✿ Aileen's POV

The next two hours feel like I'm in hell itself. Because even when Hernan tries to pull Reid away from Anika, she refuses and claws onto him like a cat. And it doesn't help that his parents arrive.

So I make myself useful by slipping off into the kitchen to be distracted. I wasn't going to touch any of the food to avoid that woman claiming I've poisoned it. I was just going to sit and watch the 'professionals' she'd hired to cater for the food, work.

“Lee. What are you doing in here?”

I look up and see Ellen smiling as she makes her way toward me. I smile back politely and shrug.

“Oh, you know...”

“Hiding from my aunt?”

“More like trying not to get in her way even if I'm seated ten feet from her.”

Ellen chuckles.

“I see. But maybe if you pretend she's invisible she'll not have anything to say about you.”

I shake my head.

“I seriously doubt that.”

She smiles.

“Well would you like to check on the preparations?” she gestures to the workers.

I scrunch up my face.

“God no.”

She pauses and furrows her brows.

“Is anything the matter?”

I fix my face.

“Oh, no, no, no. I didn't mean it like that. I just... I don't want to even go near the food so in case something goes wrong, I'm the one to blame for it.”

Ellen chuckles.

“Well trust me when I tell you you won't be blamed for it.”

I doubt Portia Dalton thinks the same.

“You should have been here to taste the cake last year, God” she scrunches up her nose. “It was beyond horrible.”

“I heard” I giggled, “But rest assured, this year it's not going to be like that.”

“Oh, I know. You did a fabulous job at my daughter's party.”

I smile. And speaking of the tiny devil, Maeve walks in.

“Mom? Anika's family are here and Grandma needs you—” she stops short when her mother steps away from me to turn around.  She frowns at me before looking at her mother. “I'll just tell her you're on your way.”

“Thank you darling” Ellen calls after her.

I shift in my seat.

“She's still mad from that day huh?” I ask.

Ellen sighs and fiddles with her earring.

“Not exactly. I'm sure she wasn't expecting any of us to find out how horrible she was to you and Lee, I am truly sorry for that.”

“No, no it's okay. I'm over that.”

Ellen sighs.

“Well, I'm afraid Reid isn't.”

I sit up.

“What?”

She nods.

“That's what she's most upset about. She and her uncle's relationship... well... it's not like it used to be. Heck, it's nothing like it used to be.”

Ugh, I gotta talk to him.

Ellen's phone cuts through my thoughts just as we hear her husband calling out for her.

“You should go on,” I say and she nods as she shows me her phone's screen that displays her aunt's name.

“It was nice talking to you Lee. Don't stay in here for too long okay? You'll miss out on all the fun” she tells me as she makes her way out.

“I won't” I call out softly after her.

It doesn't take five minutes before Anika steps in through the door, her dumb sister and her slutty cousin following.

Oh for the love of Christ.

“Maeve” I close my eyes and mutter under my breath before opening my eyes again. “Of course she did this.”

“Well, well, if it isn't the boyfriend snatcher” her sister smiles down at me.

I remain seated.

“Hush, Amy. Be nice” Anika smiles over her shoulder at her sister and looks at me, “We'd like three bloody Marys and a bottle of wine. Hurry up.”

I fight back a laugh.

“Do I bloody look like a server to you? Or do you need your eyes checked?”

Her smile fades and Pamela quickly steps up.

“Of course, you look like a server. Scratch that, you are one, and you don't need a uniform to prove it. Because you will always be below us. Now hurry up and get our order.”

“How about I hurry up and get you in order hm?” I smile and cock my head to eye her arms, “I see you've healed from last time. But I'm sure if you'd like a repeat of last time's event multiplied by two... I'm sure I can squeeze you in” I shift my gaze to Amy, “You too, little girl” I grin and stand up.

The two stiffen and inch back from Anika who has a scowl on her face. But she eases it away and smiles.

“Ignore her. She's all bark and no bite.”

“Oh, you wanna test out that theory, Nikki?” I step closer to her with a chuckle.

“Mm... maybe some other time. I need to get ready for my date with Reid.”

Her statement catches me off guard and my smile drops.

So it is true.

They were going out... today... together.

“You two are going out?” Pamela speaks up.

Anika's smile widens.

“Yeah. At Maison Rouge. I bought out the entire place so it's going to be just the two of us.”

And somehow that gets me to fix my face. There was no need to be upset over this. This was all for getting Anika away from her fiancé and honestly at this moment, the sooner she got on with it, the better.

So I can be rid of whatever feeling this is.

“Oh I'm sorry, Lee,” Anika says coyly, “You two didn't have plans did you?”

I inhale.

“No, Anika. We didn't” I match her obnoxious tone.

“Good. So this isn't a problem for you and it won't cause any problems in your relationship right?”

I smile a little.

“Why should it? If I was jealous of every woman he dines with, he wouldn't be in love with me, now would he, Nikki?”

Her eye twitches, making her smirk disappear. She opens her mouth but is not able to say anything. So she frowns a little and gives me a stiff, “Okay then” before turning away from me with her minions following.

I roll my eyes after them and rub at the burning sensation in my chest.

I need to get out of here.

And I had to. I couldn't take whatever this was anymore. I rub my eyes and thread a hand through my hair.

“Water. First I need water.”

So I move further into the kitchen to get some. And only when I'm about to move out of the kitchen, I nearly run into Reid.

Does this get any worse?

I avoid his eyes.

“What's going on?” he lets out.

I force myself to meet him in the eye and flash him a tight smile.

“How do you mean?”

“What's the problem?”

I drop the smile a little and shrug.

“Nothing.”

He looks displeased with my response.

“What's your problem, Lee? Why are you so distant?

I give him another shrug.

“Nothing. I just don't wanna get in the way. And if you ask me, me doing just that has made it all very peaceful, don't you think?”

He scoffs, a small frown on his face.

“I saw your reaction to Anika's hug. And about the flowers, it was my mother who sent them.”

And the date you're going on?

I shrug again.

“My reaction has nothing to do with anything. It's just cold out there” I lie.

“I thought you said you had a high tolerance for the cold?”

I rolled my eyes.

“Look, you don't owe me any—”

“Like hell, I don't, Aileen!” he snaps and I clamp my mouth shut.

He exhales, then threads his fingers through his hair.

“Look,” he lets out more calmly, “I don't like whatever this is Aileen. I really don't.”

“You don't have to like it Armnai, because it's nothing,” I say.

“Aileen.”

I sigh.

“I think you should go back out there, Armani. I'd hate to have your mother or anyone else accuse me of stealing the birthday boy away. When it's nothing like that. Besides you have guests who would want to wish you a happy birthday and shower you with love and gifts. So if you'll please.”

I don't wait for him to react to anything. I just sidestep him and make sure my arms aren't going to be in his reach for him to pull me back.

But when I look back at him when I'm almost out of the door, it doesn't look like he was going to pull me back anyway.

✯✯✯✯✯✯

I keep my eyes closed and my fingers a steady rhythm against his fur.

“What am I still doing here, Sirius? I mean the party isn't until tonight.”

But guests are already arriving.

Sirius shifts from his position on my lap and I open my eyes.

“Are nervous about seeing the vet? I mean I hate doctors too but I'm sure yours isn't as bad as mine.”

He just stares off into the distance and I smile.

“You'll be fine, you big baby” I chuckle to myself, still giving him the scratches he loves.

“There you two are” I hear Asha's voice before she appears in my line of sight.

I force a small smile onto my face.

“Hello, Lee.”

“Hi.”

She gestures to the empty side of the swing seat.

“May I?”

“Of course. It's your house” I say, gently patting Sirius' bum. “Scoot over, big boy” like he was going to.

Asha smiles and turns to stare off into the distance like I was.

“I hope I'm not disturbing you.”

I shake my head.

“No, no. I could use the company.”

And a good distraction.

“Hey, listen, Lee, about the last time we spoke—”

“Oh my goodness, no, no, Asha, please” I stop her. “I'm the one who should be apologizing for the way I spoke to you. I am so sorry.”

“No, hey. Your anger was very much justified, Lee. No one deserves to have that thrown at them. To be very honest, I was worried it might cause problems between the two of you, but I can see that's not the case anymore. You two are back together now and I'm super glad. I don't think I've ever seen Reid get so happy from looking at someone.”

I look at Asha and that's when I take in her look. Her black hair was very lengthy when she wore it loose, her lips she’d painted a deep red, and she was dressed immaculately, like a supermodel, ready for a photoshoot.

Yet it was all so easy and elegant, not pretentious nor uncomfortable looking.

Asha shifts to face me and takes my hands over where they are on Sirius.

“I'm so glad it's you, and not Anika, who brings out all these qualities in Reid a lot of us thought he didn't even possess. Don't get me wrong, I like Anika and all. But I like you more. You're real and normal. And you don't take anyone's bull... even Reid's... when it's thrown at you.”

I can't help but chuckle a little.

“I never thought I'd see Reid look the way he looks when he looks at you” Asha’s lips tilt upwards. “You make him happy, Lee. Which makes me very happy. So thank you.”

Guilt spears me. But before I can react or Asha says anything else, I hear an unmistakable shriek that belongs to Camari.

“Lee! And she's with Sirius!”

I turn, making Asha turn too, and it's Camari... with my entire family. Sirius lifts his head at the sound of the voices but doesn't move until Camari calling him again reaches his ears. The way he jumps off me and sprints toward Cami has me laughing.

“Well, that dog loves you and your family more than he loves mine” Asha chuckles, “And I don't blame him when Anika's always around us.”

I laugh.

“I thought you said you liked her.”

“I did?”

I laugh and Asha lets go of me so I can stand and greet my family.

“Oh Papi, you look nice” I tease a little.

“Bonnie forced me” he smiles, glancing over at his wife who was getting Camari off Sirius' back.

I chuckle.

“Who's Priyanka Chopra over there?” Matthew comes over and whispers to me, gesturing to Asha who remained seated on the swing seat.

“Reid's cousin. She's super nice. You weren't there the first time Bonnie and Tracy met her. C'mon, I'll introduce you.”

And I do just that. At that moment she was greeting the half of my family she hadn't met, giving them hugs and compliments, it was hard to imagine she was related to the Daltons.

She and Ellen were the only two who didn't seem disgusted by other human beings who weren't 'from the same class'. And speaking of Ellen...

I have to talk to Reid about patching things up with his niece.

As if knowing I was thinking about him, I spot him across the lawn. Sharply dressed and putting his sunglasses on.

Where is he...

But my thought is interrupted when I see Anika step right out beside him.

Oh hell...

She stands by the passenger door and looks expectantly at him. Reid exhales and opens the door for her. When she settles in, he closes it behind her. Then moves to his side to climb in.

Is he seriously going on a date with her?

The burning sensation in my chest returns as the sound of the engine reaches my ears.

He's seriously doing it.

“Lee” I flinch when someone touches me. “You doing okay?”

The pressure to shake my head and cry is strong but here and now isn't the place for it. So I force back my tears and nod.

“Yeah, Matt. I'm okay.”

He nods, smiles, and throws an arm around my shoulder.

“You know...” I tear my eyes away from Reid's car which still had the engine running, “Your fiancé's cousin is very pretty.”

I shake my head.

“Nuh-uh Matthew. Off-limits.”

“What? Why not?”

I just shake my head, my eyes involuntarily moving to Reid's car.

I'm supposed to be the one in there.

“... sexy and we're the perfect fit” Matthew's voice reaches my ears again.

“Lee?” Tracy calls out to me, “Fifi's here with your change of clothes. C'mon, let's get you dolled up.”

I shake my head.

“No, Tray. I'm fine with—”

“Absolutely not” Asha cuts in.

We turn to her.

“I'm sorry, Lee, but she's right. You need to get dolled up.”

“No, no. I don't feel...”

“But you've gotta” Tracy stops me. “C'mon Lee. You know you're not going to win here.”

“Tray.”

“Lee” she lets out equally exhaustedly.

“And I have a couple of dresses that are the wrong size for me, but on you...?” Asha pauses and French kisses her fingers, “... exquisite.”

“Ouu, show me” Tracy grins at her making Asha giggle.

“See? She's getting along with her future sister-in-law already” Matt whispers in my ear.

I can't even laugh because when I crane my neck to look again, Reid's car is rolling out of the house.

With Anika in it.

“Very soon. The vet's here and Reid's out so I gotta stay with Sirius” Asha says. “But as soon as the checkup is over, we're doing this, Lee, okay?”

I manage a small nod.

“Oh I'm sure Cami would like to be with Sirius too, if that's not a problem” Matthew speaks up, stopping Asha.

“Oh but of course not.”

“Great. I'll go get her” he smiles and moves away from me with Asha following.

I close my eyes and exhale.

“Lee? Is something the matter?” Tracy asks.

“No, no. I just don't feel too good that's all.”

“You wanna go get some air?”

“We're outside Tray. There's plenty of air here” I deadpan.

“Exactly” she folds her arms. “Which means this is a Reid problem.”

She's good.

“So... what did he do this time?”

“Nothing...”

“I thought we'd established the fact that a ‘you and Reid problem’ is never nothing? So talk, Lee. Please? And where is he? I haven't seen him since we arrived.”

I let out a shaky breath.

“That's because he's gone out on a date with Anika.”

Tracy stills, closes her eyes, then exhales deeply... her palms out the entire time. She opens her eyes and she looks calm.

“That son of a bitch!”

Or not.

“Tracy!” Nora scolds.

“Sorry!” she waves at her mother and drops her voice, “A date?”

I nod, lifting my eyes skyward to keep the tears from falling.

“Lee...”

“I'm fine, Tray. Let's go find Asha so you can doll me up.”

She holds me back.

“Where? Where's the date?”

“Some restaurant... Maison Rouge was it.”

“Good. I'll get the keys from Lan. Stay here.”

“No, Tracy” I hold her back in time.

“What do you mean no Tracy?” she frowns at me, “You're on the verge of tears. You need answers, and someone has to punch that bitch for what she did last time.”

“I'm not...” I brush the straying tears from the corner of my eyes, “I'm not crying. I'm fine. And I don't need any answer.”

“Well, humor me, Lee. God, I'm going to enjoy pulling her hair out!” she bares her teeth.

“Tracy” I sigh.

“Lee...”

“I'm fine. Just a tiny bit bummed. But I'm working on my attachment issues, I promise. I'm fine. Reid is an adult who makes his own adult decisions. If he wants to go out on a date with his ex-girlfriend, that's his choice. And what right do I even have to be mad at that? We're not even together for real.”

“So what? It's disrespectful.”

“It's fine, Tracy” I press. “Now c'mon. Let's go find Asha and get me dolled up.”

✯✯✯✯✯✯

✿ Reid's POV

From where I'm seated, I overlook the breathtaking landscape below and around me. The sun has just dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow across the sky. As I watch, the colors begin to shift and blend, painting the canvas above me with hues of pink, orange, and purple.

The air feels cool and crisp, and a gentle breeze rustles the leaves nearby. The world seems to slow down, and I can't help but be captivated by the beauty of the moment.

Lee would love it if she were here. But she didn't seem to want to be around me anymore.

Still, I take out my phone, ready to take a picture so I can send it to her when a white sequin gown blocks my perfect shot.

She just had to.

“I buy out the whole restaurant and you decide the rooftop's better?”

I lower my phone and put a tight smile on my face.

“You're back.”

“Yes. And I hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long.”

Another tight smile.

“No.”

She smiles and settles across from me.

“You're not going to ask who I was on the long phone call with?”

I look up from the picture of Aileen on our night out and sigh. Locking my phone, I set it beside me and lock my fingers together.

“Why are we here, Anika? And I know it's not for the view” I look out again.

“It most certainly is not. There's too much wind here. And it's too open. Let's go inside the restaurant, please? It's much more closed and... intimate.”

I don't bother to look at her.

“I'm enjoying the view, Nikki. You should too.”

She looks out and makes a face.

“It's too open, Reid. And I don't know you to like the open space—”

“Sky” I correct, “I like the open sky.”

“Whatever. I don't know you to like that. I don't like it. Too much wideness and breeze. It'll mess up my hair and you know how I feel about my hair. And what if it rains hm? My clothes... I got this dress custom-made by a designer in Switzerland. I can't risk having... rain... ruin it.”

I can't hold back the chuckle that comes out of me and Anika smiles.

“Right? It'd be awful” she chuckles along. “Open sky” she adds, shaking her head, “Ridiculous.”

I flex my jaw.

“So, first thing's first...” Anika reaches beside her and pulls out a book, “Happy birthday. It's from Maeve. She asked me to give it to you because she wasn't sure how you'd react.”

I take the book from Anika and open it. Then I chuckle.

“The Little Prince...” I close the book and tap on the blank cover, “I used to read it to her when she was little.”

I watch Anika for her reaction but there's none. She's staring at her phone's screen. When she notices I'm watching her, she smiles.

“You're not seriously still mad at the child, are you?” she asks. “She only did what she felt was right. And I don't blame her for wanting to get rid of that woman and protect her Uncle. She was only looking out for you Reid. And you're supposed to take her side. She's your family. And family is supposed to have each other's backs. Isn't it?”

I had her back with her sleazy fiancé and what does she do to mine?

I don't comment. Anika shakes her head with a smile.

“I'll text her and let her know all is forgiven.”

I scoff. She taps into her phone and then puts it aside to beam at me.

“And this is from me” She brings out a small box from a gift bag. “Happy Birthday.”

I take the box with that same tight smile on my face.

“I wonder what it is,” I say, getting Anika to giggle. I push the ribbon aside and open it.

“Surprise!” she cheers. “It's the latest design. I know you love it” she concludes.

I look at the Rolex watch in the box.

“How nice of you, Anika. Thanks.”

“Of course, Reid” she reaches out to touch my hand, “You know I'll do anything for you. That notwithstanding, my offer from last time still stands.”

I scoff and take my hand away from her.

“You know... I'll be honest. I feel like you followed us to the resort just to drive me up a wall.”

“That was purely coincidental.”

“Right.”

“And you're getting that way because I broke up with you and got engaged to him” she smirks.

“Yet, you're begging to come back to me?”

I catch her flinch before she hides it behind the glass of wine she picks up and drinks.

“Because I want what you have with that woman.”

“No, Anika” I smirk, “I think it's because you know Ethan isn't the man for you.”

She sets her glass down.

“First off... you're wrong. Ethans is perfect for me. And second, you're in no position to decide who's right for me.”

“And what's that supposed to mean?”

She tilts her head slightly to watch me.

“Is Lee the right person for you?”

I chuckle.

“Be honest, Reid. Is she?”

I take a moment, and then speak.

“No. No, she's not, Anika.”

A satisfied look grows on her face.

“No, more precisely, I'm not the one for her” I confess.

Anika's satisfied look disappears as quickly as it appears. My heart is heavy as I speak.

“She's already started to get tired of me. Or is completely at this point. And I'm...” I stop when I realize where I am and who I'm with. I clear my throat, “Never mind that. Should we order something now? You're hungry aren't you?”

She picks up her wine again.

“Not really.”

“You're not—”

My phone cuts me off with a call from Hernan.

“Excuse me,” I say and slide my finger across the screen. “Hernan.”

“Where the hell are you?”

I look at Anika who has a solemn look on her face, traces of all smugness gone.

“You're with her so you can't answer that right? What exactly is your problem, dude? Now I know why Lee's—”

“Lee?” I sit up, “What about her?”

“Nothing. I'll leave you to your date. God, I can't believe this man.”

He hangs up and I pull the phone away from my ears.

What's wrong with Lee?

“Everything okay?”

I look up at her.

“Err... yeah, yeah” I clear my throat. “So food? You're sure you don't want to eat—?”

“You wanna leave don't you?” she speaks up, cradling the glass in her hands.

“What?”

“You wanna leave” she repeats.

Yes.

“Well—”

“It's fine. I'm not hungry” she smiles.

Okay then.

I nod and stand up, picking up my gifts.

“C'mon then,” I say, grabbing my phone and car keys as well.

But she remains seated.

“Anika?”

“Go ahead.”

I arch a brow.

“I need to go home first.”

“Okay, I'll drop you then. Let's go.”

“No, no, um... I'll go on my own. I have a work thing too...”

I make a face.

“I'll just finish up quickly, change and I'll see you at your party.”

I don't hesitate to nod.

“Alright then. Thanks again for the gift. Bye.”

I hurry off the rooftop restaurant and don't even bother taking the elevator. I rush down the stairs and to my car. The sooner I go home to my fiancée, the better for me.

Thank you for reading!
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Ciao
~the_atticwriter