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Huxley drops his arm. “When are we cutting the cake?”
It’s clear he doesn’t want to continue the conversation, and it upsets me. It just reaffirms he doesn’t want a future with me. This is all just fun and games for him.
I keep my smile intact. “I need a bathroom break, and then we can cut the cake.” When I step back, Huxley starts to close the gap but stops. “Or you can go ahead and cut the cake without me.” I turn on my heels and walk out of the house, across the garden to the guest house. I open the door and slump onto my bed.
I count to ten, and when that doesn’t work, I take deep breaths. Nothing helps ease the rejection that stings in my blood. Tears brim in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I won’t cry for any man. The urge to kick off my heels and change into my pyjamas is strong. I pick up my phone to let Emery know I’m not feeling well, but my front door opening stops me.
“Did you make it to the bathroom?” Xavier asks.
I sit up. “Yeah. I needed a moment to rest. Have they cut the cake?”
“They’re waiting for you.”
I stand up and dust off my dress. “Let’s go.”
Xavier blocks the way. He closes the gap between us and takes my face in his hands. “I’ve waited all night for a moment alone with you.”
I hold his wrists. “We shouldn’t be having moments alone.”
He pushes my hair back and brushes his thumb over my earrings. “You deserve to be bejewelled in real diamonds. Ones that have a chance at comparing to how beautiful you are. Diamonds that have the same shine your eyes do. Stones that reflect as much light as you.”
“They’re waiting.”
He lets go only to dip into his inside suit pocket. “I came earlier to lend this to you. It’s the first diamond I made with my dad.” He hands me a small green velvet box.
I open it to reveal a dainty gold chain with a single diamond hanging. There’s beauty in the simplicity of it. My fingers run over the jewellery. “It’s beautiful.”
“It doesn’t compare to you.” He removes the necklace from the box and asks me to turn around. His fingers are gentle as he wraps it around my neck and clasps it shut. He turns me around and admires the small rock. “Perfect.”
“Thank you.”
“Nobody has ever worn it.”
I lean forward and place a soft kiss on his neck, just under his ear. “Let’s go.” I wipe away the lipstick and walk ahead of him.
It’s unjust I’m hurt by Huxley rejecting me when I’m accepting gifts from Xavier. But if Huxley gave mesomeindication of a future, I would choose him. There’s no denying my feelings for Xavier, but when at a crossroad, you choose the path that has fewer hurdles. Xavier and I have tarnished the future with karma by the choices we’ve made in the past. There’s only so long we can run from the truth.
The truth is like a mirror; every lie, big or small, leaves a crack. We hide from the truth because it’s easier to live in a lie. But life has a funny way of forcing you to look in the mirror. When that time comes for Xavier and me, will we recognise who we’ve become? Will we finally see how every fracture of our lies is mirrored in the hearts of those we hurt?
Xavier stays a few steps behind me all the way to the house. He lingers in the garden for a few extra minutes when I enter. I join the crowd in singingHappy Birthday. Huxley stands at the front, surrounded by his family, with a blank expression. When he spots me, there is a softness before it disappears.
Hadley calls my name before dragging me to the front with them. I’m squished between her and Huxley. I don’t have the courage to look at him, afraid to see the rejection in his eyes again.
But as always, Huxley surprises me by wrapping his arm around me and pulling me closer. He crouches slightly until his lips are at my ears. “One day.”
Two words. One promise.A million butterflies.
“Let’s get a nice family shot of you all to replace the old one in his office,” I say.
“You’re family now,” Isabella says.
I look at Huxley. “Maybe one day.” As I walk away, my fingers touch the stone that rests on my chest. No matter how right things feel with Xavier, it will neverberight. Even if he leaves Emery, the start of our story will catch up with us. You can’t expect good to come from something tainted from the beginning.
I stand at the front to listen and laugh as Huxley gives a speech he was forced into. That feeling of unease creeps into me again. I look around the room to see whose stare is burning into me, but everyone is focused on the birthday boy.
I jump when Emery suddenly appears next to me. “You scared me!” I chuckle.
She doesn’t laugh. She doesn’t even look at me. Staring straight ahead, she asks, “How long have you been fucking my husband?”
