by Eden Fortae
Pulling apart, Eden held Kya at arm’s length remembering the injury that had nearly stolen this moment from them months prior. A man behind her friend stepped into view. The way he stood and the way he stared once she found the courage to meet his gaze, had her squeezing her thighs together and wanting to run away at the same time.
His hair had grown since their encounter. The short flips were now ringlets a few inches long, tapered on the sides. His goatee covered most of his jaw, making him look more like a rebel than the man in a tuxedo. Lips that had touched nearly every inch of her body pulled at one corner. It was hypnotic. He was intoxicating. Once again, clearing her mind of everything but him.
Kya looked between them, her brows falling just as her lips parted. Had it not been for someone calling her name, there would have been questions Eden wasn’t prepared to answer. Thanks to the server with a gift box, there was a little more time to collect herself.
A giant diamond rested on a velvet cushion. The way it sparkled from a white gold chain was breathtaking yet, Kya was expressionless.
“Thank you,” gracefully, she nodded and shut the box. When she turned back to Eden, there was a hint of sadness hidden behind her smile. “I’m so happy to see you, Edy. When he said your name, I couldn’t get out here fast enough.”
“I’m happy to see you, too,” she looked down at their joined hands fighting tears, “I’m so sorry about Ms. Tam and everything that happened to you. I kept calling the hospital, claiming I was your sister, and flew in for a few days, but they turned me away. I should have been here. I’m so sorry!”
Kya cupped her cheeks, smiling tearfully. She was a real vision of strength. To Eden, she’d always been.
“It’s ok. You’re here, now. Just don’t disappear like that again. I have people who could track you down, this time.” Beaming at the man standing off to the side, she waved, “Speaking of, Eden, this is my babysitter, Donny. Donny, this is my childhood best friend, Eden. But I think you already knew that?”
“Actually, I didn’t,” Donny smiled broadly, “but it certainly is a pleasure.” As he took her hand and kissed the back, her skin tingled with the memory of those lips elsewhere.
Kya’s eyes narrowed, going back and forth between them, settling on Donny with a frown. “In that case, keep your Cortes charm away from my friend. I’ve grown to love you, but I’d still kill you.”
He grinned from ear to ear, still holding Eden’s hand, “You’re more perfect for Tonito than you realize.”
She scoffed and slapped his arm to break the connection, “As perfect as lightning and dead leaves.”
“Wildfires can help trees, provide a chance for a new life, and new generations. What seems destructive isn’t always. Sometimes, it’s what’s best for the future.”
Kya looked down briefly then off to the side. The moment it looked as if she were going to lose the battle, Eden took hold of one of her hands. It wasn’t hard for her to fill the gaps in their conversation. A relationship with a relatively famous contractor had Kya in the news more often than not. His reputation of being a supposed heartthrob one minute and then the proverbial bad boy made their romance one to follow. Even from states away, she could tell her friend was in love. Going off of Kya’s reaction, she still was.
“I’m sure you’ve heard this a million times tonight, but I am so proud of you. I got to see your dreams when they were on paper, and today, I witnessed them on a runway. Life tried to break you and stand in your way, but you fought your way through it, and for that, you’re my greatest inspiration.”
Kya began to tear up again and gave her hand a squeeze. Keeping with the theme of the night, a guard approached with a report of someone else seeking Kya’s attention. Armed with a camera, portable tripod, and nervous smile, the young girl nervously waited behind him.
“It’s going to be like this all night unless we go,” Kya looked to her apologetically and walked toward the pair. “Don’t leave, Edy.” She threw over her shoulder with pleading eyes.
The second she stepped away, Eden scanned the crowd beyond the rope looking for Chace. He mentioned meeting up with the model friend who’d provided their passes to this event. She’d left him immediately to find Kya with gratitude on her behalf. Being alone and so close to Donny, there was an overwhelming need to thank the woman herself, but it was pointless. The room was too active to spot Chace from there. In trying, she noticed Donny watching her intently.
“It’s impolite to stare.”
“It’s impolite to leave someone when they’re sleeping.”
“You kissed me.”
“We had sex.”
“We had a one night stand. We agreed to one night.”
“One night but not one round. You were supposed to feel me every time you closed your legs after we went our separate ways.”
The mental and physical reaction to that caught her off guard. The retort she prepared, useless. “Again, you kissed me. Kissing is a breach of the agreement.”
He smirked with one brow raised, “When did we decide that?”
“We didn’t have to because it’s common knowledge. Kissing is an act of intimacy and not what we were there for.”
Donny pulled his lips inward, nodding slowly. When he released them, there was only a hint of a smile. “You’re right.” In a few steps, he closed the distance between them and brought his mouth to her ear, “But when I had your legs over my shoulders, kissing that sweet spot between them, you were pulling me closer instead of pushing me away. I guess, the next time I go for your lips, I’ll be sure to add more tongue.” He leaned back enough for her to see him, “Don’t leave, Edy.”
He was gone before she had the chance to fire back, her mind gone with him. He stood by Kya alert and unaffected. Serious and sexy. Once again, he turned the tables, causing her grip to loosen, but she could resist. To rebuild her friendship, she had to.
It was hard to pay attention with Donny so close. His choice to sit at the next table to provide privacy was appreciated. However, he was still close enough to be distracting and somewhat nerve-wracking. He’d taken a seat right behind Kya on the other side of the table. His back was to the wall with a broad view of the lounge.
Under the blue lights in their corner, his features looked darker. The fingers rubbing the hair on his jaw drew her eyes there. Eden looked away frequently. She prayed her eyes wouldn’t stray his way, but they did. Merely looking at Kya meant seeing Donny, and while he was focused on their surroundings, Eden noticed him.
“Nice, isn’t it?”
“Huh?”
“This place. It’s nice, isn’t it? It’s owned by one of Antonio and Donny’s friends. Of course, I didn’t know that when I started working here.” With a roll of her eyes, Kya continued, “I just knew Antonio was stalking me when he popped up, but he claimed he was going to renovate it. I guess the only thing he was bullshitting was me.”
Eden caught herself looking at Donny again and shook her head. “You lived together. Someone that’s bullshitting you would never go that far, and they damn sure wouldn’t send you diamonds after things ended.”
Kya scoffed, stirring her drink with her straw, “The price of that diamond was probably nothing to him. He sent those things just to mess with my head.”
“Or to say he misses you,” Eden smirked then grinned as Kya rolled her eyes again.
“You don’t understand, Edy.”
“Oh no, I understand perfectly. He hurt you and never told you why. However, I’m on the outside, so I see what the pain won’t allow you to. A man that doesn’t want you won’t want a seat at your table and bitch, this man used bouquets—plural— of red roses and a moon rock to hold his. I don’t even want to breathe that badly.”
Kya shook her head again. She was in denial. After the way things ended and the events that followed, who could blame her?
“What about you? You always had some guy trying to get your attention. Now that you’re modeling, there has to be like ten.”
<
br /> “Zero by choice. It’s only about the fantasy for them. Nothing to fill diary pages with. Besides, my interest dies too quickly.”
Just as she said that she looked up and noticed Donny looking her way. Instinctively, she returned his gaze. For a few seconds, they stared, her cheeks flamed. By the time she managed to drop it, Kya had turned back and was looking between them for the millionth time that night. Instead of addressing it, she turned fully, sipping her drink.
“Are you going to see your parents anytime soon? Egypt and Eve?”
“Hell no. I saw them at Eve’s wedding the year before last, and the only thing I regret more than being a bridesmaid is not seeing you.”
Forever the sympathizer, Kya’s change in mood was evident. She always listened and made a few suggestions but never pushed.
“Things haven’t gotten any better?”
“Of course not. When I left, no one cared. Not until Eve roped me into the wedding, at least. I can’t imagine my pictures in lingerie changed their opinions of me. If anything, it gave them more need for distance.”
“Well, I’m proud of you. Not everyone can say they were in a magazine.”
“You can,” Eden smirked.
“I highly doubt my interview about wedding dresses, and my mom compares to your sexy ass pictures. You made that lingerie. On a runway next to a thousand famous designers, I’d know your work because of your love for the flapper and pin-up era. Feathers and pearls. Pearls are your favorite.”
Eden’s smirk fell into a genuine smile. “You remember that?”
“How could I forget? In seventh grade, we went to the Halloween dance at school as flapper bank robbers with cardboard cutouts of machine guns and white pillowcases full of fake money with dollar signs on it.”
Eden’s smile grew as she dropped her chin into her chest. “You’re the real MVP for allowing me to dress you like that.”
Kya waved dismissively, “The dress was super cute, and you gave my skinny ass a shape. You were good like that. You’ve always been good at making things better.”
The double meaning wasn’t lost. At that, Eden shook her head, her smile changing once again. “Until I run away and don’t even call when the most important person in our lives passes away.”
“I’m sure you had your reasons.”
Thoughts of those reasons ignited a familiar spark, from a cloud of darkness. “No reason will ever be good enough, Kya. It was selfish and—”
“You’re here, now. Right on time, and like I said, you always make things better.”
As Eden’s eyes welled, she chuckled, looking down to hide it. That helped minimize the guilt but highlighted the fact that secrets remained. A real friend wouldn’t keep them, and she was guarding a big one. As it stood, the woman she called her best friend had no clue what led to the events that separated them for years. At that moment, she was still too ashamed to share or reveal that she didn’t plan to stay in New York.
“I know at least five people who would say otherwise. One of them being a designer in Atlanta that wanted to pay me quarters and sign a non-compete clause.”
“Hell no!”
“Exactly what I said. Then she tried to blackball me. That’s how I met Chace. He took photos of her work until he overheard us arguing. He took those shots of me and submitted them to that magazine. We became friends and he’s been trying to help me since.”
“I am, too,” Kya interjected. “If these people want to be all up in my life, we’ll shove Treasures of Eden down their throats until they cough up pearls and feathers.”
“Treasures of Eden?”
“That’s the first thing that came to mind. You like it, I love it.”
“Who said I like it?”
“I did. Don’t fight me on this. It’s sexy. Sleep on it.”
“When the hell did you become so demanding?”
“I don’t know, but it’s either Antonio or Karrina’s fault. I’m almost positive it’s Karrina’s. I can’t wait for the two of you to meet. I have to warn you, though, you’re probably going to meet that entire family sooner than later, and they’ll claim you in the blink of an eye.”
Using the others in the lounge as a cover, she internally reeled herself in. Although speaking of the family was brief, the urges still surfaced. It started as a dull ache that became more painful with each thought. Closing her eyes, she tried to talk it down by thinking of Kya. Her friend was there, alive and well. If she could just focus on that, it would pass.
When she opened her eyes, they landed on Donny. He lifted slightly to retrieve his phone from his pocket, scrolled for a second, and brought the device to his ear. Within seconds he was smiling at whoever was on the other end and caught her looking. Relaxing into his seat, the course of his fingers going through his hair felt like an invitation. The wink that followed took her back to the day they met.
“Where’s the restroom?”
Kya pointed to the corridor on the other side of the crowded dance floor, “Walk that way, and you’ll see it across from the DJ Booth.”
Eden pursed her lips, nodded, and turned, intending to walk off calmly. Suddenly, Kya grabbed her hand, pointing to a tall man with milk chocolate skin, a wavy haircut, and a scowl.
“Jermaine, this is Eden. Edy, Jermaine’s the owner of Blue Jay, the one that never smiles, and the perfect person to hurt your feelings should you need it.”
“Nice to meet you, Jermaine.”
He hesitated, looking at her from head to toe. Unsure of what to make of it, she turned to Kya, who seemed surprised.
In rapid Spanish, Donny said something that resulted in a smirk and extended hand.
“Nice to meet you, too, Eden.”
She smiled as best she could and turned on her heels, needing relief more than ever as she caught the beginning of the conversation between the trio.
“What did Donny just say?—and don’t hand me that brother code shit.”
His laughter could be heard through the music, and then he answered.
“He told me to back off. She’s his.”
TWO
“Saw a picture of you with Kya. Why didn’t you tell me you were back in NY?! We should do lunch.”
No, the fuck we shouldn’t,” Eden mumbled, closing the text.
“Talking to yourself again, babe?”
“Yes and no. My sister wants to do lunch. The last time I met with her, I was dressed like a wax lemon and spent the entire night being called a jealous whore by women so old their pussies secrete dust.”
Chace looked up from his suitcase, biting back laughter. With his long, brown hair loosely hanging over his face, part of it was hidden. However, his dimples and grey eyes gave him a natural smile, destroying his attempt at seriousness. “It’s been almost two years. Maybe she genuinely wants to see you.”
Eden huffed, plopping down on the bed, “I can’t see why.”
“You’re her sister.”
“Adopted sister.”
“Same thing, babe.” He shook his head, tugging on the zipper.
“No, it’s not. The adopted part is important. They made sure I knew I wasn’t really family. Eve had her moments of kindness but few.”
“Which is why you should meet with her. Get everything off your chest before you go back to Atlanta.” Her lack of response stilled him. Sparing a glance confirmed that he was looking at her expectantly and with a slight frown. “You’re not going?”
“I don’t know,” she toyed with the loose thread from the snag in her sweater sleeve. Although Chace knew tiny pieces of her story, it was enough to look stare questionably. “I want to stay here and make up for lost time with Kya, but—”
“You know it’s not going to end well?” He concluded with a question he already knew the answer to.
She sighed, looking down at her wrist once again. “What if it could? What if I just focus on my friendship and my career? People live their lives every day without having to interact with their families. Why can’t I? I
can get an apartment in this part of town and not respond to texts or calls. Thanks to you and Kya, I now have pictures of a budding icon wearing my designs. It shouldn’t be hard for me to get picked up by a company. Until then, I can continue to push toys and book modeling gigs. I have one lined up already anyway.”
“You hate modeling.”
“But I love Kya, and I’m good at it. She’s worth putting up with pervy photographers and the sleazy comments.” At that, Chace frowned, placing a hand over his heart, falling onto the bed beside her. “Don’t do that. I’ve never even seen you flirt with your muses before, Kya.”
She caught him smiling before he quickly dropped it. “I’ve never seen you blush before the bodyguard.”
“I was not blushing.”
“So your cheeks just change color randomly and for no reason, now?” He teased with a nod and an expression suggesting his disbelief.
“Your nosy ass could have asked instead of assuming,” she bumped his shoulder. “Remember the one night stand after Eve’s wedding?”
“You’re shitting me!”The look she gave him caused hysterical laughter.
“This shit is not funny, Chace. Naturally, he wanted to know why I ghosted him but what you saw was a reaction to being beside a man I saw naked after I disappeared on him.”
“Was he mad?”
“Oddly, no. He seemed extremely confident that there’d be a next time.”
“And you don’t?”
“No.”
Chace started to laugh and caught himself. Pulling his lips inward, he eased off the bed, shaking his head. “Look, babe, I wouldn’t be your friend if I didn’t call you on your shit. I saw you sneaking glances at him just as I noticed him obviously watching you. There’s something there, and denying it now will just make things boil over later.”
“Even if it was more than attraction, you know I don’t do attachments. We’re going to keep it cordial and keep it moving.”
His smile was gone, but the amusement remained. “I’d bet you, but you need your money. I’ll talk to my dad about renting this place to you. He won’t charge you what most would, but this is still New York.”