Chapter 56: Chapter 56

Chapter 56:

Tatiana’s P.O.V

A couple days later, I was woken up from my peaceful slumber by a loud banging noise from my front door.

Instantly, I unwound myself from Damien and jumped out of bed and was rushing towards the closet to get dressed. Damien was still fast asleep on my bed and it was too late to hide him or wake him up without making a mess. All I could do was pray that it was only room service and not my best friends.

I walked over to the door cautiously and peeked through the key hole, but surprisingly, there was no one outside. So I opened the door a fraction and peeked out once again. Again, I found no one outside.

Opening the door fully, I stepped out into the veranda and looked around. The sight of the clear blue ocean water was the first thing that greeted me. It was a gorgeous, sunny day and several people were already out and about roaming the beaches or taking a dip in the sea. Maybe it had been a false alarm?

I was about to turn back and go inside but then something caught my attention from the corner of my eye and I looked down to find a small card lying on the wooden floor. I bent down and picked it up.

It was a tiny card with a small ribbon on it and I flipped it open to find Kendra’s hasty handwriting inside.

We missed clubbing Friday night. Let’s at least have our Sunday brunch together. We’ll be waiting at the beach cafe.

Kendra and Grace.

Our usual Sunday brunch? With a start I realized that we hadn’t actually had that kind of girl’s only time since...the past four months. Grace had started to leave early or skip brunches entirely because she often wanted to be alone with Daniel, busy as she was the rest of the week and with their wedding planning. That time it had been only me and Ken. We’d tried to keep up the tradition for as long as we could, Ken out of desperation to keep some parts of her life the same as it had been before Grace found Daniel and me because I didn’t want to be alone.

Folding the card back to how it was, I took it inside with me and decided to let Damien sleep in while I dressed for the beach. I was pretty sure that we’d be taking a dip in the sea later so I decided to wear a red and white striped bikini under a flowy, floral sundress that reached mid-thigh. Quickly, I brushed out my hair and decided to put it up in a messy ponytail before I went to the toilet to brush my teeth and wash my face. And then I dabbed plenty of sunscreen on my skin to protect it from the harmful UV rays.

When I was ready, I took a couple seconds to observe Damien as he slept on my bed. His dark hair was sprawled across his forehead making him look a lot younger than his age. I never really like it when men gel back their hair to create that sleek look. There was no doubt that Damien looked smoking hot in it, but he looked even better with dishevelled hair and the only time he lets ever a single hair get out of place was in the bedroom, when we get lost in each other.

I really had it bad for him, that much I’d already realized. Damien was more than just a great lover. He was also caring and kind. He did everything to satisfy me; he didn’t just take, he gave freely.

I walked out of the room on tiptoes and locked the door behind me. Putting on a hat to protect my face from the sun rays and some flip flops for my feet, I was off to the beach, in search of my friends. It wasn’t hard to spot them once I went to the beach restaurant. Ken and Grace looked like they were in some kind of a heated argument, which was pretty normal these days. Ever since Ken got married to Grace’s younger brother, she sometimes forgets to filter her words in front of Grace and it always results in an argument. Fortunately, Tory and Daniel have gotten used to it so they completely ignore their respective wives or simply, leave them alone to bicker it out.

I could already hear parts of their conversation as I neared their table, and by the looks of the people sitting on tables close to theirs, they were having a hell lot of fun watching the two bicker.

“...told you not to...”

“...one time thing!”

Oh no! You did this...”

“What? Why would I do...be ridiculous!”

“Guys!” I snapped when I was close enough to our table. “Would you mind keeping it down? Half of Hawaii has already heard your conversation and if you keep this up, the rest will find out soon enough.”

“Oh, hush!” Grace waved her hand in dismissal while making a face at Ken. “We weren’t that loud. And besides, if Ken could’ve kept her mouth shut, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Ken simply stuck her tongue out at Grace and folding her arms across her chest, sat back in her chair to brood. I took my seat and shook my head at the duo.

“Guys, I thought we were here to get some part of our old life back.” I told my best friends. “It’s been ages since we’ve had brunch together and look at the two of you! If you guys don’t make up in the next two seconds, I’m leaving.”

I even got up from my seat for added effect, but I knew my plan was going to backfire on me the instant I saw Ken’s face transform from grumpy to cunningly amused.

“Oooohh...” She cooed. “And go where? Back to your lover boi’s arms?” She wiggled her eyebrows at me and my jaw hit the floor.

“How did-“ I cut myself off before I could reveal too much, but it was already too late. Both Grace and Ken were now looking at me with unhidden interest. “You traitors!”

“I think the correct word would be...snoopers,” Ken grinned. “And honey, my advice would be, if you’re going down and dirty with someone in secret, try not to melt each other to the bone with your stares, that too in public.” She covered her mouth with her hand, as if trying to say some big secret and whispered, “Someone might notice.”

I slapped the hand away from her face as Grace doubled over laughing and Ken yelled, “assaulter” in between fits of laughter.

“So this was just a set up?” I frowned. “You guys called me here so you could trick me?”

“Sit down, Ty,” Grace motioned towards the chair. “We didn’t trick you. Ken really was being a dick, still is. We don’t want to snoop in, just thought we could get some girl time.”

“Fine.” I huffed and retook my seat, crossing my hands in front of my chest.

“I’m sorry, Ty.” Ken smiled at me sheepishly. “I didn’t want to snoop but you guys were just so obvious. Even the guys noticed it.”

“Daniel too?” I asked aghast.

“Yes,” Grace shook her head and answered on a dry note. “Especially Daniel.”

“What’s with that tone?” I frowned. “Is he mad?”

“Just the opposite, honey.” Grace said just as dryly. “He’s ecstatic. He thinks you two are perfect for each other.” Then she shook her head before looking at me with concern. “I don’t have a problem with that if that is what you want, Ty. But is that really what you want? Are you really alright?”

Just like Grace to be the mother hen of the trio. But it was at times like this that I really appreciated her being the mother hen, for caring enough to ask if we were alright and for looking out for us.

It was a question I found asking myself over and over again this past week. Was it really what I wanted? Was I really alright?

“Tatiana?” Ken’s sharp intake of breath and Grace’s sharp voice brought me back to the present and made me realize that I had tears in my eyes.

I wiped them away immediately but the traitors just wouldn’t stop falling. “I’m sorry, I don’t even know why...?” I hated it when my voice quivered and I hated it even more when the tears just wouldn’t stop falling. I was having a break down in front of my best friends and it couldn’t have happened at a worst time. I was ruining our vacation!

“Do you want to go somewhere private?” Ken was the one to ask. “My room’s empty since Victor and Daniel and out playing some games. Do you want to come?”

“Ty, I think we shou-“

“No, it’s okay.” I shook my head while wiping away tears with trembling fingers. “Here’s fine. I don’t think my feet can carry me anywhere.”

“Then tell us what’s wrong?” Grace pleaded. “We can’t help you if you keep everything to yourself! I thought we were best friends, family! Why are you always hiding things from us? First about Connor and now about Damien? Is he hurting you?”

“No! God, no!” I said immediately. “He’s been nothing but a gentleman! He would never hurt me!”

“Then why are you crying?” Ken asked, placing her hand on top of mine. “If everything’s alright between the two of you, shouldn’t you be happy?”

“I...I’m sorry...I'm just ruining your vacation...” I sniffled.

“Our vacation ends tomorrow, Ty,” Grace said, making me blink back tears in surprise. “And you always come first. We can’t be happy knowing that you’re feeling sad. So, tell us, empty your mind so we can help you.”

And so I told them. Everything that I had kept bottled up. I didn’t hide anything, not even the resentment I felt at Grace’s wedding. I even told her about mine and Damien’s no-strings agreement and why Damien was so intent on keeping things the way they were. And lastly, I told them that I had fallen in love with Damien and that I had no way of conveying my feelings to him. Neither Grace nor Kendra said anything throughout my whole babble; they simply held my hand and offered comfort. By the time I was done, I felt like a mountain had been lifted off of my chest.

“Do you feel better now?” Grace asked as she wiped a tear away from my cheek. “If only you would have told us everything beforehand then you wouldn’t have had to suffer in silence for so long.”

“And we aren’t just talking about Damien,” Ken said rubbing my shoulder. “If we had known about Connor too, then we could have helped you earlier. I knew there was a reason why I never liked that guy.”

“I’m surprised you guys don’t hate me yet.” I told them both, holding on to hope that I hadn’t just lost my friends.

“Of course not, silly woman!” Grace got up from her chair to come and hug me and Ken did the same. “We love you as our best friend, as our sister! There’s no way we can ever hate you!”

“Just like Grace said,” Ken told me as she embraced me from the other side. “We will always be here for you, all you need to do is speak out. We’re not Edward Cullen, love. We can’t read your mind. All you need to do is tell us how you’re feeling and we’ll be by your side! Now promise us that you’ll tell us the next time you have something on your mind.”

“Promise.” I nodded and hugged them to my sides. “Thank you so much, I love you guys.”

“Aww! We love you too!” For added effect, Ken kissed my cheek and snuggled up to me.

After that, we enjoyed a lovely brunch by the sea, enjoying delicious sea food and the company of my best friends, the sisters of my heart. The men didn’t bother us for the rest of the day and we were able to spend some quality girl’s only time. But when I suggested we spend the night together, they both shook their head.

“We leave tomorrow; it’s the last night you get to spend with Damien alone. Make the most of it.” Grace told me in the evening as we parted ways in the evening, right after dinner. “Make sure to tell him how you feel.”

“But what if it all turns out wrong?” I asked them, feeling scared and brave at the same time.

“If the sucker doesn’t see what he has then he probably doesn’t deserve you.” Ken said immediately. “But don’t worry about it, just hope for the best.”

“I will. Thank you.” I told them.

“Anytime!” They said and waved goodbye as the left me near my cottage and went over to theirs.

This was it. Tonight was the night that decided where we were heading. If he says yes then I’d be the luckiest girl alive! But if he says no...I shook my head. Think positive Tia! Think positive!

Little did I know what awaited me that night and what was to come ahead as a pair of eyes followed me with hatred.