Aaliya takes a sip of her wine and smiles at me as she swallows. I acknowledge her with a tilt of my head. I know her love of reds and I had already chosen this wine to be served with dinner especially for her. I had wanted to spend time with Aaliya to make up for my absence earlier, but now we have no option but to share this awkward meal with Celia.

Aaliya replies to Celia in an indifferent voice. “I’m sure Damien knows all the pretty places.”

Aaliya turns to me, speaking in a softer tone, her eyes crinkling. “I can’t wait for you to show your favorite spots to me.”

“Oh, Damien,” Celia gushes before I can respond. “You must take her to our spot.”

When I give her a blank look, Celia she touches my arm to explain. “The one in the forest, near that rocky outcrop. The one with the waterfalls.”

Several years ago, I foolishly and naively believed myself to be in love with Celia. We used to go to the spot she has described often. It was our own paradise. But that was until I found out she was playing me to make David jealous. She knew of our rivalry and what better way to ensnare him than to show interest in the spare son and not the heir. It riled David enough to want her for himself and the minute he did, she dumped me for him, as was her plan all along. She taught me a bitter lesson about love and never trusting another woman.

I move my arm away from her and my eyes drift to Aaliya. She’s playing with her food, pushing it around her plate. Her lips curve into a pretty pout as she looks into her plate contemplating something. I smile at that adorable expression, which is all too common with her. My heart lurches painfully inside my chest as a crack forms in the ice walls I had erected and kept in place around my heart. Aaliya makes me believe in love again and I know it’s premature to assume this, but perhaps I could be happy with her.

Celia addresses me again, bringing my attention back to her. “I’m certain you remember that place, Damien.” She turns to Aaliya to speak to her. “You know, Damien and I had this special place in the forest where we used to meet in private.” Celia smiles in the distance as if remembering something and my mind goes on red alert. She gives me a dreamy look and then she says, “Damien made love to me for the first time there amidst those beautiful rocks and that cascading waterfall.”

I choke on my wine.

What. The. Fuck!

Aaliya

THE CLATTERING OF MY fork as it drops from my hand is loud and deafening in the silence that follows Celia’s statement.