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My jaw dropped. It was a diamond necklace with a pear-shaped ruby pendant hanging in the middle.
“Oh, my God! Noah, I…”
“Turn around.”
Facing the mirror, I stared at my reflection.
He stood behind me and removed the choker I’d had on. Tonight was the first night I wasn’t wearing that leather wristband he had given me a month ago.
“This must have cost you a fortune!” I gently brushed my fingers across the sparkling stones.
“Don’t worry about that. Your value has no measure.” He smiled. “You are beyond limitation.”
I felt like crying, not because I had thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry around my neck, but because he loved me enough to spend so much money on me. My stepdad always had a hard time giving me loose change to spend on things I liked when I was little. I remember when we used to gogrocery shopping, we would always pass these toy vending machines filled with plastic capsules full of cheap costume jewelry. I often begged him to give me money so I could get the princess necklace I’d wanted for a while. The frugal bastard couldn’t donate a measly fifty cents. He would always rage and get grumpy when I’d ask for things he couldn’t afford. A good parent would gently explain their financial situation to a child, or calmly tell them “no” and give their kid a short time out if they throw a tantrum.
Early in life, I learned to stop asking for my needs and wants, because I already knew how the monster would respond, anyway. Yes, the “princess necklace” was nothing great, and I probably would have thrown it out later, but it would have made me happy at thatage. Rob would have made me feel loved if he’d only cared enough to nurture my self-worth and not stomp on it. I’m not saying that a person’s value is defined by how much money they possess, but from a child’s perspective, if a parent cannot afford to buy them something they want, then there are better ways to make them understand that money is tight. My stepdad had always yelled at me, humiliated me in public, and told me I was a dumb, spoiled little bitch who was going to burn holes in his wallet by the time I’d turn eighteen. At eight years old, his cruelty had done nothing for my self-esteem.
And now here I was, ten years later, wearing diamonds around my neck—and I didn’t even have to beg or ask for it. Sadly, Noah’s generous gesture would only be accepted for tonight. I didn’t want to keep that exquisite necklace. I planned to return his gift, put it back inside that black velvet box, and place it on his desk in his study before I’d leave tomorrow. I wouldn’t take the things he had bought me. All my expensive designer clothes, accessories, brand name bags, shoes… everything would stay here in this house, like a showroom put on display at a furniture store. All this stuff represented memoriesof him, and it would hold a constant haunting presence if I took a single item with me. I was sure it would hurt Noah, but I planned to leave him a note to make him understand; hopefully, he would.
Making several attempts, I tried to write my farewell letter. But whenever I got to the part where I wrote, “Don’t come for me. Don’t look for me. Don’t think of me.” I ended up scrunching up the note in a paper ball and scrapping it because I’d panic, get frustrated, and cry. I didn’t want him to forget me. I didn’t want him to live his life as if I didn’t exist. I wanted Noah to come after me like the way Jerry Maguire did when he realized Dorothy completed him. I’d stare into Noah’s misty blue eyes the same way Renee Zellweger did in that movie when she pulled off the most epic line in that scene.
Okay, maybe I wouldn’t phrase it exactly like she had, but I truly desired a monumental declaration of love that would take our relationship to the next level with no fears, reservations, or guilt. I wanted Noah to realize that I had completed him.Love Potion No.9perhaps? Hmm… only in Hollywood. Unfortunately, making him fall for me would not happen, and that was a harsh reality I had to accept.
“You look deep in thought,” he said, massaging my shoulders. “What are you thinking?” His voice sounded soothing. I loved listening to him talk.
“I’m admiring this necklace. It’s so beautiful.”
“Youmake it look beautiful.”
We locked eyes in the mirror, and I wanted to shy away when he closed the space between us and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“I’m so proud of you, Aria.”
The pink blush that had spread across my face darkened to a plum color when he kissed my cheek. I didn’t want to get so emotional, but I couldn’t help it whenever I was around him.Tonight was going to be the last time I’d ever see him again. I didn’t want him to find me. Our separation would be difficult at first, but I prayed it would get easier. Time heals all wounds, and I had to believe it would heal the ones that Noah Hunter had left in my heart.
Studying him through the mirror, I said, “You look as ifyou’rethe one who is lost in a mist of memories.”
“I just wish I was there during your early years. Then I could look at you now and say that my little girl is all grown up. You grew up without me, and regretfully, I was never there.”
“It’s okay. It doesn’t matter now.”
It felt like an instinct to console him. This was the first time in weeks that we’d actually touched and now that he was holding me, I didn’t want him to let go. I wanted to enjoy it for as long as I could before my heart would ache from the loss of contact.
Staring at our reflections, I listened to the music playing in the background. I felt so connected to Noah through music. Every lyric always seemed relatable to us. Some people wear their heart on their sleeve, but I’ve always had a way of expressing how I feel through music. Sometimes all you need is one perfect song to express exactly how you feel when words escape you.
“How did you get to be so beautiful?” He touched my shoulders.
“I guess I can thank your genes for that.” I replied, staring into his arctic eyes.
“No.” He shook his head. “Thank your mom. All your beauty is from your mother’s side. She was the hottest girl at my high school.”
“What was your prom like?”
“You don’t want to know. It was full of um”—he paused—“wild excursions.”
“Did that involve Mom?”
“Yes.”
