I’d always been with her, even when she didn’t know. Everything I’d done was so that she could have the best, yet somehow that night, I left her in ruins.
I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.
“The next time you see me, Angel, there’s no slowing down or turning back.” I stroked the colors of her beautiful hair. “You’ll be melting in my arms. You’ll finally know it’s the only place where you belong. I’ll make sure of it.”
Chapter12
Lina
My seventeenth Birthoween—like Nicky liked to call it—couldn’t come any slower.
When we used to live at Bellomo, I never waited or cared for my birthday. Being born, to a father like mine, wasn’t something to celebrate or be happy about. Besides, everybody was busy with Halloween costumes and silly pranks. It was one of the few days they got to leave campus. Nobody cared that it was my birthday, too.
Except for two people. Nicky…andhim.
My sister would always bring my favorite cupcakes, chocolate with rainbow frosting, and we’d devour them along with whatever candy our friends would donate to our party for two at the dorm. She’d give me her present. Then we’d go for a walk and watch people have their fun. We never joined, though. Wearing scary costumes, watching horror movies, telling scary stories weren’t our thing. We’d had enough horror to last a lifetime, and I knew Nicky wanted to make that day all about me. A celebration of the living, not the dead.
Then I’d go home and findhisgift on the bed.
This year was different. Nicky took me out to an expensive restaurant where her new friends at college once had invited her. The place was far more elite than we’d ever be. One look at the menu, and my heart shrank. A meal here cost more than what we both spent on food for a whole month.
When I looked at her, moon-eyed, she just giggled and told me to order whatever I wanted. This birthday was special because we were finally free to do whatever we wanted. We were no longer locked in a boarding school with a curfew.
I did as she asked without arguing so I wouldn’t disappoint her, but I didn’t want any of that. It seemed like I didn’t appreciate my freedom as much as she did. I’d happily go back to Bellomo. At least,heremembered me there.
It was pathetic by all means. After the awards ceremony, I was mad and scared. I’d spent weeks looking over my shoulder, having a mini heart attack every time I opened the closet or the locker or the bathroom. I checked my nanny cam feed around the clock. I looked under the bed every night like a child before I managed to sleep. I was living in a constant state of fear.
Then months passed, and the fear changed into something more awful when I realized nobody was watching me anymore. There was no sign ofhimanywhere.Hewas gone. And I was no longer afraid. I should have been happy, at peace, able to return to my fear free life, but I was angry and miserable thatheleft.
Because I fucking missedhim.
Pathetic and stupid and crazy and awful, but I couldn’t help it. I missed my murderous stalker who wanted me as his fucktoy.
“Why aren’t you eating, Lina?” Nicky asked with a mouthful of steak.
I stared at my plate of salmon pasta that I barely touched. I didn’t have much of an appetite. I just wanted my cupcake, and the reminder thathedidn’t forget me.
How couldheabandon me just like that? How couldheforget all about me all of a sudden whenhedid everything to carvehimselfin my memory forever?
Part of me—all of me—had been waiting for today because maybe, just maybe, when I’d go back home, I’d findhisgift on the bed. I’d know thathedidn’t abandon me. I’d knowhestill cared and remembered.
“I’m sorry, Nicky. I’m just not that hungry.”
“It’s okay. Save room for dessert. That you’re eating. You can’t say no to cupcakes.”
I managed to smile. “Now you’re talking.”
She gestured for the waiter, and he brought the chocolate with rainbow frosting cupcake, a candle in the middle. He lit it and wished me a happy birthday before he left.
Nicky sang for me and asked me to make a wish. I blinked for a second. I didn’t make wishes. I wasn’t a girl that her wishes came true. Not even when that wish was as twisted and crazy as wanting a psycho stalker to break into her home.
But I did anyway, wishing for what no normal person wished ever, and then I blew out the candle.
“I won’t ask what you wished for so it’ll come true.” She winked and waved for the waiter to bring the check.
“It’s been taken care of, ma’am.” He smiled and wished me a happy birthday again.
Nicky frowned at him. “What do you mean? Who took care of it?”
