing on it was when Declan proposed.
Suddenly, it’s like I’m transported back to that night watching the memory in real time.
“I don’t think I can eat anything else,” I say, leaning back in my chair and placing a hand on my stomach.
“Humor me,” Declan murmurs.
“Okay,” I say, confusion heavy in my voice.
A few moments later, the waitress sits a slice of cheesecake down in front of me. Looking down at it, I raise my eyebrow while reading the words written in chocolate on the plate. ‘Marry Me?’
I look back up at Declan, who is smiling. He stands and comes over to my side, before dropping down on one knee and pulling out a small red velvet box.
“Natalia, you were my very first best friend, my first and only love, and the one person I knew I could always count on. We may have lost our way before, but we made it back. I don’t ever want to be without you again. Will you marry me?”
I blink back tears as the memory resurfaces, and I feel my chest tightening.No, Natalia. Not now. Do not have this breakdown right here in front of your friends.I internally berate myself and shake the thoughts from my mind. It’s been six months since I’ve seen Declan, but not a day goes by that I don’t think of him.
It was my choice to leave, yes. But it was also his choice to betray me. The temptation to see him is almost overwhelming… I just can’t do that to myself for a third time. I can’t be hurt by his loss once again.
“Earth to Stella,” Anna, my best friend, says as she waves her freshly manicured hand in front of my face. Stella is the alias I’ve been using since I fled to Oregon all those months ago. It’s taken some time to get used to it, but it’s been six months, and I’m barely starting to get the hang of it. Seeing it now hurts, though. It is a constant reminder that there is a past I have to avoid. One that I desperatelywantto avoid.
“Sorry, An. I was just thinking…” I trail as I glance around the table at her, Greyson, and Anna’s boyfriend, Carson. “You guys are the best. I’m a lucky girl.” Although the words leave my lips, I don’t believe them.
“Oh, I have one more thing,” Grey says as he disappears into the living room. He quickly returns with a long velvet box. Handing it to me as he sits down, a large smile painted across his face.
“You didn’t have to get me anything,” I murmur, slowly opening the box. A gasp escapes my throat as I take in the beautiful diamond tennis bracelet. Unfortunately, this is nothing compared to the ring that Declan got me…
“The diamonds match the ones in your pendant.” He gestures from the bracelet to my ballet necklace. There is a flash in his eyes that I can’t decipher, one that makes my stomach clench in unease.
I pull the delicate bracelet from the box and hand it to him. Holding my wrist out, he fastens the bracelet around it with gentle touches, and I admire the piece as the diamonds glitter in the lighting.
“Thank you so much.” I reach over and squeeze his hand gently. We have been dating for a couple months now, and every time we touch I keep hoping for that spark. I’m slowly losing hope that I will ever feel that again.
The sparks died when my trust in Declan did.
After we finish eating and our friends leave, I’m standing in the kitchen doing dishes when Greyson comes up behind me. His hands slip around my waist and he kisses my neck. My first reaction is to recoil, but I’m able to keep the reaction at bay. The wetness left behind makes me internally cringe. The kisses are revolting, but I need to move on. His hands on my body make me want to shudder, but I am able to hold back the wince on it all.
I shake him off and plaster a smile on my face that definitely doesn’t reach my eyes. “Grey, I’m trying to do the dishes.”
“Don’t worry, we can continue later,” he says with a smirk, and pats my ass before walking into the living room. All I can do is stare at the space he left with disgust. I know we’re dating, but I just can’t see it. I can’t feel anything.I’m numb.
A few seconds later, the doorbell rings.
“Can you grab that?” I yell to him from the kitchen. My hands are deep in soapy water, and I can’t find my hand towel.
My back is to him when he comes back in the kitchen a few minutes later, and I hear him set something on the counter. “Who was it?” I ask, rinsing off a plate without bothering to look back at him.
“I think they got the wrong apartment, but the delivery guy was adamant that this was the right one. Do you know whatmo ghrámeans?” He asks, mispronouncing the nickname.
