Lured into Love (Blossom in Winter #2) - Melanie Martins Page 0,72
of ours. She’s part of our group at Columbia, which includes her, Katrina, and David. Why?”
“You spent the entire summer with her. Is she your girlfriend?”
“I, um… well…” Damn it! Did he check my credit card statements? Might be the flights I booked to Hawaii with her. “She is a friend with benefits,” I tell him.
“So you guys just fuck?”
“It’s over now,” I lie. Crap! I shouldn’t. I’m actually seeing her tonight. What if he finds outs? “I mean, we do see each other casually. But it’s just sex, you know.”
“And how does Sarah feel about it?”
“Oh, she is cool with it. She’s actually the only one who knows about my feelings for Petra.” I bite my tongue. Fuck, I don’t think I’ve admitted that to him before.
Her fiancé obviously heard me very well and asks bluntly, “So you love her?”
“I… um, well, that’s quite a private question…”
His chin slowly dips, and he gives me a solid stare. “Matthew, cut the bullshit.”
“I’ve got strong feelings for her, yeah,” I confess, throwing all secrecy out the window. “Not sure if I can call it love, but yeah, I care about her.” Letting out a sigh, I then add, “No one knows except my Pops and Sarah. To everyone else, we are just vegan besties.” I can’t help but crack a smile remembering when she gave us that nickname. “But why are you asking me all this?”
“I'm moving to Singapore in a few hours,” he announces. And his tone is enough to make me freeze in my seat. “So I need to make sure she’ll be alright once I’m gone.” I put down the cutlery and take a sip of my smoothie, trying to disguise my smile. Is he really leaving? Damn!
“Um, sorry, but why are you leaving?”
“That’s beside the point,” he snaps. “She’ll need friends around her. Friends that are a good influence and will keep her on the right track.”
“So, wait, does that mean you guys are gonna break up?” But he doesn’t reply. Instead, he just observes me as I finish the tortilla. Did I leave him mute? “Is she gonna be single or not?” I ask him again, my tone steadier. But Alex keeps looking at me. It seems like the question bothers him—maybe even more than he thought. After waiting a few more moments for his response, I ask, “Are you okay?”
He finally blinks, and as if it hurts him, he mutters, “Yes. She will.”
Chapter 19
Manhattan, September 19, 2020
Petra Van Gatt
“Petra…” I hear someone whispering in my ear. Then I feel soft kisses on my face and forehead as I mutter something under my breath. “Petra, wake up.”
“Mmmm…” I say in response, my eyes still closed as my body remains under the warm blanket.
“I need to talk to you,” the voice murmurs to me. “Please wake up.”
My mind slowly starts processing those words. I need to talk to you. And then the voice…
Jeez! It’s Alex! I wake up with a jump, startled by the revelation. Opening my eyes, I find him sitting beside me on my bed at Park Avenue.
“How did you get in?” It’s the first question that comes to mind.
“Your dad opened the door for me,” he replies, keeping his voice just as low.
Sitting up in bed, I turn on the lamp, which gives a cozy and gold-colored light to the room, and see it’s 2:30 a.m. on the digital clock lying beside it. Then I look at my fiancé, who’s sporting a slim white shirt, and I can’t help but notice how tight the sleeves are around his toned biceps or the way his chest flexes under the material. His face is overly serious though, his expression laced with severity and concern as he observes me.
“What’s going on?” My tone comes out a bit shaky, but my heart is already pulsing anxiously fast. The more I look at him, the more alarmed and worried I am.
“I’m moving permanently to Singapore.” His announcement is enough to make my heart fall to the ground. “I’m leaving in two hours.”
“Um…” I bat my eyelids twice, totally speechless. Then, after processing his words, I ask, “So… should I start packing some clothes? We’re going together, right?”
Alex gives me a quick smile, looking tenderly at me. “Oh, Petra…” His voice is loaded with sorrow, but he doesn’t say anything further. Instead, he takes my hand, giving it a long kiss that squeezes my heart even more. “Your life is here, in New York.”