Page 163 of Nobody's Girl

EDEN

I’m driving across the country to get Alyssa. The plan was for me to fly out in our private jet, take her to Maine for dinner after her parents told her of our destiny, then take her back to New Orleans with me.

All her school work is completed. She’s eligible to graduate a couple of weeks early. So that fact, along with the knowledge of her loving another, had me changing the initial plan. I’ll feel better if we can spend a few days together before I take her away from all she’s ever known.

Turning her world upside down is not a thing I want to do, but the time is almost here. Her world will be completely different and only I can help her through the transition.

Which reminds me, I need to call her parents to let them know the change of plans. I hit their number and wait to see which one answers. “Hello,” a feminine voice says.

“Toni, good afternoon.”

“Eden, so nice to hear from you.”

“I’ll be there tomorrow instead of next week. I’ve changed my mind about a few things, like driving up, instead of flying. The jet will come when I call Jeffrey. A few days together with Alyssa before she’s told everything might help her adjust better.”

The hesitation in Toni’s voice is clear. “Eden, it’s okay. You can do everything the same as you planned. She’ll be fine, I assure you.”

It sounds as if she cares more about my wants than Alyssa’s feelings!

“With the addition of a boyfriend who it’s clear she loves, I think it’s best to bring her into this in a gentler manner. Her heart will be broken when she has to give him up. The thought of bringing her pain, then making her come with me is too horrible. I want to win her affection and trust. I want her to choose me over him.”

There’s a pregnant pause before Toni speaks again. “She is yours, Eden. I’ll explain things to her, make her understand. This is our fault for not being more protective. You shouldn’t be dealing with this at all. We can make her understand.”

“Look, I appreciate you taking the responsibility for this situation,” I say. “But this is my fault. Letting you give her the first years of her life to be normal was a mistake. My mother told me to take her when she turned thirteen, but I refused. I wanted her to have a traditional life as much as you did. The hard fact is that leading a typical life means having relationships. Alyssa is completely average in that aspect.”

“Eden, this is not your doing. We had a job to do and we didn’t do it well enough. I can handle her. Don’t let this change anything you’ve planned. You’ve been planning this for years.”

“I have, but SHE is what matters to me. Not my damn plans. Her heart is more important than anything else. I can make her love me on my own. That’s what I want to do before you tell her what she is.”

“Of course, Eden. We’ll do as you ask. So what time can we expect you tomorrow?”

“I’ll be there around six tomorrow evening.”

“We’ll make dinner then. I guess we can say you’re one of our old friend’s sons on his way to Los Angeles to go to college. And you’ll be staying a week with us to visit. How about that, Eden?”

“That should work. So I’ll see you then, Toni. Goodbye.”

Lies! I hate them. To begin our life on them is nothing I ever intended to do. A necessary evil they are, though. I’m almost to Dallas, where I’m staying the night. One night in a lonely hotel room. After that, I’ll never have to be alone again.

All those nights I stayed at home while my classmates went on dates, doing normal things, I played video games alone. Watched movies alone. Laid awake at night, looking at the picture of my mate, and wishing I could call her.

To hear her voice would’ve been enough to get me to sleep. Those lonely days are almost over.

Too bad she’s fallen in love with someone else. Damn, this would have been so much easier. I’ll never understand all the things Our Creator makes us go through.

Not for me to know, I guess. I’ll make her love me. Perhaps the moment she sees me it will all fall into place. Our betrothal before birth was by The Creator, no less. Maybe I’m worried for nothing.

I hope so anyway.

CHAPTER 5

ALYSSA

English class was a snore today. I’ve finished all my work in every class. No finals for me as I’ve kept my grades up the whole year, leaving me exempt from them. Yet I still must go to every class with nothing to do. So I read books. I’ve read so many books in the last week.

I forgot to go to the library and pick up a new book yesterday. So I grabbed the one Mom’s been reading off her chair this morning—the one with the shirtless guy.

Crap, it is racy. What my mother reads makes me blush. The love scenes are quite graphic. The bell rings and I’m subsequently free to go home.