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nazariolahela · 2 years

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Best Beloved: Chapter 16

A/N: Hey y'all! This story is told in dual first-person narrative, from Kaia (F!MC) and Damien’s POV. The first half of this story takes place during Kaia’s freshman year and Damien’s senior year of college. The second half is two years after Kaia graduates. There will be sprinklings of canon in this fic, but we’ll try to step out of the box for the most part. Thanks for reading, and please leave feedback.

All characters are the property of Pixelberry Studios. Thanks for allowing me to borrow them.

Chapter Summary: Epilogue - One Year Later

Damien

One Year Later

“Hurry up, babe. We’re going to be late,” I shouted down the hallway at Kaia. Today was Baby Levi’s first birthday, and Kaia and I were supposed to be at Steve and Nadia’s 30 minutes ago to help set up.

“I can’t find my other shoe. Have you seen it?”

I sighed and made my way down the hallway to our bedroom. Kaia and I moved in together a couple of months after the wedding. We decided to stay in Brooklyn to be closer to our families. Nadia gave birth to a baby boy six months after that, and she and Steve decided they needed a bigger place to raise their growing family. So, they moved to Lincoln Square. Steve was still working for ESPN, and Nadia still had her gallery.

I walked into our bedroom to find Kaia down on all fours, searching under the bed. My mind instantly went to a dangerous place. I walked up behind her and placed my hands on her hips. She jerked and smacked her head.

“Ouch! What the hells, Damien!”

“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. I thought you were offering.”

She crawled out from under the bed and shoved my chest. “Not funny, ass. I’m trying to find my other shoe.” She held the one up to show me.

“Babe, I don’t think Levi cares what kind of shoes you have on. He can barely find his nose.”

She huffed and walked over to the walk-in closet. “Yeah, yeah. But they’re my favorite pair. And they go well with this outfit. Besides, you’re the one who pulled them off me the other night when we were fooling around, so you should be in here finding it for me.”

I walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist. “Well, excuse me for not caring what happened to your shoes when I was trying to get you naked. Why don’t you wear these ones?” I said and pointed to a similar pair on the shelf.

She shook her head. “They don’t go with this outfit.” She pulled out of my grasp and bent over to dig in the laundry basket. After pulling the dirty clothes out, she located the missing shoe. She smiled and slipped them both on, then walked across the room towards the door. “Okay, wise ass. Let’s go. I’m sure Nadia’s having a meltdown as we speak,” she said.

I grabbed her hand before she could exit the room and pulled her to me. “Hold on. Let me get a good look at you.” I held up her arm and spun her around, getting a good look at her backside. “You should probably call Nadia and let her know we’re not coming. Because you look amazing in this outfit and all I can think about is taking it off of you.”

She laughed and gripped my shirt. “As much fun as that sounds, Nadia will drive out here and murder us if we don’t show up. And I want to keep you alive as long as possible.” She pressed her soft lips to mine and slipped her tongue in my mouth. My cock hardened in my pants, but before we could go any further, she pulled away and drug me out of the room and down the hall.

We made our way down to the car, birthday presents in hand. She loaded them in the trunk and we set off for Nadia and Steve’s.

When we finally arrived, the penthouse was in chaos. Nadia was running around like a chicken with her head cut off, trying to hang decorations. Steve was in the kitchen frosting the birthday cupcakes. And Levi was in his Pack-and-Play, chewing on a teething ring.

“Oh my gods, it’s about damn time you showed up,” Nadia shrieked.

Kaia and I shared a look, then she passed the gifts off to me and made her way through the penthouse to help her cousin. I set the gifts on a designated table and made my way over to Levi’s pen.

“Hey little buddy,” I said to him and picked him up. He grinned at me with those bright blue eyes as I held him in my arms and I felt my chest tighten. Kaia and I had briefly discussed whether or not we wanted kids in the future. We knew we weren’t ready for them now, but we talked about the option of someday. But holding my nephew in my arms at that moment made me want the future now.

I moved throughout the penthouse with Levi in my arms, while Nadia and Kaia prepped for the party. We walked over to the large windows overlooking the city and I pointed out several landmarks I promised him I’d take him to when he was older. He babbled and continued to chew on his teething ring. “What do you say we go and check if your dad needs help,” I said to him and headed to the kitchen. Steve noticed us and smiled.

“Hey buddy,” he said and kissed his son on the top of his head. He offered me a drink, which I accepted and he moved over to the bar. He poured two tumblers of rum – Nadia kept some in stock just for me – and offered me the glass.

“So, you and Kaia think about having one?” He asked, pointing at Levi.

“We’ve talked about it, but there are no plans for any in the near future,” I replied and took a sip. Levi tried grabbing the drink from me and I held it out of his grasp.

“I can take him if you want. The cupcakes are finished, I’m just waiting for Nadia to give me my next assignment.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “I’m okay. It’s good to get our uncle-nephew bonding time in when we can. Especially since you guys moved so far away.”

Steve nodded then finished his drink and made his way into the living room to see if Nadia needed help. I glanced across the room and caught Kaia staring at me as I held Levi. Her eyes were sparkling and a small smile spread across her face. I winked at her and followed Steve into the living room.

***

Kaia

“Okay, so hang this banner over on that wall, and then these streamers can go on the table where the cupcakes are going to be,” Nadia barked orders at me as I helped her finish decorating the penthouse for Levi’s first birthday. The party wasn’t for another two hours, but my cousin was terrible under pressure.

“Nadia, can we take a breather for a second? You don’t want to stress yourself out before the party starts,” I placed a hand on her shoulder.

“No time. We still need to set up the game station, and my in-laws are supposed to be here any minute so I need to make sure everything is perfect.”

I grabbed her arm gently, causing her to stop. “Nadia. It will be fine, okay? Who cares what your in-laws think? Linda is a frigid bitch who complains about the sun being too bright on a sunny day. You’re never going to make her happy, so don’t drive yourself crazy trying.”

She took several deep breaths. “I know, I know. It’s just that Levi only gets one first birthday party and I have to make sure everything goes as planned.”

I grabbed her hand and led her over to one of the sofas. I ran back into the kitchen and grabbed her a sparkling water. “Here, drink this. You’re doing an amazing job, and even though little Levi won’t remember this day, he’ll be thankful for all you did for him.”

She nodded and took a sip of the water. She patted the seat next to her and ushered me to sit down. “So, how are things with you and Dames?” she asked.

“They’re good. We’re taking it one day at a time. His mom keeps pestering us about when we’re going to get married and give her grandchildren, but we’re not there yet.”

Nadia nodded. “I know what you mean. Don’t get me wrong, I love Levi with all my heart and I couldn’t imagine my life without him, but if it weren’t for our little surprise, Steve and I would have waited a few more years before having kids.”

The doorbell rang and Nadia sighed as she passed me the bottle of water and sprung up from the couch to answer the door. I spotted Robert and Linda entering the apartment, carrying a department store bag full of presents.

“Where’s my grandbaby?” Linda asked, making a beeline for Damien, who was holding Levi. She plucked the baby from his arms and planted several kisses on his head. He began to fuss in her arms.

Nadia moved towards Linda and gently removed Levi from his grandmother’s grasp. “Looks like someone needs a nap before the party starts,” she said and headed toward the bedrooms.

“But I want to hold him. It’s my right as his grandmother,” Linda protested.

“Mom, why don’t you have a seat and I’ll get you a glass of wine? We need to put him down for a nap or he’s going to be cranky during the party,” Steve said. Linda pouted but didn’t argue.

I followed Nadia into Levi’s room. “Is she still giving you a hard time?” I asked.

Nadia sighed and tucked Levi into his crib. “She is, but at least Steve puts her in her place. She wanted to take Levi to her bridge club and show him off last month, but Steve said a country club is no place for a baby. So, now she just drops in once a week to visit him.”

I smiled and thanked the gods I wasn’t in her shoes. Nadia plugged in the night light and we silently left Levi’s room. Back in the living room, Steve, Damien, and Robert were engaged in conversation about some sporting event, while Linda sat on the couch, talking on the phone. Nadia and I made our way to the kitchen to finish setting up for the party.

Two hours later, Nadia had a full house as family and close friends gathered to celebrate Levi’s first year on Earth. The baby was passed around from person to person, receiving no shortage of affection. I was seated in one of the lounge chairs by the window when Sloane and her boyfriend Khaan approached me, holding Levi.

“You want to hold him for a bit,” she asked, handing the baby off to me.

I took him from her and smiled. “Are you guys thinking about kids one day?” I asked.

“Well, Khaan already has Hamza, but we’re not opposed to giving him a sibling down the road,” she said. They smiled at each other. “What about you?”

I shrugged. “Maybe one day. We’re nowhere near ready for that yet.”

Sloane smirked. “You may not be ready, but the way Damien is looking at you holding the baby right now tells me he is.” She leaned in and hugged me, and the two of them excused themselves as Damien approached.

“Nadia asked me to retrieve the birthday boy. It’s time for him to blow out his candles,” he said.

I got up from my seat and followed Damien as we approached Nadia and passed Levi off to his mom. Her mood instantly shifted and she peppered her son’s face in kisses. Steve took the spot next to her and wrapped his arm around his wife. The party guests began singing and Damien and I watched the three of them in their moment.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” he asked, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me close. I looked over at him and he was grinning from ear to ear.

“It really is. It almost makes me want that for myself someday.”

He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “Whenever you're ready to have that, I will give it all to you. In the meantime, we can practice as much as we want.”

The party guests wrapped up their song and cheered as Levi attempted to blow out his birthday candles. I turned in Damien’s grip and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’d like that.”

#nazariolahela fanfic #best beloved #perfect match au #college au #friends to lovers #damien nazario #kaia park #damien x mc #perfect match #playchoices fanfic

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nazariolahela · 2 years

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Best Beloved: Chapter 15

All characters are the property of Pixelberry Studios. Thanks for allowing me to borrow them.

Chapter Summary: Nadia and Steve's big day is finally here.

Kaia

“Where is my veil? Kaia, please tell me we remembered to pack it.” Nadia squealed as she rushed out of the bathroom of the bridal suite. Steve and Nadia’s wedding day was finally here, and it was a flurry of activity. Sloane and I looked at each other as my cousin darted across the room in her underwear.

“Breathe, Nadia. It’s with your dress. Look,” I replied as I pointed to the bag holding her wedding dress, shoes, and veil. She rushed over and pulled the bag off the door and tore the plastic open until she found what she was looking for.

She sighed loudly and ran back into the bathroom. “When are the hair and makeup people supposed to be here? If she’s late, it’s going to delay the whole day.”

Sloane giggled and poured me two glasses of champagne. “Here, give her this before she explodes.” I grabbed the glasses and followed Nadia into the bathroom. She had her foot propped on the sink and was shaving her legs.

“Here, drink this. It will calm your nerves,” I said and handed her the glass.

“No time. I need to finish up here before the stylist shows up,” she replied and pushed it away. “Did you remember to grab Grandma’s earrings from your mom?”

“Yes, they’re in my toiletries bag. The stylist just texted me. She’s on her way. Also, Steve’s mom wants to get ready with us. I don’t know why, but she insisted that she be a part of it. I tried to tell her ‘no,’ but she’s annoying.”

Nadia rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I’m aware. Whatever, as long as she stays out of the way and keeps her snarky comments to herself.”

A knock came from the door of the suite and Sloane rushed to answer it. “Oh, darling, is that what you’re wearing? It’s so unflattering on your skin tone,” we heard Linda say as she entered the suite. Nadia and I shared an eye roll and I walked out of the bathroom to greet her. Sloane shut the door and flipped Linda the bird behind her back. “Kaia, dear! It’s so good to see you again.”

“Hi, Linda,” I said as she leaned in and air-kissed my cheeks. She shoved a garment bag in my hand and moved around the room. Sloane was standing behind her making gagging faces. A giggle slipped out of me, and Linda side-eyed me. “Uhh…would you like some champagne?” I asked.

“No thank you, I’m trying to watch what I eat and drink. You know Robert is taking me to Venice next year, right?”

“Yes, I heard.”

“Isn’t it so wonderful? Thirty years with such a wonderful man. I only hope my Stevie can have that kind of love with someone, someday.”

Sloane’s eyes widened. I gritted my teeth. “Well, it’s clear he and Nadia are very much in love, so I’m confident he will.” Linda gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes and moved over to the sofa.

A second knock interrupted us, and Sloane answered it. The stylist and her team piled into the room and began setting up the hair and makeup stations. Nadia bustled out of the bathroom in her custom “Bride” robe and took a seat. The hair and makeup team got to work making Nadia the most beautiful bride. Sloane and I munched on a fruit and cheese platter and listened to Linda drone on about people from her country club. After they finished with Nadia, she hopped out of the chair and ran back into the bathroom. Sloane and I took our seats and let the stylists work their magic.

Once we were finished, Linda took her place in the chair and talked their ear off as they made her up. Sloane and I walked over to the bathroom and I knocked on the door. “Hey, you alright in there?”

The door swung open, and Nadia walked out. “Yeah, I just had to get away from her. God, she’s insufferable. I wish Steve and I could move to Siberia so we’d never have to deal with her again.” The three of us giggled and moved into the bedroom to get dressed.

We got ourselves dressed and had Nadia’s dress halfway up her torso when Linda burst into the room. “Nadia, darling. Look at this adorable dress I picked up this morning.” She unzipped the bag to reveal two dresses. One was a light blue, and the other one was a cream color. Sloane and I gasped as she pulled the creme one out and began undressing.

“Whoa, What is that? That’s not your mother-of-the-bride dress,” Nadia said.

“I know. Isn’t it gorgeous? I saw it at Bergdorf’s yesterday and I just had to have it.”

You could see steam rolling out of Nadia’s ears. Like a good maid of honor, I intervened. “Nope. Nuh-uh. Not happening. You put the blue dress on, Linda. That’s the one you guys picked out.”

“Oh, nonsense. This one goes better with my skin tone-”

“If you wear that dress to the wedding, I will throw you out myself. You are NOT going to ruin Steve and Nadia’s big day.”

She scoffed. “Well, I never. I’m going to call up Stevie right now and let him know that you are ruining his day.”

“That won’t be necessary, Mom.” We turned to see Steve standing in the doorway of the bedroom, rage filling his face.

“Steve, what are you doing here?” Nadia shrieked and ducked behind me.

“Sloane texted me and told me Mom was making things difficult for you.”

“But it’s bad luck! You can’t see me before the ceremony.”

His eyes darted to Nadia, who was peeking over my shoulder, and they were sparkling. “Baby, I’d endure all the bad luck in the world to make you happy.” He turned back to his mother. “Put the blue dress on Mom. Now.”

“Stevie, darling. You know how blue makes me look washed out. The cream is the better option-”

“Mom, I swear to gods, if you don’t stop ruining mine and Nadia’s big day, I’m going to lose it. I love her, and she loves me. And we’re very happy together. And if you can’t accept that, then you won’t be involved in our lives. Or the baby’s.”

You could have heard a pin drop in the room. All eyes turned to Nadia, and she was grinning from ear to ear. “Surprise! We’re pregnant!”

Linda stared speechless at her son as Sloane and I squealed and wrapped Nadia up in a hug. We then turned to hug Steve and congratulate him.

“Okay, no more crying. We’re going to ruin our makeup,” Sloane said as she dabbed her eyes. “Groom, it’s time to go. We need to finish getting your bride ready.” She turned on Linda. “And you. I think it’s best if you get ready in your own room. I’ll be taking this.” She yanked the cream dress from Linda’s hand and pushed her out the door behind her son, leaving the three of us alone in the suite.

“I love you two so much,” Nadia said through her tears as she wrapped an arm around each of us. We finished helping her get dressed and made our way downstairs to the limo.

***

Damien

My family and I were seated in the third row of the church. Kaia’s parents were sitting in front of us, chatting with my mom, when her Dad’s words caught my attention. “You know, I always thought this one and my daughter would be the first ones down the aisle. In fact, we had a little money set aside just in case.” I jerked my head forward and met his eyes. He was smiling like a cat that just ate the canary.

“Uh...wh-what?”

Mama laughed and squeezed my arm. “This boy is as stubborn as his father was. Too much pride to admit he’s in love with the girl, so here we are two decades later, still waiting.” The Parks and my mother laughed as I sat there, embarrassed. I looked over to my sisters, who were grinning like idiots.

“I hate every single one of you,” I said under my breath. The organ started playing and we all turned around to see the priest and Steve making their way down the aisle. They were followed by Sloane and one of Steve’s teammates from his NFL days. My jaw dropped when Kaia and Steve’s best friend from high school made their way down the aisle next. She was glowing in her pink bridesmaid’s dress. Her hair was pulled back to expose her long neck and shoulders. I imagined sucking on them after the ceremony. As she walked by, she made eye contact with me and winked.

They took their places at the altar and the organist switched to the Wedding March. We rose from our seats and watched as Nadia and her dad walked down the aisle arm-in-arm. Nadia was beaming from behind her veil as she made her way towards Steve, who was just as happy to see her. When they reached the altar, her father gave her away and she passed her bouquet to Kaia. The priest began the ceremony, talking about loving one another unconditionally. I wasn’t really listening to anything he was saying. My eyes were on Kaia the entire time. She glanced over at me and smiled, then turned her attention back to the priest.

After the vows, and exchanging of rings, the priest pronounced them husband and wife. They kissed and made their way back up the aisle. We lined up outside the church to congratulate the Bride and Groom. I shook hands with Nadia and Steve’s parents, and the wedding party. When I got to Kaia, I leaned in with the intent to kiss her cheek. Instead, I whispered in her ear. “You look fucking amazing in that dress. I can’t wait to take it off you later tonight.”

I pulled back to see her eyes wide. She schooled her features and pinched my arm. “Behave yourself,” she said and shoved me down the receiving line.

The party was in full swing at the reception later that evening. After dinner, speeches, and the cake cutting, most of the older crowd had turned in for the night. The atmosphere went from classy wedding to nightclub, complete with strobe lights. I was sitting at my table, watching Kaia dancing with Nadia and Steve, and Sloane and her date.

“Why aren’t you out there dancing?” Mama asked, pointing towards the dance floor.

I shrugged. “Not much of a dancer.”

“Nonsense. You get out there and ask that girl to dance. I bet she’ll appreciate it, even if you have two left feet.”

I chuckled and instead headed to the bar. I waved down the bartender and ordered a glass of their best rum. As I was waiting for my drink, Hayden joined me at the bar, signaling for a drink.

“Hey man, what’s up?” I said, trying to hide the nervousness in my voice.

He glanced at me from the corner of his eye. “Not much. You?”

I turned to face him. “I want to apologize for any part I had in what happened to you and Kaia. I should have respected your relationship more, and I’m sorry.”

Hayden looked down at his drink, then back up at me. “You know, I came over here wanting to punch you in the face, but that won’t win her back. If you make her happy, then that’s what I want for her. I hope you treat her well.”

“I wouldn’t blame you if you did. And she’s the most important person to me. I’ll cherish her every day for as long as she’ll let me.”

He nodded, seeming satisfied with my answer. “Well, I’m out of here. Take care of yourself, Damien.” He patted my shoulder and walked away. I downed the rest of my drink and signaled for another when a hand landed on my back.

“What are you doing over here, Dames?” Nadia asked as she took the stool next to mine.

“Taking advantage of your free bar, Mrs. Tennyson,” I replied, taking a drink. “Congratulations again. It was a beautiful ceremony.”

“How would you know? Your eyes were glued to my cousin the entire time.”

I smirked and finished my drink. “What can I say? She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

Nadia smiled. “Just be good to her. That’s all I ask. Cause if you break her heart, I will break your dumb face. Plus, I want my baby to know his Uncle Dames.”

It took me a minute to register what she was saying. “Wait...are you serious?” I looked down at her stomach, then back at her. “Congratulations, Nadia,” I said as I pulled her into a hug.

“Not so tight. You’ll squish the baby!”

I laughed and loosened my grip, then kissed her on the forehead. “I’m happy for you and Steve. And don’t worry. I’ll treat Baby Tennyson’s auntie like the queen she is.”

“That’s good enough for me. Now, go get her before someone else does,” she said and sashayed to the dance floor. I followed her and wrapped my arms around Kaia’s waist.

“Wanna get out of here,” I whispered in her ear.

She turned in my arms and gripped the lapels of my suit jacket. “I thought you’d never ask.”

I grabbed her hand and she pulled me towards the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, we came together. Our hands explored each other as the elevator car climbed to the top floor. When the doors opened, she led me down the hall to her room. I kissed the back of her neck as she fumbled with the keycard.

The door opened and I spun her around and scooped her into my arms as we crossed the threshold. I kicked the door shut and set her down on the bed. She propped herself up on her elbows and slipped the straps of her dress down.

I settled over her and kissed her neck and shoulders. Her fingers dug into my back as I moved my way down to her breasts. I pulled the cup of her strapless bra down and took her nipple in my mouth. She moaned and her hands trembled as she slipped my suit jacket off, and then unbuttoned my dress shirt. I helped her out of her dress and she helped me out of my pants. In nothing but our underwear, I moved back on top of her and rubbed my erection against her center.

“Damien. I need you to fuck me,” she gasped.

I kissed my way down her legs as I slid her panties off. When I reached her feet, I moved my way back up until I reached the apex of her thighs. “You are so wet for me,” I said and lowered my head between her legs. I sucked her cllt, loving the way she sounded when she moaned.

“Damien,” she panted and yanked on my hair.

I flicked my tongue harder, and she pulled my head closer. I licked her until her thighs started shaking and she cried out, riding her orgasm. When she stopped trembling, I pushed my boxer briefs down and moved up her body.

“I need to be inside you right now,” I grunted.

She reached into her purse and pulled out a condom. Her eyes were wild as I ripped it open and rolled it over my cock. I took her lips in mine and I pushed my length inside her. My movements were slow at first before I picked up the pace. Soon, I was thrusting into her so hard, the bed was shaking. She grabbed my ass and squeezed. I knew she was close again, so I hooked her leg under my arm and moved my hips faster.

“Damien. Oh my gods, Damien.”

“You like that, Kaia?”

“Yes! Oh...Damien!”

I knew I wasn’t going to last much longer. “That’s it, Kaia. Say my name. Come for me, baby.”

Moments later, we both tumbled over the edge. I collapsed on the bed next to her and kissed her neck, then got up to dispose of the condom. I returned to her and kissed her lips passionately.

“I love you, Kaia Rae Park,” I said as I showered her body with soft kisses.

“And I love you, Damien Elvis Nazario.”

#nazariolahela fanfic #best beloved #perfect match au #college au #friends to lovers #damien nazario #kaia park #damien x mc #perfect match #playchoices fanfic

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nazariolahela · 2 years

Text

Best Beloved: Chapter 8

All characters are the property of Pixelberry Studios. Thanks for allowing me to borrow them.

Chapter Summary: Damien finally reveals his true feelings for Kaia, but will she reciprocate?

Damien

I sat at a table in the library coffee shop, picking at the cardboard sleeve of my cup of my Americano. Kaia was scheduled to show up any minute now and my nerves were on edge. Today was the day. After almost a decade of friendship, I was finally going to tell her how I felt about her. Part of me knew I was setting myself up for failure, but I had a tiny bit of hope she’d remember how she felt about me.

A few of my classmates greeted me as they walked by and I nodded. One of them stopped to ask me where Alana was. I cringed internally as I explained to them that she and I were no longer together. It had been about a week since we ended things and I was feeling surprisingly good about it. Not that I was happy about the break-up, but I felt like there was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I ran into Alana yesterday outside of the Science building and we talked for a few moments between classes. She seemed happier than I had seen her in the last few months.

I wasn’t sure how to approach things with Kaia. Especially after what happened at Homecoming. When I text her, I wasn’t expecting her to agree to meet with me. She’d been avoiding me every chance she got. At first, I chalked it up to her being busy with midterms, but after a few days, I knew it was intentional. I had planned on calling her and telling her everything, but Ma always said girls appreciated face-to-face interaction. Drumming my fingers on the table, I kept my eyes on the door, looking for any sign of her.

I spotted her walking in behind a group of frat guys and my chest tightened. She looked stunning in a cream-colored knit sweater and cuffed jeans over nude booties. Her long, curly locks were covered by a grey knit cap. I watched as her eyes scanned the room before locking on mine. A small smile pulled on her lips as she made her way towards the table.

“Hello, Damien,” she said, sliding her backpack off her shoulder before taking a seat across from me.

I cleared my throat, “Hey, how have you been?”

“Tired. Midterms really kicked my ass. And Nadia has been dragging me to every one of Steve’s home games for the last few weeks. She said that since they’ve won every game we’ve gone to, we have to keep going so they can make the playoffs. I’m gonna be honest with you. I don’t mind football, but I couldn’t tell you jack about it.”

I chuckled and slid the iced coffee I ordered for her across the table. Her eyes lit up as she grabbed it and took a pull from the straw.

“You remembered.”

“Of course I did. You only ordered it every time we met for study group.”

She nodded and took another sip. ”What are best friends for? So, I heard you went home last week to see your mom. How’s she doing?”

”She’s good. She says to tell you hi and that you better come to visit next time you’re home.”

She smiled and set the cup on the table. ”Well, Thanksgiving break is in a few weeks, so maybe I’ll pop in for a few minutes.”

”I know she’d love that. She misses you, ya know?”

Kaia scoffed. ”You’re one to talk. I visited her every weekend when you went off to college. I’ve probably seen her more in the last four years than you have.”

I cringed. ”Yeah, okay. You got me.”

She rolled her eyes and took another sip of her drink. “So, how are things with you and Alana?”

I fidgeted in my seat. Now was my chance. I could tell her we broke up because I realized she was the only girl I wanted. “She’s good. She uh… she accepted a position as a rehabilitation specialist for the government. She’s finishing out this semester and graduating early in December. She’ll start her new job after the first of the year.”

Kaia nodded. “That’s amazing. Tell her congrats for me. I’m sure you’re going to miss her next semester, but at least you won’t be too far behind.”

Well, might as well rip off the Band-Aid. “We broke up.”

“Oh,” she paused, looking down at her cup. “I’m sorry to hear that.” She looked up and met my eyes. “What happened?”

“It’s been a long-time coming. We both knew the relationship was going nowhere.”

Kaia reached across the table and took my hand in hers. Her thumb softly stroked my knuckles and I squeezed her fingers. The contact warmed me to my core. This felt right. I didn’t want to let go as she slowly slipped her fingers from my grasp. “Well, it’s probably better this way. You said you were unhappy. Now you can move on and be in a healthy relationship. It’s like that old saying goes, ‘there are plenty of fish in the sea.’”

I swallowed, “That doesn’t mean as much when you let the trophy fish get away.”

Kaia fidgeted and stared down at her coffee cup. “Well, at least you can focus on finishing this school year. And then graduation.”

“Yeah, yeah. Gotta keep my eyes on the prize. So, umm…how are things with,” I paused, willing myself to say his name. The bile rose in my throat and I took a sip of my coffee to push it down.

”Hayden?” she answered, cocking an eyebrow. ”Don’t tell me you forgot his name.”

I wish. If only she would forget it, too. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the kid. I’d just like him better if he wasn’t dating my girl. My girl. The words just fit. She’d been my girl for a long time, but neither of us knew it. C’mon you, idiot! Tell her how you feel! My inner voice screamed as I stared at her.

”Yeah, him. How’s it going with that?”

At that moment, her face lit up. I knew it was coming, but I didn’t expect it to hit me this hard. “Things have been good. We’ve been going out for about a month now. We talk almost every day. He Skyped with my parents last weekend. If things keep going well, I’m hoping to bring him home for Thanksgiving to meet them in person. He’s met all my friends and they really like him. Well, except for you. I can’t wait for you to get to know him.”

“Me? Why?”

Her brows pinched together. “Why not? You’re my best friend. You’re in my life and so is he. I want you to get to know the guy I’m dating.”

What a punch to the gut. I didn’t want to get to know the guy she was dating. I wanted to be the guy she was dating. And I needed to tell her now before things progressed with Hayden and it was too late. My face must have said it all because she frowned.

“Damien. What’s wrong?”

I sucked in a breath. “Kaia… there’s something I need to tell you.”

***

Kaia

I didn’t miss the way the muscles in his jaw tensed as he gripped his coffee cup. ”Kaia… there’s something I need to tell you. I think I-”

”Hey babe!” a voice interrupted us. I turned around and spotted Hayden walking towards us. When he reached the table, he leaned in to kiss me on the cheek. I looked across the table and saw Damien’s face darken. He stared daggers at Hayden for only a few seconds, but those few seconds felt like a lifetime.

“What are you kids up to? Study group?” Hayden asked, oblivious to the death glare he was receiving from the other side of the table.

“Nope, just a coffee date with my best friend. You wanna join us?”

Hayden smiled. “Nah. I’m just here to pick up a book for my photography homework. We still on for tonight?”

“Yep. Pick me up at 7:30 at my dorm?”

“Will do. I gotta go, babe. I’ll see you tonight,” he replied and leaned in to press a soft kiss to my lips. I looked over at Damien whose glare had shifted from Hayden to me. “See you later, Damien,” Hayden called as he walked off.

“I hope not,” Damien mumbled under his breath, but loud enough for me to hear.

I glanced to make sure Hayden was out of earshot then leveled my gaze at my best friend. “What was that all about?”

“He interrupted us.”

I rubbed my temples. “You didn’t have to be rude. We’ve talked about this, Dames.”

“How much do you really know about this kid?” Damien said flatly.

“What? Where is this coming from? You’ve met him before.” I clenched my fists in my lap. This wasn’t the first time he’d made weird comments about my boyfriend. The memory of Homecoming flashed in my mind. And that kiss. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think-

“Are you jealous, Damien?”

His eyes widened in shock, but he quickly schooled his features. “Maybe I am.”

My breath caught in my throat. Was he fucking with me? I had never come outright and expressed my feelings for him, but according to Nadia, it was obvious. Did he know? For years, I’d been holding on to hope that he’d see me as more than a friend. But why now?

“Don’t say things you don’t mean, Damien.”

He reached across the table and grabbed my hands in his. “I would never do that to you, Kaia.” He sighed and leaned in closer, his eyes serious. “I don’t know why it took me this long to say this, but I love you. And not just as my best friend. I think I always have, but I’ve been lying to myself. You’re the most important person in my life. And I’m tired of hiding how I feel about you.”

I felt the knot in my throat tighten. I’d been waiting so long to hear him say this, but for some reason, my heart didn’t flutter. In fact, it made me angry. “Why are you doing this? What do you have to gain from playing with my emotions like this, Damien.”

The more I spoke, the angrier I got. “We’ve been friends for almost ten years, and you pick now, NOW, after you just broke up with your girlfriend to tell me you have feelings for me? What’s your endgame, Damien? You spring this on me out of the blue and what? I drop everything and we start dating?”

He pinched his brows together. “What? No. It’s not like that at all.”

“Then what is it about? You’ve had years to tell me this. Why now?”

He fidgeted in his seat. “It was never the right time. You were too young. I was away at college. You had a boyfriend. I had a girlfriend. It seems like every time we tried, the stars were never aligned for us.”

“I have a boyfriend now.”

“You said it yourself, it wasn’t serious.”

“I-It’s not, but I like him and I want to see where this goes. You know, I never interfered with you and Alana. Why can’t you grant me the same courtesy with Hayden?” I said, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall.

“Kaia, listen to me. I promise I’m not trying to make things harder for you. I just couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t tell you how I felt. I’m not telling you this because I want you to break up with Hayden and start dating me. I’m telling you because I don’t want to keep hiding my feelings. Believe me, this is not how I wanted to do this, but you’ve been avoiding me for weeks now, and I couldn’t wait any longer. That’s why I kissed you at Homecoming.”

My head was spinning. I had to get out of there. “I need time to think,” I said, standing abruptly and gathering my things. Damien rose from his seat, but I put my hand out to stop him. “Don’t. I’ll talk to you in a few days.”

I rushed out of the library and fished my phone from my jeans pocket. My hands shook as I dialed Nadia’s number. She answered on the second ring.

“Hey, girlie! I was just on my way to meet St-”

“I-I need to t-talk to y-you. Are you f-free?” I choked out through my tears.

The line grew quiet, then Nadia replied. “Yeah. Meet me in front of the Student Union. I’m on my way.”

I hung up and wiped my nose on my sleeve. I peeked over my shoulder to make sure he wasn’t following me, then let the tears flow.

A few minutes later, Nadia rounded the corner of the Student Union building, holding two cups of hot cocoa. She silently looped her arm through mine and led me inside. We took a seat on one of the couches and she handed me one of the cups. Nadia smiled softly and waited for me to compose myself.

Once the tears subsided, I told her everything. About Damien. About Hayden. About Homecoming. It felt good to finally get it all off my chest. Her jaw dropped as she listened, never interrupting. When I finished, I took a deep breath and looked at her. “What do I do?”

“I-wow… Kaia…I don’t know what to say… Except… I’M GOING TO KILL HIM!”

“Nadia, don’t…”

“No, Kaia. HOW DARE HE? He had YEARS to tell you this and he waits until NOW? That son of a bitch!”

I put my hand on her arm. “What would I do without you?”

She wrapped me in a bone-crushing hug. “We’re family. It’s my job to protect you. Even if it’s from the guy who’s been like a brother to us for years. If he hurts you, I hurt him.”

I laughed and hugged her again. “I don’t want you to hurt him. I’m just so confused right now. I love him, but I care about Hayden too. I don’t want to hurt either of them, but why am I the one who is hurting?”

Nadia wiped a tear from my cheek and smiled. “Don’t worry, boo. We’ll figure it out.”

#nazariolahela fanfic #best beloved #perfect match au #college au #friends to lovers #damien nazario #kaia park #damien x mc #playchoices fanfic #perfect match

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nazariolahela · 3 years

Text

Chapter 16: The Return

Pairing: none

Word Count: 2568

Rating: PG-13

Description: Tariq has been found! But will it be enough to convince Riley to come back to court?

Notes: Constructive criticism welcome. Thanks for reading.

Catch up here

Disclaimer: All TRR characters used belong to Pixelberry. This story is only for entertainment purposes.

“Should we call her? A little heads up would be nice,” Hana said, picking pieces of lint from her skirt as the plane cruised through the sky. The royal court was on its way to New York for the final leg of King Liam and Countess Madeleine’s Engagement Tour, and everyone was on edge.

“Do you think she even wants to see us, Maxwell? You said she was pretty upset when you left,” Drake questioned.

Maxwell shrugged, then turned his attention to the window, watching the clouds float by. He had tried reaching out to her before they left Cordonia, but she wasn’t returning his, or for that matter, anyone’s calls. They had finally tracked down Tariq to the States, but they still hadn’t found his exact whereabouts. Maxwell was confident that once they made it to New York, they would have better luck.

The pilot announced the plane’s descent and everyone aboard settled in for landing. Once they exited the plane, Hana turned to Maxwell. “Should we stop at the hotel first, or just go to her apartment?”

“We should drop our stuff off first. I don’t want to haul our luggage around.”

“Since this is my first time in New York, do you think we could do a little sightseeing before we leave?”

“I don’t see why not,” Drake chuckled. “We have a few days before we head back to Cordonia. What do you want to see first?”

Hana tapped her finger against her chin, lips pursed. How do you cram all of New York into just a few days’ time? Suddenly, her eyes lit up. “Ooh! We have to go check out 5th Avenue. I was fawning over some of the pieces during the Paris fashion show, and I want to see if they’re in stores yet.”

Maxwell chimed in. “We should check out Coney Island too. I hear their carnival is legendary.”

Hana clapped her hands together rapidly. “Yes, yes! All of that! This trip is going to be so much fun! Shopping, galas, carnivals, and we get to see Riley!”

“Woo! Can’t wait,” Maxwell shouted, holding his hand up for a high-five, which Hana reciprocated. The group, followed by Bertrand and Olivia, walked out of the airport and waited for the car service.

“So, does anyone want to go grab a bite before we head over to Riley’s?” Maxwell asked.

“Well, I have to go pick up Madeleine’s wedding band before the engagement party tomorrow, so if anyone wants to come with me, I could use the company,” Hana said, rolling her suitcase to the awaiting Rolls.

“I still have to go get Liam a wedding gift, so I’ll go with you,” Drake replied, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.

Olivia checked her nails, then spoke up. “I don’t know about you jokers, but there’s a deep tissue massage at the hotel’s spa with my name on it. I’ll catch up with you tonight.” As she started walking away, she turned on her heel and narrowed her eyes at Drake. “Oh, while you’re out shopping, maybe pick out some new clothes. This IS a United Nations dinner.”

“What’s wrong with the clothes I have?” He hissed.

“Nothing. If you like consignment store chic. Toodles!”

Hana and Maxwell tried to hide their laughter as Drake stood there, speechless. The three of them loaded their bags into the car and piled in, bound for the hotel.

***

Riley struggled to balance the shopping bags as she exited the cab. This was the last time she went grocery shopping by herself, she thought. When her mother had called her to swing by the grocery store on her way home from work, she thought she’d only have to grab a few things. Except her mom texted her a grocery list three miles long and told her she needed everything on the list.

One of Riley’s neighbors was on his way out of the building when she approached the door. She thanked him profusely and made her way up the three flights of stairs to her apartment. When she reached the landing to her floor, she remembered her keys were in her purse and cursed under her breath. She sent a silent prayer that her mother was home and waddled to the door, kicking it with the toe of her sandal.

“Coming,” a male voice answered on the other side. Riley cocked an eyebrow. Her mother rarely had company, especially not of the male variety. Before she could wonder who the voice belonged to, the door swung open and Maxwell appeared.

“Little Blossom!”

She nearly dropped the shopping bags in shock. Maxwell rushed forward to retrieve them from her and guided her inside the apartment. He set the bags on the table and wrapped her in a bear hug. She was too stunned to move.

“Surprised to see me?”

“Surprised doesn’t even begin to describe it. What are you doing here? Where’s my mom?” she asked.

“In here, dear,” Linda called from the living room. Riley whipped around to see her mother sitting on the sofa. And sitting next to her were Hana and Drake. Riley’s knees buckled and she grabbed the table to keep herself upright. Drake and Maxwell both rushed to hold her up. Hana rose from her seat and slowly made her way into the kitchen.

“Hey, Riley,” Hana said. Riley’s eyes filled with tears and she rushed forward to hug her best friend. The two women embraced, sobbing gently on each other’s shoulders. Maxwell and Drake took a step back and let them have their moment. After a few minutes, the two finally detached from each other and wiped their tear-stained cheeks.

“What are you guys doing here?” Riley asked between sobs.

“We came to see you. The Engagement Tour is making a stop in New York, and we’re in town for the U.N. dinner tomorrow night,” Hana answered, wiping the last of her own tears away.

“Okay, but why are you here?” she emphasized, gesturing around the apartment.

Drake stepped up and rested his hand on her shoulder. “We found him.”

Riley looked up at him, confused. “What do you mean? Who did you find?”

“Tariq. He’s in California.”

“California? Are you sure?”

“Positive,” Maxwell chimed. “We’ve narrowed it down to these addresses.”

He handed her the list and she scanned it, nodding.

“Wait. These are all in San Francisco. My cousin Dani lives in San Francisco with her boyfriend, Mark. Maybe I can give her a call and see if she knows anything.”

Maxwell whipped his head around and stared at her. “You never told me you had a cousin.”

Riley shrugged. “You never asked.”

“Too bad she’s not single.”

Riley laughed and smacked Maxwell’s arm playfully. “We’re like brother and sister, so in a sense, you’re hitting on family.”

Maxwell cringed. “Eww, forget I said anything.”

She shook her head and pulled her phone from her pocket, dialing Dani’s number.

“Hey Ri!” the voice on the other end answered!

“Dan! I need a favor from you.”

Dani chuckled. “If it’s having Mark pose as your fake boyfriend again, then the answer is no.”

“Very funny. I don’t need man-drama right now. I’m actually calling you for something more important.” Riley spent the next several minutes explaining the situation to her cousin. Her extended family knew about the scandal, but only what they’d read in the press. They’d called several times over the last few months asking Riley for more details on that fateful night in Cordonia, but she wasn’t in any mood to relive what happened. Dani listened intently, muttering a “yeah” or an “okay” every few seconds.

After Riley finished her story, there was some muffling on Dani’s end of the line. Finally, she came back on. “So, what are you going to do?” her cousin asked.

Riley looked to Drake, Hana, and Maxwell for answers. Maxwell ripped the phone from Riley’s grasp and greeted Dani like they were old friends. “Hey, Dan. Max here. So, we actually have some connections, but we’re always looking for more players on the team. We have a jet on standby, and we’d love it if you’d pick us up from the airport in about 7 hours.”

“What?” the cousins said in unison. Maxwell held his pointer finger up at Riley, silencing her.

“You see, our friend, the king of Cordonia, lent us his private jet to track down Mr. Tariq’s whereabouts, and he expects us to return with him, AND Riley before the U.N. dinner tomorrow. We can’t do that without your help. Don’t you want to help clear your cousin’s name?”

“O-of course, I do! I’m just shocked that you need to do this all so soon,” she replied.

“Time is of the essence, Ms. Taylor. We’re only in the U.S. for a few days before we head back to Cordonia. Will you help us or not?”

The line went quiet for a moment, and Riley wondered if her cousin had hung up. “Yeah, I can help. Whatever you need me to do. Text me your flight details. I’ll rearrange my schedule and see you guys in 7 hours.”

“Most excellent. Thank you so much for all your help. We will see you soon,” Maxwell chimed and hung up the phone. He tossed it to Riley, who barely caught it. “Well, you’d better go pack. We have a flight to catch.”

“I can’t go to California. I have a job!” she shrieked.

“Call in sick. What’s more important? Your job? Or clearing your name?”

Riley stared at her mom and friends. The answer was on their faces. “Okay, give me a few minutes to pack.”

***

The plane cruised through the sky as it made its way back to New York. They had finally tracked down Tariq, with Dani’s help, and convinced him to make a statement to the Cordonian press. Riley laid in the bed of the jet’s private quarters, contemplating what would happen next. She knew finding Tariq meant clearing her name, and putting the scandal to rest, but she wasn’t sure if she wanted to return to the country that threw her to the wolves. A light knock on the door, and Hana’s face pulled her from her haze. Hana slipped into the room and took a seat at the foot of the bed.

“You okay?” she asked, picking invisible lint off the comforter.

“Yeah, no, I don’t know. I’m happy this nightmare is finally over, but I’m still trying to figure out where I go from here.”

“What do you mean? Are you having second thoughts about coming back to Cordonia?”

“Yes,” she said, not meeting Hana’s eyes. “I don’t think I belong there.”

To her surprise, Hana nodded in understanding. “I know what you mean. I’ve felt like that since the day I arrived at court to compete for Liam’s hand. I went in knowing that my chances of winning his hand were slim, but I always thought I’d find a sense of belonging. It wasn’t until you showed up that I found that. You were the only person that accepted me for me, and without you at court, it feels like I’m nobody.”

Riley sat up and wrapped Hana in a hug. “You will always be somebody to me. You’re my best friend.”

Maxwell entered the room, interrupting the moment. “So, we’re about an hour outside of New York. Are you ready?”

“Ready for what?” she asked.

“To go home! Once Tariq makes his statement, we can head back to Cordonia. You and Liam can start a new life together. Just like you always wanted.”

“Max…I don’t know if I want to go back.”

The air was sucked out of the room and Maxwell recoiled as if he’d been slapped. “What do you mean? That’s the whole reason we’ve been doing this. To clear your name so you can take your place as Cordonia’s rightful Queen. Don’t tell me this was all for naught!”

“I just need some time. I need to talk to Liam before I make any big decision.”

He nodded, not entirely believing her. “Well, we’re leaving in the morning. The U.N. party starts at 7, so you’ll have a little time to talk to him and make your decision.” He shook his head and left the room.

Hana sat up and squeezed Riley’s hand. “Whatever you decide, I’m here for you,” she said, before following Maxwell out. Riley laid back down on the bed and closed her eyes. The next few hours were going to be crucial.

***

Liam stared at her as if she was the most beautiful person in the room. The silver, floor-length dress hugged her curves and glimmered like a disco ball. He glanced around to see Madeleine in conversation with the Danish ambassador, then waved Drake over.

“Have her meet me in this room in 5 minutes,” he said as he slipped a piece of paper into Drake’s hand.

His best friend nodded and made his way across the room. Liam drained the rest of his champagne and set the glass on a passing tray. He leaned over and notified Bastien that he needed a bathroom break and would return shortly. Once he was certain he wasn’t being followed, Liam headed for the elevator and pushed the button for the penthouse floor. He tapped his hand nervously against his thigh as the elevator climbed to the top. The car spit him out into a spacious penthouse with three bedrooms, two sitting rooms, and a jacuzzi tub. He removed his suit jacket and tossed it on the back of the couch, and took a seat.

Five minutes later, the elevator doors opened and Riley appeared. Her eyes met his and she stopped in her tracks. “Liam…” she said weakly. He rose from the couch and made his way towards her. He grabbed her hand and led her into the room.

“My love. How I’ve missed you.”

She cupped his face in her hands. “I’ve missed you too. So much. These last few months have been torture. I thought I’d never see you again.” Their lips crashed against each other and Liam pulled her closer. He pressed himself against her, causing her to gasp. He slipped the straps of her dress down her shoulders and pulled the zipper down, causing the dress to pool at her feet. They were a tangle of lips and limbs as they made their way into one of the bedrooms.

Hours later, they lay wrapped in each other on the bed, sated from their lovemaking. Surely people knew they were missing at this point, but they were too satisfied to care.

“You know, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to return to Cordonia after everything that happened, but when I saw you tonight, I knew that we were meant to spend the rest of our lives together. That I was meant to be yours forever,” she said, sweeping a lock of his hair off of his forehead.

He grabbed her hand and kissed each individual fingertip. “My love, I knew we were destined to be from the moment I met you in that dive bar. You are the queen of my heart and I love you.”

“So, what happens now?”

“We go back to Cordonia, and I make you the happiest woman in the world.”

Riley rolled over and settled on top of him. “You already have.”

#trr fanfic #choices fanfic #the royal romance #trr au #scandalous court #nazariolahela fanfic

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nazariolahela · 3 years

Text

Chapter 15: The Arrangement

Pairing: none

Word Count: 1884

Rating: PG-13

Description: The hunt for Tariq continues, and Hana struggles with pleasing her parents.

Notes: Constructive criticism welcome. Thanks for reading.

Catch up here

Disclaimer: All TRR characters used belong to Pixelberry. This story is only for entertainment purposes.

Riley sat at a table inside Starbucks, sipping her Caramel Apple Spice drink as she scrolled through her social media. Her co-worker Mindy had texted her earlier this morning, asking to talk to her about the kiss at the club. The two women had been avoiding each other and it was beginning to take a toll on their work. Riley agreed to meet with her to hear her out. She figured this would prevent things from getting awkward at work. The coffee shop was abuzz with early morning commuters purchasing drinks and snacks in preparation for their workday. Riley briefly looked up from her phone to scan the establishment, in search of Mindy. A few minutes later, Mindy spotted Riley sitting and approached her cautiously.

“Hey Riley…” she said, trailing off. Riley looked up from her phone at Mindy and smiled lightly. Mindy took a seat across the table from her and sucked in a deep breath.

“So, let me start out by apologizing for my behavior the other night. It was out of line and I’m sorry for violating you. I hope this doesn’t affect our working relationship or our friendship any more than it already has. I won’t use my drinking as an excuse, but sometimes I get a little flirty when I drink, and I guess I misinterpreted your feelings for me. I promise that I will ask next time I try to kiss you.”

Riley nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate it. Just so you know, I do value our friendship. You were the first person who was nice to me, and you’ve really helped me find my footing in this job over the last few weeks. I’ve been having a really hard time since I’ve been back and your friendship is the only thing that has kept me going. I don’t want to lose that.”

Mindy smiled and reached across the table, placing her hand on Riley’s. “I promise not to betray your trust. I really do value your friendship.”

The two women visibly relaxed and Mindy quickly changed the subject. “So, are you excited about the UN Gala coming up?”

Riley cocked an eyebrow at her. “Diana mentioned it, but she said I wasn’t ready to work it yet.”

Mindy drummed her fingers on the table. “Aww, that sucks. Maybe you can work it next year.”

“Have you worked it before? What’s it like?”

Mindy’s face lit up. “So, it’s this huge fundraiser they put on every year. All these celebs and rich people show up and donate money. I met Leonardo DiCaprio last year.” She pulled out her phone and flipped through her photos until she found the one. Riley took the phone and examined the photo. Mindy’s face beaming next to a well-dressed Leonardo DiCaprio. The face of another gentleman in the background, who looked oddly familiar, caught Riley’s eye.

“What about this other guy?” she asked, handing the phone back to Mindy.

Mindy took the phone, zooming in on the photo, as she tried to identify the other man. “Oh, him? I think he’s some foreign leader. Or used to be. He said something about abdicating his title recently. I didn’t really catch his name, but he was super flirty with all the female servers and I’m pretty sure he tried to slip me his number.”

The blonde hair and piercing blue eyes were a dead giveaway, and she couldn’t believe she didn’t figure it out right away. “Leo…” she whispered.

“Yeah! That was his name. Wait, do you know him?”

Riley looked down at her hands folded in her lap. “Kind of. He’s connected to someone from my past.” The last time she had seen Leo was the Coronation. The memories of that evening came flooding back to her and she had to fight back the tears that were starting to brim in her eyes. Riley shook the thoughts from her head, rose from her seat, and grabbed her purse. “I’ve got some errands to run, but thanks for meeting with me.”

“Yeah, no problem. Everything alright?” Mindy questioned.

“Y-Yeah. I gotta go. I’ll see you at work tomorrow.” Riley replied and rushed out of the coffee shop. She clutched her purse to her chest, choking back tears as she hurried down the street back to her apartment.

***

The Royal court was on its way to Shanghai for the next stop on the Engagement Tour. Hana’s knee bounced nervously as she sat on the plane, watching the clouds pass by her window. Maxwell appeared and took the seat next to her. “Hey! You doing alright?!”

She nodded. “Yeah. I’m just nervous about seeing my parents. My dad is still hounding me about my marriage prospects. I don’t have the heart to tell him that I’m not interested in Lord Neville or Rashad.”

He reached across the seat and took her hand in his. “It’s going to be okay. You’re a beautiful, intelligent, strong woman. There are plenty of fish in the sea. Any guy would be lucky to wife you up,” he said as he winked and wiggled his eyebrows.

Hana giggled. “You always know how to cheer me up. Thanks, Max.”

“Glad to be of assistance. Don’t stress about it. There’s still time to find a suitable match. And, hey! If worst comes to worst, we could marry each other.”

Hana’s eyes grew wide. “What?! You’re kidding right?”

Maxwell shook his head.

“Are you sure about that? You’re serious about us getting married?”

He shrugged. “Why not? We’re best friends. We obviously care about each other. And I’m a pretty great catch.”

“But, Max. I don’t love you like that.”

“I know. It would be more a marriage of convenience. To get your parents off your back. And Bertrand off mine.”

Hana fiddled with the hem of her skirt. “Max. You know I adore you, but I can’t ask you to do that for me. You deserve to marry someone who loves you. Not because their parents want you to. What if you meet someone? Or I do?”

Maxwell chuckled. “Listen. We can figure out all the details when the time comes. But think about it.” He stood up and leaned in, pressing a light kiss to her forehead, and walked away.

A few seats away, Liam, Olivia, and Drake sat next to each other in hushed tones. Drake nursed the glass of whiskey in his left hand as he listened intently to Olivia and Liam discuss what they had learned from Bastien about the blackmail and Tariq’s whereabouts.

“I still can’t believe your father would do something so abhorrent,” Olivia scowled.

Liam ran his hand down his face, exhaling deeply. “I know. I’m still in shock. I can’t help but think about Lady Riley. If only she was here…”

“Has anyone been able to reach her?” Drake asked, topping off Liam’s drink.

“Last I heard, she had spoken with Maxwell a few weeks ago. Since then, it’s been radio silence. She hasn’t responded to mine or Hana’s text messages at all,” Liam replied despondently.

Olivia leaned over and rubbed soothing circles on his back. “She’s obviously still upset. I can’t say I blame her. But that’s just one more reason to get to the bottom of this blackmail situation.”

Liam nodded and polished off his drink. “I have some phone calls to make. If you’ll both excuse me,” He stood up, bowed to Drake and Olivia, and made his way to the private quarters of the plane.

Drake shook his head. “I’ve never seen him like this. He’s not doing so well. We need to find Tariq soon.”

“But even if we find him, what if we can’t convince Riley to come back to Cordonia?” Olivia replied.

“She’ll come back,” a voice answered behind them. They both turned to see Maxwell standing there, phone in hand. “She’s struggling with the blowback from the scandal. Once we get Tariq to make a statement and clear Riley’s name, she’ll have to come home.”

“How can you be so sure, Max?” Drake asked.

Maxwell sighed and took a seat. “She loves him. I’ve seen the way her eyes light up when she talks about him. Right now, she’s just waiting for everything to blow over so she can come home. She’s not happy in New York and she knows it. She just doesn’t want to admit it yet. Cordonia is her home.”

The three of them sat in silence as the plane began its descent into Shanghai.

***

After the tea ceremony, and the blowout with her father, Hana decided to go for a walk to clear her head. She walked for several blocks until she reached the Yu Garden. A young mother and her two small children emerged from the entrance to the garden, speaking excitedly about their visit. A small smile spread across Hana’s face as she recalled the memories of going there as a child with her mother. Hana searched her pockets for Yuan to pay the entrance fee but stopped when she remembered that she had left her purse behind. Reaching back into her pocket, she pulled out her phone and called Maxwell.

“Hey, Hana! Everything alright? Olivia said you left the tea ceremony upset.”

“Yeah. Can you send a car for me? I’m at Yu Garden and I forgot my purse.”

“Sure. I’m sending one for you now. Hang tight.”

Hana hung up the phone and sat on a nearby bench. She smiled as she watched the families entering and exiting the gardens. A father and daughter held hands as they smiled and walked past Hana, and she felt a pain in her chest. She didn’t understand why her parents insisted on marrying her off to a man she was not in love with. Or any man, for that matter. She wished that they’d just let her find her own partner and let her live her own life. She stared out across the pond and watched the dragonflies land and take off from the cattails. Finally, a black town car rolled up and the driver stepped out.

“Ms. Lee?”

She turned from the bench to see him standing near the back door. “Yes, that’s me.”

The driver nodded and opened the door, motioning for her to get in. She stood from the bench and swept her skirt off, then climbed inside. The driver shut the door behind her and rounded the car to the drivers’ side. Once inside, he steered the car back towards Hana’s hotel. She leaned her head against the window and watched the city whiz by.

When they arrived at the hotel, Hana made her way up to her room and crawled into bed without removing her clothes. She laid in bed for several minutes, staring at the ceiling, before a knock at her door caused her to sit up.

“Hana, it’s Maxwell. Are you in there?”

She pulled back the sheets and climbed out of bed. She opened the door and he pushed past her and took a seat on the desk chair.

“Have you talked to Riley lately?” he asked.

“No. Why?”

A Cheshire grin spread across his face. “Because the next stop on this tour is her stomping grounds.”

Hana’s jaw dropped. “You mean…?”

“That’s right. Pack your favorite baseball cap. We’re going to New York.”

#trr fanfic #choices fanfic #the royal romance #trr au #scandalous court #nazariolahela fanfic

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nazariolahela · 4 years

Text

Best Beloved: Chapter 7

Catch up here

Series Tags: @burnsoslow @lady-calypso @irishwhiskys-blog @loveellamae

Synopsis: What happens when you find yourself crushing on your best friend? For years, Damien and Kaia have been friends, while secretly harboring feelings for one another. Everything changes one night after a little too much alcohol and years of pent up feelings. Can they control their emotions and salvage their friendship, or will the feelings they hold for one another destroy everything they have?

All characters are the property of Pixelberry Studios. Thanks for allowing me to borrow them.

Chapter Summary: One relationship progresses, while another comes to its end.

Kaia

“STRIKE! Suck it, Kaia!” Victoria shouted as her bowling ball struck all ten pins.

It was Thursday night at the local bowling alley — humorously-titled Split Happens — and my friends and I were hanging out for College Student Night. Nadia initially had the idea for me, her, Steve, and Hayden to double date, but, then I invited Vic and Drake, and it ended up being a group gathering. We invited Sloane, but she had other plans.

Hayden returned to our seats holding two drinks and a basket of fries. He set the fries on the seat in between us and handed me my drink. We’d gone out a few times since the night of the homecoming dance. For our first date, he took me to brunch at this cute little café off-campus. We talked for hours about everything from our favorite professors to our personal lives. He also told me stories about his dog, Dipper. We’d gone out three times after that, each date ending with a hug or a peck on the cheek, and a promise to call or text the next day.

“Your roommate is funny,” he said, grabbing some fries from the basket before shoving them in his mouth. I turned to where Victoria was sitting and saw her eyes glued to Drake’s backside as he bent over to pick up his bowling ball.

“She’s something. I got really lucky in the roommate department.”

He nodded. “Mine sucks. Wanna trade?”

“Ha! Not after the stories you’ve told me. I’m lucky Vic only brings Drake to the room when I’m not there. And no overnights, thank the gods.”

“Well, at least she respects your personal space. I found some lacy underwear in my bed last week. And I know they weren’t mine. Red is totally not my color.”

I laughed and reached for a handful of fries at the same time he did. Our hands brushed and I almost dropped mine at the contact. He looked down at the basket, then back up at me, and smiled as he popped the fries in his mouth. His tongue darted out to lick the granules of salt from his lips, and my eyes followed the movement. The two of us stared at each other until we were interrupted by Nadia slumping down in her chair next to me.

“You’re up, Kaia,” she sighed.

I set my drink down and walked toward the ball return. Finding the pink and white marble ball, I slipped my thumb, middle, and ring fingers into the finger holes, hefted the ball up, and walked up to the foul line.

I stared up at the scoreboard and surveyed my status. It was the tenth frame and I was only six points behind Victoria, so I just needed to knock seven pins down and I’d beat her. We started the game out friendly, but she let her competitive streak get the best of her, and it ended up getting chippy towards the end. Naturally, Steve was smoking all of us. It was stupid how athletically gifted he was. Hayden was in second, followed by Drake, Victoria, then me. Nadia brought up the rear, but she didn’t seem to mind. She was too focused on swapping spit with Steve once her turn was up.

I pulled the ball close to my chest and lined up my shot. Inhale. Exhale. I swung my arm back, before propelling the ball forward and releasing it. It rolled down the lane, teetering towards the gutter. I squatted down on my haunches as the ball rolled down the lane, waving my hands as if my psychic powers could redirect the ball back towards the pins. The ball reached the pins and clipped the sixth and tenth ones, causing them to wobble, before toppling over and taking the ninth pin with them. I groaned. Shit. I had two more balls to get at least four pins in this frame.

Behind me, Victoria giggled. “I got this in the bag,” she loudly proclaimed. I whipped around and narrowed my eyes in her direction as she squeezed Drake’s arm and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

“Don’t celebrate too soon. I still have two more balls this frame,” I said as I walked back to the return.

From the corner of my eye, I caught Hayden watching me. I turned my head towards him and we locked eyes. He smiled and took a sip of his soda.

“Any advice?” I asked.

He stood up and stalked towards me, his massive frame shadowing my much smaller one. He guided me towards the lane and stood behind me, positioning my body.

“The first thing you want to do is square your shoulders,” he said, placing one hand on each of my shoulders, straightening my posture. The touch of his hands burned through the thin fabric of my t-shirt. “Then, when you go to release, keep your backswing moderately high, it will give you a modest ball rotation and your release will be smoother.” He dragged his hand down the back of my arm to my elbow, sending goosebumps all over my body. He hooked his fingers in the crook of my arm and pulled my arm back to mime the motion.

“Also, try to rotate your wrist clockwise. This will cause the ball to hook in the opposite direction so you don’t sink it in the gutter,” he said, wrapping his large hands around my tiny wrist, and rotating it. His fingers brushed the underside of my wrist ever so gently and I sucked in a quick breath.

“O-okay! I think I got it,” I stuttered, pulling my hand from his grasp. I slipped my fingers in the grips of the ball and narrowed my eyes at the seven remaining pins. I tried to ignore Hayden’s burning gaze behind me as I lined up my shot and released my ball down the lane. Everyone in our group fell silent as the ball made its slow (okay, maybe it wasn’t that slow, but it sure felt like it) descent down the lane towards the remaining seven pins. I heard Victoria gasp as the ball struck the front pin dead center and took out the remaining pins.

When the pin sweep dropped and swept away the discarded pins, I whipped around and leaped into Hayden’s arms. “You’re a genius!”

He chuckled and squeezed me against him. “What do you mean? That was all you! You kicked those pins’ asses.” He set me back down and I ran over and high-fived Steve, Nadia, and Drake. I plopped down next to Victoria and she rolled her eyes and held up a hand for a high-five, smirking as our palms connected.

“Yeah, yeah. You got me.” She looked over at Hayden, who was talking with Steve about gods knows what. “So, how’s it going with you two?”

“Things are good. We’re taking it slow. Getting to know each other. I really like him. He’s funny. And so cute. How’s everything with you and Drake?”

She visibly blushed, and I reached over to grip her forearm. “Vic! Tell me EVERYTHING!”

“He’s amazing. We’re together almost every day, and the ones we aren’t, we talk on the phone every night. I’m crazy about him, Kaia. Dare I say, I might be in L-word.”

Victoria and Drake had been seeing each other for about two months and it warmed my heart to hear that she was head over heels for him. I smiled and pulled her in for a hug. “Oh, Vic! I’m so happy for you. You deserve to be happy.” I pulled back and noticed her eyes were shining with unshed tears. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s just that saying those words out loud, it feels real.” She looked away from me and I followed her line of sight to see her staring at Drake lovingly. She quickly wiped her eyes and stood up from her seat. “Alright. Enough emotions. You guys wanna play another game?”

“I’m up for it if everyone else is,” I replied. The rest of our group agreed and we set up for another game. When it was all said and done, Steve won (again) followed by Drake, and Hayden. Victoria ended up finishing two pins ahead of me, with Nadia once again bringing up the rear. We gathered our coats and returned our shoes to the rental. As we stepped out of the alley, the wind picked up. I tugged my jacket tighter against me. These late-October temps were pretty unpredictable and I was thankful I brought a heavier jacket.

I waved goodbye to my friends as Hayden wrapped an arm around my shoulders and guided me to his car. He opened the door for me and I winked at him as I slipped into the passenger’s seat. I watched as he jogged around the back of the car and climbed in the driver’s side.

“You hungry? Wanna go grab a bite before I drop you back off at your dorm?”

“Sure,” I replied. He nodded then fired up the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.

“Did you have fun tonight?” I asked.

He turned slightly, keeping his eyes on the road. “I did. Your friends are fun.”

I smiled. “I’m glad you said that. I was worried about how you’d get along with them. They can be a little much. Especially my cousin and my roommate.”

He laughed. “Your cousin is a trip! And her boyfriend seems nice. Your roommate, on the other hand...”

I turned in my seat. “Why? What did she say to you?”

“Nothing bad. But she cornered me near the restrooms and asked me what my intentions with you were.”

“And what did you tell her?” I asked, amused.

“I just told her that I wanted to get to know you and see where things went. My intentions are pure. Nothing inappropriate. Yet.” He laughed and wiggled his eyebrows.

I smirked and shook my head as we drove. A few minutes later, we pulled up in the McDermots drive-thru. I ordered a McBurger while Hayden got the Wild-Style Double McDermot Deluxe burger. We sat in the parking lot and ate our food in comfortable silence.

When Hayden finished eating, he balled up his sandwich wrapper and turned to me. “What are you doing this weekend?”

“Well, midterms are almost over, so I’m definitely catching up on sleep, but I can make time to see you. What did you have in mind?” I asked, throwing my wrapper in the take-out bag.

He smiled. “Well, we could go check out that new Keanu Reeves movie that hits theaters tomorrow if you like action movies.”

“Yeah, that sounds good. Text me this weekend and we’ll play it by ear.”

He nodded and put the car in gear, then pulled out of the parking lot and headed back to campus. We chatted about midterms for the rest of the ride. When he pulled into the dorm parking lot, we exited the car and he walked me to my room.

“So, I’ll see you in class tomorrow,” I said as I unlocked my door.

I swung it open and stepped over the threshold of my room then turned back to him. He leaned one arm on the doorframe, staring at me with those dark eyes. “Looking forward to it.”

We stared at each other for several beats, then he leaned in and pressed a searing kiss to my lips. I froze at first, not sure how to respond, but then gave in to the kiss. I gripped his biceps to steady myself as the kiss grew deeper. After what felt like hours, he broke the kiss and stepped back. Both of us stared at each other as we tried to catch our breaths.

“Sorry. I had to do that,” he said.

“Don’t apologize. It was nice,” I replied.

He smiled and cupped my cheek in his palm. “See you,” he said, then strode down the hallway towards the elevator.

I slipped into my room and shut the door, leaning against the back of it. I brought my fingers up to my lips, still feeling his kiss. I couldn't lie, I did like it. Almost as much as I liked the one Damien sprung on me at homecoming.

What the... Why was I thinking about him? Things with Hayden were never going to progress if I kept carrying a torch for Damien. I groaned and flung myself onto my bed. I was in deep shit.

***

Damien

I walked in the door of my childhood home and sighed. I loved coming here. It made me feel like I was whole. I missed home. Even before my dad passed away, I made an effort to come back at least once a month. More, if needed. Stepping aside, I let Alana walk in front of me and guided her toward the living room. The smell of empanadillas wafted through the house as my mother’s voice rang out from the kitchen.

“Is that you, mijo?”

“Yeah, Mama! Alana and I are here.”

She bustled out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron, then took my face in her hands. She pulled me down to her height and kissed my cheeks. “My boy! So good to see you.”

She then turned to Alana and her eyes lit up. “Hello, dear. How are you?” she asked as she placed a hand on Alana’s shoulder.

“I’m good Mrs. Nazario. How have you been?”

My mother nodded “Good, good. It’s always nice when my children come home.” She patted Alana on the cheek and ushered her to have a seat. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Water’s fine for me,” Alana replied.

My mother nodded then motioned for me to follow her to the kitchen. We entered and I spotted my youngest sister, Lucilla, leaning against the counter. “Dames! So nice of you to join us,” she smirked as she bit into an apple.

I moved forward and wrapped my arm around her neck, pulling her to my body, as I rubbed my knuckles against her scalp. She grunted as the apple she was holding dropped to the floor. “Hi, sis. Did you miss me?”

Lucilla reached over and pinched my sides. I yelped as I released her from my grip. “How could I miss you when you never go away?” she said as she leaned over to pick up the apple. “Did you bring your girlfriend?”

I looked to Mama, then back to her. “Yeah, she’s in the living room. Can you bring her some water?”

Lucilla rolled her eyes then opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. “That’s fine. We can catch up and talk shit about you.”

I swung my leg out to kick her, but she dodged me at the last second, laughing as she burst through the kitchen door to the living room. My mother chuckled to herself at the interaction. When my sister was out of the room she turned to me, smiling.

“How are you, my boy? School going well?”

I nodded, leaning beside her against the counter as she slipped the next batch of empanadillas into the deep fryer. “Yeah. Just finished midterms. I’m ready to be done already. Just gotta get through the rest of this semester and next.”

She smiled. “I’m so proud of you. Your father would be too. Just hang in there for a few more months. It will all be worth it. How is the internship going?”

“It’s great. I’m loving every minute of it. I think I’m going to pursue a career in Intelligence after graduation.”

Mama’s eyes lit up. “Oh, my boy! That’s so wonderful. I can see it now. My son will have a fancy government job in Washington D.C. I’ll never have to worry about you.”

I wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her in for a hug. I hated hearing that my mother worried about me. Especially when she had her own heartache and my younger sisters to worry about. I wiped a stray tear from her cheek and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Don’t worry about me. I’m going to be alright.”

“I know you will. But it’s my job to worry about you. As long as you’re taking care of yourself.” She pulled the empanadillas from the deep fryer and set them on a towel to cool. Her eyes darted to the kitchen door and she lowered her voice. “Everything alright with...” she jerked her head towards the living room.

I sighed and dragged a hand down my face. “Where do I start?”

My mother wiped her hands on her apron and guided me to the kitchen table. “Sit. Do you want something to drink?”

“Rum if you’ve got it,” I replied.

She moved over to the cabinet and grabbed the bottle of spiced rum. I smiled. It was my father’s favorite brand. She placed the bottle and two tumblers on the table and took a seat across from me. “Spill, my boy.”

“I don’t know, Mama. It just seems like our whole relationship is toxic. We barely spend time together, and when we do, we argue the whole time. She gets crazy insecure and accuses me of cheating on her just because I hang out with Kaia, and it-”

“Wait...Kaia? Kaia Park?” my mother interrupted.

“Uh, yeah. Why?”

My mother pursed her lips and stared at her hands. “I didn’t want to say anything back then, but I always wondered what happened between you two.”

“Mama, nothing happened between us. She was always too young for me. The last time anything happened was four years ago.” I purposely omitted the incident at homecoming, but my mother knew about the graduation party. She mentioned that Kaia seemed off in the days following, and stopped coming around the house after I left for college. It wasn’t until Nadia told Carina, who told Ma what happened, that she finally put two and two together.

“You were always smitten with that girl, no matter how much you lied to yourself.”

“Mama. It wasn’t like that. We’re best friends,” I said defensively.

“I know better, mijo. I watched you two when you were together. You looked at her like she was the only girl in the room. And she you.” She chuckled and took a sip of her glass. “You two were attached at the hip. I never suspected anything until that summer before your junior year. She came over one time when you weren’t home and your father found her hanging out in that treehouse. When he asked her what she was doing, she said she wanted to be here when you got back. He said he knew at that moment that you weren’t ‘just friends’ in her eyes.”

I swallowed a sip of spiced rum, the liquid burned as it went down. “Maybe so, but that doesn’t mean anything. She had a crush on me. I already knew that. But I never pursued her. She was underage.”

“Understandable. But do you remember your senior year of high school? When that boy she was seeing broke her heart? You went over to his house and threatened to beat him up if he even looked at her again.”

“Yeah, ‘cause she was my best friend and she was hurting,” I said.

My mother shook her head. “Guess how many times I caught you glaring at him while you watched them together? Every time he showed up at her house, you sat on that front porch and stared. If looks could kill, that boy would have dropped dead before he reached the front door.”

I twisted the tumbler in my hand. “I...I don’t know what to say…”

“You don’t have to say anything to me. You need to be honest with yourself, first and foremost. Then, you need to be honest with Kaia.”

The faint sounds of laughter came from the living room. I glanced at the door before turning back to Mama. “Won’t matter. She has a boyfriend. And I have a girlfriend. Who I love. And who’s sitting in the next room.”

My mother cupped my cheek in her palm. “Oh, mijo. You know I love you, and I want you to be happy. But that girl. She does not make you happy. I can see it in your eyes.”

Damn, she was good. How did moms always know what kids didn’t? “I have a lot to think about. But thank you for being there.” I sighed and finished off my rum, then collected both glasses and put them in the dishwasher.

Mama brushed the hair from my forehead and kissed the top of my head. She put the bottle of rum back in the cabinet and went back to preparing dinner. “Go tell Alana and Lucilla that dinner is almost ready.”

I swung the door open and saw my sister and girlfriend sitting on the sofa, looking through a photo album. A bottle of wine sat open on the coffee table accompanied by two glasses. Alana’s water bottle remained untouched. “Hey! Mama said dinner’s almost ready, so go wash up.”

Lucilla rose from the couch, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, okay.” She collected the wine bottle and glasses and retreated into the kitchen.

I turned to look at Alana, who set the photo album down and examined her nails. “Did you and your mom have a nice chat?”

“We did. Were you getting my sister drunk?”

She laughed humorously. “It was one glass, Damien. And she’s not driving anywhere. It will be fine.”

“She’s only 16, babe.”

I glanced down at the photo album which lay open on the coffee table. Photos of my sisters and me when we were kids filled the pages. I picked up the book and went to close it when one picture caught my eye. It was Nadia, Kaia, Carina, and I. I was maybe 17 at the time. We were sitting on the porch swing outside Kaia’s house. Nadia and Carina sat on the end, making funny faces, while Kaia and I were squished in the middle. My arm was slung around her shoulders, and I was gazing at her. Then, it hit me. I finally saw what my mother was talking about.

“Oh, shit,” I muttered under my breath. I looked up to see Alana eyeing me suspiciously. I opened my mouth to say something when my mother’s voice rang out from the kitchen.

“Dinner’s ready. Come eat!”

Alana turned on her heel and stomped towards the kitchen. I closed the photo album and put it back on the bookshelf behind the sofa. I raked my hand through my hair and made my way towards the kitchen. This was going to be a long dinner.

A few hours later, Alana and I were on our way back to campus. We drove in uncomfortable silence for most of the trip. We were about 10 miles from school when she turned to me, breaking the silence.

“How long have you been in love with her?”

I swallowed. Welp, better to rip off the bandaid now. “I don’t know exactly. I guess I’ve been lying to myself this whole time.”

“And to me…” she trailed off.

“Alana-”

“Don’t, Damien. Okay? Just...don’t. I’m not an idiot. You know, I didn’t want to believe it, but the signs were right in front of me this whole time. The stolen glances. The emotional unavailability. I guess I thought you'd eventually get over whatever it was you felt for her. I’m just sorry that whatever we had wasn’t enough to keep you interested.”

I gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white. “I’m sorry too. To be honest, I knew this relationship was doomed when you turned down my marriage proposal. I think I stuck it out, hoping you’d eventually change your mind. I wish we would have just called it quits then. It would have saved us both a lot of pain.”

She nodded. Neither of us said another word until we pulled into the campus parking lot. She reached out to open the car door, but stopped and turned to me. “For what it’s worth, I did love you. I guess it just wasn’t enough to spend forever together.” She gave me a weak smile, then got out of the car. I watched her walk away, a heavy weight lifted off of my shoulders. When she was out of sight, I got out and made my way to my dorm.

When I got inside my room, I threw myself on my bed and sighed deeply. I knew breaking up with Alana was the right thing to do, but I still felt like shit about it. I needed to get some things off my chest and there was only one person I wanted to talk to. I pulled my phone from my pocket and thumbed through my contacts until I pulled up her name. I opened the text app and typed out my message.

#best beloved #pm au #college au #friends to lovers #perfect match #choices fanfic #damien nazario #kaia park #damien x mc #nazariolahela fanfic

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nazariolahela · 4 years

Text

Something Domestic: Chapter 17

A/N: Hey y'all! This story is told in first-person narrative, from Riley’s (MC) POV. There will likely be smidges of canon in this, but not too much. Thanks for reading, and please leave feedback, and/or if you would like to be tagged.

I just wanted to give a quick thanks to everyone who read this series. It was so much fun to write. Big thanks to everyone who gave feedback and bugged me about releasing new chapters on time. (Which I couldn’t seem to do towards the end. Haha sorry about that.) Anywho, I really appreciate everyone who took the time to read my writing. Y’all are amazing. 😘😘

Catch up here

Series Tags: @burnsoslow @aworldoffandoms @dcbbw @ladyangel70 @texaskitten30 @sunandlemons @jlynn12273 @indiacater @jared2612 @rainbowsinthestorm @drakesensworld @badchoicesposts @msjr0119 @katurrade @blackcoffee85 @cynicalworlds-blog @hopefulmoonobject @cmestrella @sugarandspice-milkandhoney @superharrietsuper @custaroonie @lady-calypso @ritachacha @olympianpantsuit @desiree-0816 @the-soot-sprite @kate-mckenzie @narrytheworld @octobereighth @lynne1993 @queen-anastasia-universe @loveellamae @sarzkh31 @iaminlovewithtrr @queenjilian

Synopsis: When Riley Brooks takes a new job as a nanny for the affluent Rhys family in New York’s Upper East Side, she assumes she’s just going to care for the children of the couple who hired her. But instead of just school pick-ups and afternoon snacks, she also finds herself spending time with Liam, the handsome divorced dad. Can Riley control her feelings for Liam while still performing the job she was hired for?

All characters are the property of Pixelberry Studios. Thanks for allowing me to borrow them.

Chapter Summary: Will Riley and Liam get their Happily Ever After?

Epilogue - Six Months Later

Hana and I stand in the living room of our old apartment, packing up the last of the boxes. It still hasn’t hit me yet that this will no longer be our home. We had some good memories here. I pick up a framed photo of us in the Hamptons the summer after we graduated college. It’s only from a few years ago, but I can’t believe how young we look.

Hana balances a box on her hip, peering over my shoulder at the photo. “Oh my gods, look at us.”

I turn around and hold it out to her. “Do you want it?”

She shakes her head. “You keep it. I already took the one from our vacation at the shore. I look better in that one anyway.”

“Yes you do,” I laugh and set the photo into a box and tape the lid shut. I stand up and take one last look around the apartment, making sure we didn’t forget anything. I smile to myself as I recall the last four years. I remember we had to sleep on an air mattress in the living room that first night because the moving truck wasn’t scheduled to show up with our furniture until the next morning. The washing machine on our floor broke a week after we moved in, so we had to wash all our clothes in the tub. There was also the time our upstairs neighbor tried to get us to have a threesome with him.

Hana glances out the window then turns back to me. “Your ride is here. If you want, I can take the keys down to the landlord.”

I unhook mine from my keyring and place it in her palm before wrapping her in a hug. I can’t stop the tears from escaping. “I’m going to miss you so much.”

She laughs through her own tears. “I’m only moving to the West Village. It’s literally a 30-minute drive. I promise we’ll get together once a week.” Her hand moves to my cheek to brush away my tears and the sunlight pouring in through the window catches the diamond of her wedding ring. Hana and Meghan got married last week in an intimate ceremony. The engagement was a short one and caught everyone by surprise, especially Hana’s parents. They were against it at first, but eventually came around and walked her down the aisle. I stood in as Hana’s Maid of Honor, with Meghan’s older brother serving as her Best Man.

“Promise you won’t turn into one of those married bitches who ditches her best friend for her wife?” I sniffle.

“As long as you don’t turn into one of those trophy girlfriends who ditches her best friend for her rich boyfriend.”

We laugh and share another hug before I grab my boxes and make my way downstairs. When I reach the sidewalk, I spot Liam leaning against the side of his car, looking mouthwatering in dark wash jeans and a white t-shirt. A sexy smirk spreads across his face. After the drama with Madeleine, Liam and I became official. He wanted to move me into his penthouse almost immediately, but I told him I had to wait for my lease to expire before we took that next step. Although to be honest, I’ve been spending nearly every night at his place.

He approaches me, taking the boxes from my hands and presses a searing kiss to my lips. “Got everything?” he asks as he moves to set the boxes in the trunk.

“Yep, Hana’s dropping the key off right now.”

He slings an arm around me and pulls me to him, kissing my forehead. Hana emerges a few minutes later, holding her own boxes. Liam walks over and takes the boxes from her as she and I share one last hug.

“What are you doing this weekend?” I ask her.

She beams. “Well, we’re meeting with the adoption agency for a home study. But I’ll call you next week. We can get lunch.”

My heart warms. Hana and Meghan applied to adopt a child a few months ago. I was over the moon when she shared the news. We all suspect the sudden engagement and marriage was a way to fast-track the adoption process.

A few moments later, Meghan’s car pulls up behind Liam’s. Hana and I say our goodbyes as Meghan grabs the boxes from Liam and puts them in the back seat of her car. Hana hugs Liam then climbs in the front seat. I make my way over to Meghan.

“Hey! I just want to say thank you for always being there for Hana. Even when I wasn’t. She’s very lucky to have you.”

“I’m the lucky one. But thank you. I know we’ve had our differences, but you mean a lot to her, and I want you and me to be friends.”

“I think we can do that,” I say before pulling her in for a hug. “Take care of my best friend, please.”

“I will.”

Meghan gives us a quick wave, then climbs into her car and pulls away from the curb. I wipe the tears from my face as Liam comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around me, and plants a kiss on the top of my head. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good. Ready to get out of here?”

“Ready when you are.” He opens my car door and holds it while I climb inside. He then jogs around the front to his side and slips in. He presses the push start button and the car roars to life. Shifting the car in gear, he pulls away from the curb and sets off down the street. I stare out the window and watch our old apartment building disappear. Liam reaches over and takes my hand, entwining our fingers, and presses a soft kiss to the back of it.

“Have you heard from Andrew lately?”

I dig through my purse with my free hand and fish out my cellphone. I open my messages and show him a photo of Andrew, Derek and Adam, and their new nanny Emily all lounging on the beach in Cabo. They all look so happy. Emily took over as Andrew’s live-in nanny a few months ago. I was the one who recommended her. She has a degree in early childhood development and she’s great at what she does. The best part was that she was more than willing to take the job. As much as I enjoyed working with Andrew and his dads, I just couldn’t commit to the live-in part. Thankfully, they were very understanding. They send me weekly updates, thanking me for bringing her into their lives. Although I will miss working with them, I know I made the right choice.

Liam glances at the photo and smiles. “I’ll take you to Cabo if you want. I’ll take you wherever you want to go. Just say the word.”

“You can start by taking me home. To our home.”

He nods and moves through traffic on the way to our home. I’m excited to see the kids. I ended up leaving the agency shortly after Liam and I got back together. It was hard at first, but I love that it gives me more time to spend with Charlotte and Philip. Now that Liam and I are a couple, we wanted to make sure the kids understood what was going on. After he gained sole custody, we sat down with them and explained our relationship. They were beyond elated to have me back. Philip immediately asked me if we could go to the park. Charlotte asked me if her daddy and I were getting married.

Liam pulls the car up to the building and parks it in the underground parking area. We grab the last of my stuff and make our way to the elevator. Once we’re inside, he gently takes the boxes from my arms and sets them on the floor. He then wraps his arms around me, gripping my ass, and pulls me to his body. Our lips meet in a passionate kiss. His lips trail down my neck and shoulder, sending chills throughout my body. I fist his t-shirt, feeling him grow hard against me. This elevator better hurry the fuck up so I can officially fuck him in our apartment.

When we reach the top floor, the doors glide open and two high-pitched voices break us apart.

“DADDY! RILEY!” Charlotte and Philip shout in unison as they greet us in the foyer. Belinda waves goodbye as she slips out. Liam decided to keep Belinda on as a part-time nanny. Meaning she only watches the kids when needed. Charlotte’s arms wrap around my leg. I pick her up and hug her.

“Riley! Can we go play with my new dollhouse?”

“Later, sweetie. I need to finish unpacking. Why don’t you go wash up? It’s getting close to dinner time,” I tell her, pressing a kiss to her rosy cheek. Philip runs up to me and hands me a picture he drew. I examine the artwork. Stick figure Liam and I are holding hands with stick figure Charlotte and Philip on either side of us. I smile and make my way into the kitchen, attaching it to the fridge. Liam comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my stomach, and nuzzles my neck.

“Look at my little van Gogh. Let’s take your stuff up to our room. Then we can order something to eat. And later, I can eat you.”

My cheeks flame. Thankfully the kids aren’t within earshot. Moments later they come bursting into the room. He smirks and disappears up the stairs. I call out to Philip and Charlotte. “Hey, guys! Dinner will be here soon. Let’s go get washed up.”

A little while later, the food arrives and we sit down to eat. I glance around the table and observe. This whole thing feels right. I have a perfect man sitting next to me, two amazing kids that love me and I love like they were my own. I also have wonderful friends who care about me. I have the urge to pinch myself because none of this feels real. Liam looks over at me and gives me a warm smile that sends the butterflies in my stomach aflutter.

Later that evening as we’re putting the kids to bed, Charlotte grabs my hand.

“Riley? Are you going to live with us forever?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Liam smirk. I crouch down and brush her hair out of her face. “I hope so, sweetie. I love living with you and Philip. And your daddy, of course.”

She nods, her eyelids growing heavy. “Good. You should stay here.”

I lean in and kiss her forehead, then make my way to Philip’s room. He is sitting on his bed, holding his favorite bedtime story. “Riley? Will you read me a story?”

I glance at Liam standing in the doorway, then turn back to him. “Isn’t that your daddy’s job?”

“I want you to do it.”

I chuckle and sit down at the foot of his bed, taking the book from him. He curls under the covers and waves his father over. Liam sits cross-legged on the floor next to his bed as I read to Philip from his favorite book. Within a few minutes, he’s out like a light. Liam smiles and takes the book from my hand, placing it in the bookshelf. He grabs my hand and guides me down the hall to our room. I swing open the door and notice the dim glow of candles and rose petals scattered all over the bedroom. So that’s where he disappeared to before dinner. My eyes widen in shock.

“Liam? What is all this?”

I turn around just as he drops down to one knee, pulling a velvet box from his pocket. His blue eyes glow in the candlelight.

“Riley Brooks, queen of my heart. Ever since the day I met you, you’ve changed my whole world. Every day with you these last six months feels like a dream that I don’t want to wake up from. You’ve embraced my kids and love them as if you gave birth to them. You stayed patient with me through all my ex-wife drama. And even when I put you through hell, you could have told me to fuck off and never talked to me again. But you didn’t. All I want in this world is to dedicate my life to being the best man that I can be… for you. I have yearned to say these four words for a very long time… Will you marry me?”

He opens the box and reveals the most stunning emerald-cut solitaire engagement ring. This bad-boy has to be at least 10 carats. I don’t even want to know what he spent on it.

“Ohmygods, Liam!” I choke out through my tears. “Yes! A thousand times yes!”

He grins from ear to ear and slips the ring from its box, then onto my finger. He rises to his feet and cups my face in both hands, his blue eyes staring directly into mine. “I love you, Riley.”

“I love you, too.”

He brushes his lips to mine in a tender kiss that quickly grows intense. He presses my body to his, and I wrap my legs around his waist. He carries me over to the bed and places me on the mattress, trailing his lips down my neck and across my collarbone. His hands go to work slipping off my shirt and bra.

“You won’t be needing these for what I’m about to do to you.”

Oh wow. A chill runs through my body, one he notices. He grins and trails hot kisses down my chest, taking one of my nipples in his mouth and gently tugs it in his teeth. The sensation shoots straight to my core and I let a soft moan slip from my lips. He begins to make his way down my stomach when I stop him.

“Wait!”

He looks up at me. “What’s wrong?”

I sit up and roll us over until I’m on top, straddling him. His eyes widen as I lean in and begin kissing my way down his chest. I don’t break eye contact as I slowly unbuckle and unzip his pants. His chest rises and falls in rapid succession.

“Riley, you don’t have to do this.”

I reach up and place a finger on his lips as I kiss a trail down his stomach until I reach the waistband of his boxer briefs. “Shh...Let me do this for you.”

I pull his underwear down and his cock springs free. I circle my tongue along the tip and pump it twice before wrapping my lips around him. His hands reach down to tangle his fingers in my hair, tugging it slightly. I take this cue to flatten my tongue and run it along the underside of his dick. I look up and see his eyes rolling in the back of his skull. I grin as I continue pumping and sucking, bobbing my head up and down.

His voice comes out as a harsh, husky whisper. “Riley, baby. I’m not going to last much longer.”

I quicken my pace, switching from long slow pumps to short fast ones. He grips my hair tighter and guides my rhythm, fucking my mouth. The tip of his cock hits the back of my throat, and I moan, causing him to moan in response.

“Riley… baby. Fuck… I’m gonna... come.”

I suck in my cheeks and pump harder and soon after he spills down my throat. I swallow and lap up his hot cum. He pulls me up his body, breathing hard, and presses a deep kiss to my lips.

“Holy shit. Would it be too much to ask for you to do that every night?”

I laugh. “Only for you, baby.”

He rolls us over and settles on top of me, fitting his long body between my thighs. “You couldn’t be more perfect if you tried. I love you. And I want to spend every day for the rest of my life showing you how much I love you. I know I already asked you this, but will you marry me?”

I smile and run my fingers through his hair pulling him closer to me. “Yes.”

#something domestic #nanny au #trr au #choices fanfic #riley brooks #liam rhys #nazariolahela fanfic

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nazariolahela · 4 years

Text

Something Domestic: Chapter 16

I’m sorry this is so late. January has been crazy busy for me at work. Just wanted to let y’all know that next week is the final chapter in Riley and Liam’s story. I promise I will have that one out on time. 😉

Catch up here

All characters are the property of Pixelberry Studios. Thanks for allowing me to borrow them.

Chapter Summary: Riley makes a tough decision, and Liam finally confronts Madeleine.

“Miss Riley? Can we go see Dora and Diego again?” Andrew asks, tugging on my sleeve. We’re walking down Broadway on our way to lunch. After that, we’ll make our way to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Today is an in-service day, so he has the day off from school. It’s kind of nice to be able to go out in public again with the kids I watch. I haven’t encountered a single paparazzo in over a month. I smile as I adjust his stocking cap and wipe the snot running from his red nose. I then pull the collar of my winter coat up and we continue our walk.

“We will. But we need to eat first. Okay, bud?”

“Can I have chicken nuggets? Dad says I can’t have them, but Grandma always sneaks me some when she comes over.”

I giggle. Andrew is such a fun kid. He’s the sweetest nine-year-old I have ever met. And always so polite. I’ve been his nanny for almost a month now. Every morning, he greets me at the door of their townhouse with a picture he drew the night before. And every evening before I leave, he invites me to stay for dinner and offers to share his food with me. His dads hired me after Madeleine kicked me to the curb. Thankfully the agency didn’t terminate my employment. During my first interview with Adam and Derek, I asked them if my tabloid issue would be a problem. They looked at each other and smirked. Then Adam reminded me that neither of them were interested in me that way, so I have nothing to worry about.

Truthfully, they’re the nicest couple I’ve worked for. They go out of their way to make sure I have everything I need to take care of their son. They’ve even invited me to move in with them to be a live-in nanny. Both Adam and Derek travel a lot for work, so I spend a good amount of time with Andrew. Derek’s mom stays with him in the evenings and on weekends when they’re both gone, but she’s getting older and they fear she won’t be around too much longer. They offered me free room and board, and a personal vehicle to use at my leisure, but I can’t seem to commit to giving up my apartment.

We arrive at Fred’s — one of my favorite spots in Manhattan — and grab a table. It’s my preferred restaurant in New York City that allows dogs. Even though I haven’t had a dog since high school, I love coming here because it reminds me of my parents’ old Lab, Coco. The waiter arrives at our table and I order the Turkey Club for me and the Sesame Chicken Fingers for Andrew. As we eat, Andrew talks about their upcoming trip to Cabo and asks me if I’m going to come with them.

“I don’t know, bud. I’d have to check with your dads.”

“They said that if you moved in with us, you could,” he replies and shoves a chicken strip in his mouth. I guess that’s one of the perks of being a live-in nanny. You’re basically a member of the family.

After lunch, we head over to CMOM. Andrew helps Diego rescue animals and plays the drums at Dora’s house. I laugh as I snap photos of him on my iPhone, sending them in a group text to Derek and Adam. After a few hours of fun, I gather Andrew up and we make our trek back to his townhouse. On the way home, we walk past an ice cream shop. He grabs my hand and begs me to buy him a treat. My mind wanders to when I used to take Philip here and my eyes begin to water. Nope. Not gonna cry.

“Sure. Let’s go, bud,” I reply as we enter the shop.

We arrive home shortly after and I send Andrew upstairs to wash up for dinner. A few minutes later, the door opens and Derek’s mom, Patricia walks in.

“Hello, dear. How was your day? I assume my grandson was on his best behavior?”

I laugh. “He always is.” She smiles and pats my shoulder before making her way into the kitchen to start preparing dinner. I follow her into the kitchen and pull ingredients out of the fridge for her.

“So, how are things with the boy toy?” she asks as she cuts up some vegetables.

“I think I’m going to have to break up with him.”

She stops cutting and stares at me. “What’s going on?”

I chew on my bottom lip. “I’m in love with someone else.”

She points the knife in her hand to a stool, motioning for me to sit. “Spill it.” I tell her everything about Liam and me, the kids, the divorce, and the tabloid scandal. I then tell her about Josh and how nice and how good looking he is, and how bad I feel for wanting to dump him. Her brows form a deep V as she listens to my sob story. Then, she reaches over and places her hand on mine.

“Let me tell you something, dear. Before I married my Elliot, there was someone else. Sure, he was a whole bowl of eye candy and a demon in the sack, but he wasn’t what I needed. We didn’t have that connection.”

I frown. “But, he’s been so good to me these past few weeks. I feel like an asshole.”

“You will for a while, sure. But it’s not fair to give him false hope with another man waiting in the wings. The best thing you can do is be honest with him.”

“But what if he hates me?”

She chuckles. “If he truly cares about you, he’ll want you to be happy.”

I nod, taking in her words, then check my watch. “Shit. I gotta go meet Josh. I’ll see you in the morning, Patricia! Thanks for everything!” She waves as I grab my bag from the living room and rush out the door.

***

Half an hour later, I sit at Starbeans, fiddling with the cardboard sleeve of my coffee cup. I replay the events of last week. After a month of not talking to Hana or Liam, I was able to reconnect with both of them. My heart feels full again. Except now I have to work up the courage to break things off with Josh. To be honest, it’s always been about Liam. Even after no contact for a month, I held out hope he would find out who leaked the story and come crawling back to me.

Speaking of. I can’t believe that bitch Madeleine set me up. I try to figure out why she would do that to me. I’ve never been anything but an exceptional nanny to her kids. Why would she try to ruin my life? Liam said it was because she never wanted the divorce, but wanted to continue fucking other men. Philip and Charlotte are the perfect children and from what I learned from his friends, Liam was a wonderful husband. Some people are never happy, I guess.

I spot Josh strolling into the coffee shop. He’s wearing his signature charcoal gray suit, his phone pressed to his ear, and his black leather messenger bag draped over his shoulder. His brown eyes sparkle as he locates me and makes his way over to my table. In another life, I think I could be happy with Josh. But ever since I met Liam, I haven’t been able to look at another man like that. He ends his call and leans over, pressing a kiss to my cheek. I motion for him to take a seat.

“Let me grab something to drink,” he says, moving toward the counter.

I point to the coffee cup sitting across the table. He smiles and takes a seat, bringing the cup to his lips, and takes a sip. “So, how was work today? Did you and Andrew do anything fun?”

“We did. I took him to Fred’s, then we visited CMOM.”

He smiles. “That’s awesome. Glad you guys had fun. And how are things with Hana? Have you guys been talking?”

Josh is aware of mine and Hana’s falling out. I practically talked his ear off about it on our first date. Instead of running for the hills at the first sign of my crazy, he sat there and listened, offering advice on how to fix our relationship. Another reason why I feel bad about what I’m about to do. It’s only been a few weeks, but he’s a great guy and I really like him. The only problem is my heart doesn’t belong to him. Patricia’s words ring in my mind. It wouldn’t be fair to string him along while pining for another man.

“Things are good. We’re having dinner later this week.”

“I’m glad you two could make up. I know how hard it’s been not having her in your life. What about Liam?”

I pause, “What about him?”

“Your friend Drake said you guys were going through a rough patch as well. He didn’t give up too many details, but he said you guys were close.”

I chewed my bottom lip. “Oh, I...I actually used to work for Liam. I was his kids’ nanny. Until I was let go.”

He cocks an eyebrow and waits for me to continue. “His ex-wife was jealous of our relationship, so she leaked their divorce to the tabloids and blamed me for it.” I then proceed to tell him everything about the last few months.

Josh nearly spits his coffee. “Wait...you are the homewrecking nanny?” He sputters, wiping his chin. “How did I not put two and two together? You said your old boss fired you because she thought you were sleeping with her husband. And when I saw him at the bar last week, I remembered reading about it in the tabloids.” He shakes his head. “I don’t know why I didn’t recognize you from the story.”

Well, this is awkward. “Yeah...that’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about. Look, Josh. You’re an amazing guy, but Liam and I…”

His face falls. “Wait, are you breaking up with me?”

My stomach turns. I’ve only broken up with one boyfriend. He was the star quarterback of my high school football team, and it was after I caught him feeling up the head cheerleader under the bleachers after homecoming. I lean across the table and take his hands in mine. “I’m so sorry Josh. I never meant to hurt you. The truth is, I’m in love with Liam. I have been. And it’s not fair to you to pretend that I’m not.”

He sighs and drops his head. “You know. I always thought this day would come. You’re obviously way out of my league, but I was hoping my luck would change. Is there anything I could have done differently?”

I shake my head and squeeze his hands. “You are an amazing guy and you’re going to make some woman very happy someday. I just know it.”

He nods and stands from his seat. Leaning in, he presses a chaste kiss to my lips. “See you around, Riley,” he says, then turns and walks out. When he’s gone, I exhale and rub the ache in my chest. Just then, my phone chimes. I look down to see a message from Liam. Weird timing. I look around the room to see if he’s here, then open the text.

Here we go. I gather up my purse and hail a cab to my apartment. I drop off my tote bag and freshen up. Twenty minutes later, I arrive in the lobby of Liam’s penthouse and the memories of my firing come flooding back. A woman I don’t recognize sits at the receptionist's desk. She can’t be older than 18. She looks up from her phone and plasters a huge smile on her face. “Good evening, ma’am. How can I help you?”

“Riley Brooks, here to see Liam Rhys.”

She nods and reaches into the desk drawer, pulling out a familiar black envelope. “Mr. Rhys requested that I give this to you. You can just head on up.”

I swallow and take the envelope. I swear this is déjà vu. I take a deep breath and make my way to the elevator, pressing the keycard to the panel. As the car makes its ascension to the penthouse floor, I can’t stop the tears from falling. Being back here brings back so many memories. When the elevator car reaches the top floor, I quickly wipe my cheeks and step into the foyer. Nothing has changed here. Except for the energy. I move further into the townhouse, taking it all in. I hear shuffling and turn to see Liam coming down the stairs. His blue eyes light up as he sees me, and he rushes down the stairs two at a time. Scooping me up in his arms, he plants a slow, sensual kiss to my lips.

“God, how I’ve missed you,” he says, gripping my hips and pulling me against him. His tongue darts out, slipping between my parted lips. Our kiss grows fervent and his hands slip under the hem of my sweater, his fingertips slowly dragging up my sides. I haven’t felt him in so long, my body almost forgot how good it feels when he touches me. We start pawing at each other’s clothes, not noticing Leo stroll into the penthouse.

“Jesus, you two. Get a room.” We break apart as Leo approaches. He inhales deeply. “Smells like sex in here. You two waste no time, huh?”

I shoot him a death glare and Liam just rolls his eyes. “Well, we’re here, let’s get this show on the road,” he says to his brother.

Leo smirks and reaches into his pocket, retrieving his phone. He begins tapping on the screen. “All in good time, little brother. You have to be patient.”

Liam sighs and grabs my hand, guiding me to the sofa. We both take a seat and watch as Leo finishes his text and slips his phone back in his pocket. He sits on the adjacent sofa, wearing a shit-eating grin. I look at Liam in confusion.

“What’s going on?” I ask. Leo holds up his finger. Moments later, the elevator chimes and the doors slide open. Madeleine strolls in, her nose buried in her phone.

“Let’s make this quick, Leo. I have to pick up the kids befo-” she stops when she looks up and sees Liam and I sitting on the couch. Her eyes narrow when she looks at me. “What is she doing here?”

Liam snorts. “I should be asking you the same thing. This is my house.”

“Your brother brought me here. Said we needed to talk.”

Leo takes this moment to stand up and motion for Madeleine to sit. “Have a seat. You, me, my brother, and his nanny need to have a chat.”

“I don’t have time for this,” she snaps and turns to walk away.

“Madeleine. Sit.” Leo says, his tone flat. She stops in her tracks. After a few moments, she sighs and moves to sit on the chair.

Leo grins. “Well, since we’re all here. Let’s get down to brass tacks. I’ve asked you all here because we have a bit of a conundrum. My charming brother here has been trying to get to the bottom of this tabloid scandal for the last month.”

“Why are we still talking about this shit? The divorce is final,” Madeleine huffs, rolling her eyes.

My blood boils. “Because ‘this shit’ damn near ruined my career. And I want answers!” I shout. Liam places his hand on my back rubbing it in slow, soothing circles. I take a deep breath. “I want to know who did this to me and why.”

She smirks. “What do you want me to do about it? I don’t care about your career. I care about my kids. Whoever leaked it put them in danger.”

Liam sits up, void of emotion. “You mean you?”

His accusation catches her off guard. “Wh-what? What are you talking about?”

He turns to his brother, both of them sharing an amused look. Madeleine’s eyes dart from Leo to Liam, then to me. “What are you guys getting at? You think I did this?”

“We know you did, sweetheart. And we have proof,” Liam says.

“Bullshit.”

Liam looks at Leo and nods his head. Leo pulls out his phone and taps a few buttons before placing it face-up on the coffee table The audio begins playing.

“So, what’s going on with you and my brother?”

“We’re divorced. What do you mean?”

“Are you getting back together?”

*laughter* “No. Not even a little. To be honest, I don’t know why I married him in the first place.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear that. What about your new guy?”

“Rashad? Eh...he’s nice. But ohmygods, he’s so boring.”

“Boring? How so?”

“All he ever talks about is his stupid firm. If I have to hear one more time about international contacts and the Portera Group, I’m going to pull my hair out strand by strand.”

*laughter* “Well, what’s going on with the nanny situation? I trust Belinda is working out well.”

“Better than I could have imagined. At least I don’t have to worry about the kids when they’re in her care.”

“C’mon, Maddy. What was wrong with Riley?”

*laughter* “Where do I even start? I should have never hired someone right out of college. All these young girls see is a paycheck. They don’t give a shit about the kids.”

“That’s odd. I never got that from Riley. She seemed to really like the kids.”

“That’s what she wanted you to see. How many times did she put my kids in jeopardy with the fucking paparazzi? And those stupid ass tabloids. My kids don’t need to see lies about their parents in some trash rag. Charlotte told me she looked through one of them and saw a picture of herself. Then she started asking me questions. They’re only six and four, but they’re not stupid. That’s why I had to get rid of her.”

“Get rid of her?”

“Yes. I had Mara leak the divorce story to the tabloids and blame Riley.”

“Wow. Why couldn’t you just have fired her?”

“Liam would never go for that. He’s so pussy whipped. That was always his problem. He only saw her as a piece of ass.”

*laughter* “You know my brother never could resist a pretty face. That’s why he ended up with you.”

“And I ended up with the wrong brother. You know it’s always been you. I just wish you wouldn’t have waited so long to see it.”

“Madeleine. I didn’t want to interfere with what you and my brother had.”

“Leo. Don’t give me that. I was never in love with Liam. I thought you knew that. How many times did I call you when I was married to him? If you would have said the word, I would have left him for you just like that.” *fingers snapping*

“What about the kids?”

*laughter* “That’s what family court is for. Do you actually think the judge would let him take them? I can play the neglected wife quite well. The only reason he agreed to joint is because I manipulated him into playing the ‘perfect marriage’ card. You should have seen the look on Riley’s face. After the tabloid story leaked, all our friends thought he cheated on me with the nanny. The whole thing played out just like I planned it.”

“Wow. You are one diabolical woman, Maddy.”

“You don’t know the half of it.”

The audio ends and everyone sits stunned. Except for Leo. He just leans back — a smirk on his face — examining his nails. Liam’s face is beet red and he takes several deep breaths, trying to control his rage. Madeleine’s mouth hangs open in disbelief, all the color drained from her face. I sit back, trying to swallow the baseball-sized lump in my throat. Finally, Leo breaks the silence.

“So, what do you have to say for yourself, Maddy?”

Her face twists up in anger. “You set me up, you asshole.”

I leap from my seat. “You set me up! You hateful bitch!” Liam grabs my arm, trying to pull me back down. Thank gods his grip is strong because I’m two seconds away from leaping over this coffee table and tearing her face off.

“You broke up my family, you skank.”

Liam’s voice booms. “Don't pin this on her. You broke up our family when you slept with another man.”

“You could have made this easier on yourself if you would have just agreed to my deal, Liam. We could have had the perfect family front and you’d still get to keep your whore.”

“Fuck you, Madeleine,” I spit out.

“Okay, okay. As fun as this is to watch. It’s getting a little too heated for my taste,” Leo says, standing up to step between us. “We all know Maddy here is a hateful shrew. But what do you want from her, Liam?”

“Sole custody. Or I take this to the judge.”

“You wouldn’t,” she snaps.

“Watch me.”

She stares him down with a look of absolute hate. Her eyes dart to me, then to Leo. After several long seconds, her head drops back and she rolls her eyes. “Fine. You can have sole.”

Liam nods. “I’ll have my lawyers draw up the new paperwork. Now, get the fuck out of my house.”

She scoffs then gathers up her things and stomps out. Leo turns back to us, a huge smirk on his face. “This was fun. Let’s do it again sometime.” He leans over and claps his brother on the shoulder, then winks at me and heads toward the elevator.

Once we’re alone, Liam turns to me and frames my face in his hands. “I’m so, so sorry, Riley. I had no idea.” I place my hands on his chest and nod, trying not to cry.

“I never realized she hated me that much. All I cared about was being Philip and Charlotte’s nanny. I didn’t take this job because I thought you were hot. I took it because I love kids and I felt this was a good fit. Falling in love with you was just a bonus.”

He grips my chin in his thumb and forefinger, tipping my face up towards his. “You’re in love with me?”

“Of course, I am.”

He smiles and leans down to claim my mouth with his. The kiss is soft at first but quickly grows rough and passionate. He lets out a low moan and I take that as an opportunity to slide my hand beneath the waistband of his pants.

“Fuck, Riley,” he growls.

I grab his hand and walk him up the stairs to his bedroom. Once we’re there, I push up his shirt and plant featherlight kisses across his chest. He grasps my face in his hands, pulling it to his and kissing me hard. The kisses become hotter, teeth tugging lips, and hands roaming every inch of each other’s bodies. We shed our clothes and I climb onto his four-poster bed.

“You know. I saw this bed on my first day here, and I almost jumped on it to test it out. Good thing I didn’t, huh?”

“If I came here and saw a beautiful woman like you in my bed, I’d have thought I’d died and gone to heaven,” he smirks.

I wrap my hands around his neck and pull his body on top of mine, his weight pinning me down on the soft mattress. His stiff cock finds my pussy, nudging at my opening. I grip his length in my hand and stroke it up and down my clit. He trails kissed down my neck, across my collarbone, and to my breasts. He takes one of the pink buds in his mouth and begins to suck. The sensation shoots to my core. He moves to the other one, giving it a gentle nibble. Pretty sure I’m dripping wet right now.

He continues kissing his way down my body, his tongue drawing a line down my naval until he reaches the apex of my thighs. His hot breath sends a shiver through my body. His tongue flicks my clit and I nearly come on his face at that moment. Another stroke of his tongue against my folds elicits a moan from me. Before long, I’m writhing against his face, my orgasm slamming into me. I lay on the bed, struggling to catch my breath as he looks up at me, his face shiny from my arousal. He kisses his way up my body and captures my lips.

“Condom?” I ask. He nods and reaches into the nightstand to retrieve one from the drawer. He tears it open and rolls it over his cock. I lean up and capture his lips in a sweet kiss, then he thrusts into me. I wrap my legs around his hips, pulling him close.

“Riley…” he grunts.

“I’m right here, Liam.” He presses his forehead against mine and grips my ass, his hips pistoning as he drives his cock into my pussy. I feel another orgasm tear through me with blistering heat. I look up at him and see his eyes close as his orgasm follows shortly after. He collapses on top of me, breathing heavily and dotting my neck and face with kisses.

“Wow…Holy shit, Riley.”

Yep, pretty much how I feel right now. Who knew that it could feel this good after a month. I run my hands through his hair, caressing the soft strands. He sucks in a deep breath, then rolls off of me, and pulls me into his chest. He plants a soft kiss on my shoulder.

“Can I tell you something?”

I turn back to look at him. “Sure.”

“Earlier. When you said you were in love with me. Did you mean it?”

I nod.

He smiles and presses a kiss to my forehead. “Good. Because I’m in love with you, too.”

#something domestic #nanny au #trr au #choices fanfic #riley brooks #liam rhys #trr fanfic #nazariolahela fanfic

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nazariolahela · 4 years

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Best Beloved Masterlist

Best Beloved (A Damien x F!MC Friends to Lovers AU)

A/N: I have also moved this series over to my personal fic blog in case this page accidentally gets deleted.

Hartfeld University Student IDs

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

#best beloved #pm au #college au #friends to lovers #perfect match #choices fanfic #damien nazario #kaia park #damien x mc #nazariolahela fanfic

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nazariolahela · 4 years

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Something Domestic: Chapter 14

This week’s chapter is a bonus from Liam’s POV. I was really excited to write his side of the story. I hope you enjoy it too.

Catch up here

Series Tags: @burnsoslow @aworldoffandoms @dcbbw @ladyangel70 @texaskitten30 @sunandlemons @jlynn12273 @indiacater @jared2612 @rainbowsinthestorm @drakesensworld @badchoicesposts @msjr0119 @katurrade @blackcoffee85 @cynicalworlds-blog @hopefulmoonobject @beardedoafdonutwagon @cmestrella @sugarandspice-milkandhoney @superharrietsuper @custaroonie @lady-calypso @ritachacha @olympianpantsuit @desiree-0816 @the-soot-sprite @kate-mckenzie @narrytheworld @octobereighth @lynne1993 @queen-anastasia-universe

All characters are the property of Pixelberry Studios. Thanks for allowing me to borrow them.

Chapter Summary: Liam and Leo try to get to the bottom of the tabloid scandal and Liam tries to win Riley back.

Almost a month had passed since the tabloid incident. In that time, the press found plenty of other scandals to latch on to. Not hard to do in this city. Lucky for me, my divorce has all but been forgotten about. I still get the occasional paparazzo bombarding me with questions of if I’m “banging the new nanny,” but for the most part, they’ve moved on.

The last month has been hard on the kids as well. After Madeleine fired Riley, she replaced her almost immediately. Seems kind of suspicious to me, but whatever. The new nanny — a woman named Belinda — is a lovely woman, but the kids haven’t quite warmed up to her like they did Riley. They keep asking me when she’s coming back. I don’t have the heart to tell them that she probably won’t. They were visibly upset when I told them she would no longer be their nanny. Charlotte cried. Philip asked me if she didn’t like us anymore. They still talk about how much they miss her. To be honest, I do too.

If we’re being honest here, I never once thought she did it. And not because we were involved. I saw how she was with my kids and I could tell she genuinely cared for them. She treated them like they were her own. Many nights I would come home from work and hear Philip talk about all the fun things he and Riley did, or hear Charlotte gush about how pretty and nice Riley was to her and how she let her wear whatever she wanted to school. I also remember all the times she told me that she didn’t care about my money, so there’s no way she would sell us out for a payday.

It’s Monday morning and I’m sitting in my office at Cordonia Enterprises looking over the numbers for this quarter when my brother Leo strolls in, looking like he had just woken up from a week-long sex and booze bender. He moves over to the bar cart, pours himself three fingers of scotch, and plops down in the seat across from me.

“You look like shit, little bro,” he smiles behind the rim of his glass.

“You would know. You smell like a brothel.”

He laughs loudly and takes a sip of his scotch, then sets it on the desk. “Well, you’re ex-nanny needed someone to comfort her after you tossed her out on the street, so I offered her my services. Did you know she makes the cutest noises when she cums?” He makes a show of adjusting himself. “My balls are getting tight just thinking about it.”

I clench the pen in my hand with enough force that my knuckles turn white. I know he’s trying to fuck with me, so I take a deep breath, controlling my rage. “What the fuck do you want, Leo?”

He chuckles and kicks his feet up on my desk. I love my brother, but he can be a real dickhead at times. When Madeleine and I started dating, he gave me shit for months about me picking up his ‘sloppy seconds.’ Once, he asked me if she ever called out his name in bed. Fucker. After we were married, he warned me that she was just using me to get back at him. I probably should have listened to him. When I announced to my family that she and I were splitting up, he revealed that she had tried to seduce him on more than one occasion. Thankfully, he had no interest in getting involved with her again. My brother may be a total asshole, but he wouldn’t deliberately hurt me.

“So, I think I know how to help you with your little predicament.”

“My predicament?”

“The tabloid leak. I think I know who was behind it. Or at least had something to do with it.”

“It’s been a month, man. Everyone's forgotten about it,” I say, setting my pen down.

“Really? Because your ex-wife called me last week.”

I raise my brows and give him my full attention. This should be good.

“Yeah, she called me crying, telling me how much she misses me. Not like I haven’t heard that over and over the last seven years. I warned you about her, Li. That chick is crazy. I’m pretty sure she was drunk. So anyway, she asks me if I knew about you and your nanny. Told her I had heard some things. Then she gives me some pathetic sob story about how you made her do what she did. ‘I had to do it, Leo. Who knows how long this has been going on?’” I nod and wait for him to continue.

“I ask her to elaborate. She sputters out some lame-ass excuse about how you fucking the nanny behind her back pushed her into the arms of another man. The timing clearly didn’t line up since we all know you filed before you hired Riley, but I didn’t tell her that. I just let her dig her hole. She goes on about how she took matters into her own hands. Now that Riley’s out of the picture, things can go back to normal.” He laughs and finishes off his drink.

“What does Riley have to do with all this?” I ask.

“I asked her the same thing. She said that she knew Riley was no good from the beginning, but that you had convinced her to hire her because of her background. She suspected something was up after the paparazzi incident at the park, but that you had talked her out of doing something rash. That’s when she convinced you to hire Mara to keep tabs on Riley. I guess Mara had been giving her updates. She also rambled on about how Mara always bought Riley those tabloid magazines. That’s when she said she knew Riley had something to do with it. She didn’t come outright and say it, but the signs are all there.”

I struggle to process the info that was just dumped in my lap. Would Madeleine really stoop that low? I know she wasn’t happy about me filing for divorce, but would she be vindictive enough to put our children in harm’s way just to get back at me? Why was the nanny collateral damage? And why would she wait a month to say anything? Guilt, perhaps? None of this makes sense.

“Do you have proof of this, Leo?”

“Dude. Why the fuck would I lie about it? You know damn well she still wants me. Even with her new man in the picture. Seven years she’s tried to get me to take her back. I wish I would have recorded it so you could listen to how desperate she sounded.”

“Not that, you dick. About the leak.”

“Oh yeah, that. No, I don’t have proof. But I have a hunch. And I’m usually 90% right about these things.”

I drop my head in my hands. Yep, the signs are all there. Now, I just have to find a way to prove what I’ve suspected all along. I pull out my phone and shoot a group text to Max, Drake, and Liv, asking them to meet up tonight. If I’m going to nail my ex-wife to the wall, I need my most trusted friends to help me.

***

Drake, Maxwell, Olivia, my brother, and I meet at The Double Tappe after work. The place is empty — not unusual for a Monday — giving us the whole bar to ourselves. We all congregate in one of the booths in the back and Leo repeats what he told me this morning. Drake and Max are completely shocked by the revelation. Olivia, however, sits there stone-faced.

“I knew there was a reason I didn’t like her,” she says.

“You don’t like anyone,” Maxwell retorts, then flinches when Olivia punches him in the arm. He rubs the spot where she made contact and turns to me. “Whatcha gonna do about this, Li?”

“I don’t know. It’s been a month, so it’s going to be hard to prove at this point. I need solid evidence that Madeleine was involved because she’ll never admit to it. The first person I need to talk to is Mara. Hopefully, she can give us some answers.”

“What about a wire-tap? I know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy,” Drake shrugs in between sips of whiskey.

“Pretty sure that’s illegal in this state,” Olivia says.

Leo snaps his fingers. “That’s true, but New York is a one-party consent state. So, if one of us gets Madeleine to confess and records it, we technically wouldn’t be breaking the law.”

“Okay, so who could we get to coerce that kind of information out of her?” I ask.

Leo leans back and grins, crossing his arms behind his head. We all look at each other, knowing exactly who will handle this task. If anyone can persuade Madeleine to spill the beans, it’s definitely him.

“How are we going to do this?” Max asks.

“Well, I say loverboy here tries to seduce her. She’ll tell you anything you want to hear if she thinks she can get you back,” Olivia says.

“Well then, it’s settled. Work your magic, Leo,” Drake replies. The five of us clink our glasses in celebration, although it feels premature since we don’t have actual evidence against her yet. We spend the rest of the evening sharing drinks, memories, and laughter. It’s the most fun I’ve had in a long time. No kids, no work, no responsibilities. I haven’t done anything like this since college. As we gather up our things to leave, Drake pulls me aside.

“Hey man, have you talked to Riley, lately?”

“I’ve been trying to call and text her for weeks, but it’s been radio silence since Madeleine fired her. I even dropped by her apartment a few times, but no one was home. She must think I blame her for all this.”

He sighs and runs his fingers through his hair. “She does. We tried to tell her that you don’t, but it’s understandable why she would think that. I guess she and Hana had a falling out as well. Last I heard, Hana moved out, so she’s living there by herself. I don’t know where she's working now. She doesn’t come around much anymore. You should try to talk to her again. Maybe explain your side of the story.”

“Yeah. It’s just… I fucked up, Drake. I don’t blame her for anything. I should have told her that.” I rub the back of my neck. “Truth is, I think I’m in love with her.”

“You need to tell her, man.”

I nod, clapping him on the shoulder, then head for my car. The drive back to my penthouse is long, but it gives me time to think. I think back to what Drake told me. About her and Hana’s falling out. I know they’ve been best friends for a long time. Now, she’s alone. To think that if she never met me, none of this would have happened. It’s hard not to blame myself for all of this.

I think back on how different things are with Riley then they were with Madeleine. When I met Madeleine, I was more in love with the idea of her. I married her to please my father, and although I’ll always care for her as the mother of my children, the love was never really there. When I found out she cheated, I was almost relieved.

The night Riley left, I sat in my study and went over everything that had happened over those few weeks. I feel my chest start to tighten. What is this? Emotion? I had learned to turn them off after Madeleine, but somehow, Riley made them come back. And suddenly, I want to fight for what we have. I never fought for Madeleine, but I feel the urge to for her. She’s the only woman I’ve ever felt that desire for. Making a decision, I take the next U-Turn and make the trip to her apartment.

I arrive outside her building a few minutes later. Her bedroom window faces the street, and when I peer up at it, I notice the light is on. That’s a good sign. It means she’s home. I exit the car and make my way up to her floor. I pause outside her door, unsure of what to say to her. Come on, Li. Quit stalling and tell her how you feel. I knock on her door a few times and wait patiently for her to answer. I hear shuffling on the other side of the door, and when it swings open, the face on the other side is not the one I’m expecting.

“Can I help you?” A young man answers the door, wearing only a pair of low-hanging joggers. He eyes me confusingly.

“Uh…” I stumble, double-checking to see if I have the right apartment. “Is Riley here?”

“Maybe. Who’s asking?”

Must resist the urge not to knock this kid on his ass. “Tell her Liam needs to see her.”

He rolls his eyes and holds a finger up, signaling me to wait, before closing the door in my face. I hear him call out to her on the other side, “Hey, Riley. There’s some suit here to see you. Says his name is Liam.” More shuffling and muffled voices, then the door swings open, and there stands my girl. Her brown locks are piled atop her head in a messy bun. She’s wearing a pair of short shorts, showing off her long legs, and a Steinhardt t-shirt. She stares at me for a few seconds before snapping out of her daze.

“What are you doing here?”

“You haven’t been returning my calls.”

She huffs and crosses her arms over her chest. “There’s a reason for that.”

I sigh, dragging my hand down my face. “Riley, please. Just listen to me.”

“Why should I? You wouldn’t listen to me when I tried to explain myself.”

Her words feel like a slap to my face. She’s absolutely right and I can’t argue otherwise. “I know I messed up, but if you give me a chance to explain myself, I’ll be on my way.”

She turns and looks to the guy in her apartment, then back to me, then again at him. “Give me a sec, Josh,” she says, before stepping out into the hallway and pulling the door closed behind her. “You have two minutes.”

I exhale. “I’m sorry. I want you to know I’m so sorry. For what I did. Or rather, what I didn’t do. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I never meant to hurt you, Riley. I get why you’re hurt. And if I was in your shoes, I’d feel the same way. When I saw the magazine, I didn’t believe you had anything to do with it, but in that moment, all I could think about was my kids.”

She nods. “I know. Drake told me. But you could have said something to Madeleine instead of just letting her berate me. I would never do that to Philip and Charlotte. I love them like they were my own.” She looks down at her feet and her voice trembles. “I can’t believe you didn’t trust me when I’ve never given you a reason not to.” A tear rolls down her cheek. “All I’ve ever done is try to make you and those kids happy. Just because your ex-wife hurt you, doesn’t mean I would. You know that. I waited for you, Liam. I knew your circumstances with the divorce, and I still waited. And at the first sign of trouble, you jumped to conclusions. You didn’t give us a chance.”

I reach out and tip her chin up to look at me. I gently rub her cheek with the pad of my thumb, brushing the tear away. “You’re right. I’m a fucking idiot. I know that now. I owe you so much more than a simple apology. You deserve better than that. I’m hoping it’s not too late to try and fix what I broke. I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your trust back.”

She fidgets with the hem of her t-shirt. “I don’t know, Liam. I want to believe you. I really do. But I’m still hurt. I wish things had been different with us. I wish we had met under different circumstances. But, you have your children to think about. And I know they are your priority.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “Of course they are. But I want to make you my priority too. Tell me what I can do.”

“Did you figure out who leaked the story?”

I shake my head.

She sighs. “I need time.”

“Not too much time, I hope.” She doesn’t say anything for a long time. The silence between us saying more than our words do. I reach out and grab her hand, squeezing it. “I don’t know what else to say, Riley. Just think about it. I’ll be here, waiting.” I pull her hand up to my lips, placing a gentle kiss on the back of it. Then, I turn and head down the hall. The ache in my chest, deep. Knowing that I hurt her is almost too much to bear. The issue with the story is awful, but not taking her side was worse.

The only thing I can do now is try to make it up to her.

#something domestic #nanny au #trr au #trr fanfic #choices fanfic #riley brooks #liam rhys #leo rhys #nazariolahela fanfic

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nazariolahela · 4 years

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Best Beloved: Chapter 1

A/N: Hey y'all! This is a PM AU I’ve been working on. It’s a bit different than my previous fic series and I’m really excited to try something new. I hope y’all enjoy it. This story is told in dual first-person narrative, from Kaia (F!MC) and Damien’s POV. The first half of this story takes place during Kaia’s freshman year and Damien’s senior year of college. The second half is two years after Kaia graduates. There will be sprinklings of canon in this fic, but we’ll try to step out of the box for the most part. Thanks for reading, and please leave feedback, and/or if you would like to be tagged.

All characters are the property of Pixelberry Studios. Thanks for allowing me to borrow them.

Chapter Summary: It’s the first day of classes at Hartfeld University and that means meeting new faces.

Kaia

Six Years Ago

I raced across the courtyard of Hartfeld University, tugging my backpack higher on my shoulder. It was the first day of the new school year and class started in less than five minutes. Except I was all the way on the other end of campus. Whose bright idea was it to hold college classes at 8 a.m.? Way to make a good impression on the first day, Kaia.

That’s what I got for staying up until 2 a.m. the night before binge-watching episodes of America’s Most Eligible. In my defense, my roommate Victoria and I spent most of the evening getting to know each other. We discovered that we both love the show and are huge fans of Jakenzie. (That’s Jamie x Mackenzie for all you old folks out there.)

We also learned that we were both valedictorians of our respective high schools. So we spent most of the evening sharing stories of our childhood and teen years. We might have also played a few rounds of Truth or Drink. Hence why I was running late that morning. I didn’t even have time to stop at the campus coffee shop for caffeine and eye candy. What? The barista was a total babe.

I eyed the big clocktower near the library and saw that I only had two minutes left. I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to make it. I still had to make it to Clark Hall and climb the ninety-million stairs to the third floor.

After finally arriving at Clark and climbing the Mount Everest of staircases, I sucked in several deep breaths and burst through the doors of Professor O'Keeffe’s Composition 101 classroom at 8:03 a.m. The whole class turned and the professor eyed me exasperatedly as I slinked to the back of the room, waving a silent apology as I took a seat. She shook her head and continued going over the syllabus. I pulled my MacBook from my backpack and started taking notes, stopping occasionally to scan the room for signs of anyone I might have met at freshman orientation.

I spotted a girl who sat next to me. I think her name was Sloane. Looking like she just stepped off-campus at a prestigious prep school, she wore a blue long-sleeved turtleneck sweater with a plaid skirt and a gold necklace. I focused my attention between her and the professor, watching curiously as she dug around frantically in her laptop bag, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose every time they slipped down. I spotted an empty seat next to her, so when the professor had her back turned, I gathered up my things, rose from my seat and moved over to the other side of the classroom.

“Hey!” I whispered as I took the seat next to her. She looked up from her bag and grinned when she noticed me.

“Hi, there! Kaia, right?” she asked, extending her hand. I nodded and shook it. “I’m Sloane. How’s your first day going?”

“Well, I was late for my first class and I haven’t had coffee. How’s yours?”

“I can’t find my phone charger. I know I packed an extra one, but it seems to have grown legs and walked off.” She continued shuffling through her backpack, her brows pinched in a V. Her unruly curls fell in her face and she brushed them away frustrated.

I dug through my bag, pulling two different phone charges from the side pocket. I held both of them up to her. “Which one do you need?”

Her eyes widened as she examined both chargers in my hand. Reaching for the Samsung charger, she mouthed a thank you and plugged the USB end into her laptop before plugging the other end into her phone. She glanced at my iPhone sitting face-down on my desk, then turned to me. “I gotta ask. Why do you have two different chargers?”

“My cousin Nadia is always losing hers, so I keep a spare on me just in case.”

She nodded and turned back to the front of the classroom, focusing on the professor. The rest of the class passed by uneventfully. When Professor O’Keeffe dismissed us at 8:50 a.m., Sloane and I gathered our things and walked out of the classroom together.

”Where are you off to next?” she asked, adjusting the strap on her bag.

“Intro to Sociology. You?”

”American Government. Gotta love those Gen Ed courses, ” she said with a laugh. “Wanna get lunch later? I have a free period after 11 a.m.”

“Sure. I’ll text my cousin and see if she wants to join us,” I said, pulling out my phone and shooting Nadia a text.

My cousin Nadia is quite the character. Our dads are brothers, but she and I are so close, people often asked if we were sisters. We grew up together, living three houses down from one another. Since we’re only six months apart, we were lucky enough to be in the same grade from kindergarten all the way through high school. Now, we’re privileged enough to attend the same college. I glanced at her text and shook my head.

Sloane and I exchanged phone numbers and I waved goodbye as we took off in opposite directions. I pulled out my campus map, trying to find Alexander Hall as I made my way across the courtyard to my next class. I wasn't looking where I was going when I accidentally slammed into a brick wall. Except it wasn't a brick wall.

“Whoa! Watch where you’re going!” a deep voice shouted as I immediately went flying backward onto the pavement, my phone and backpack crashing to the ground with me. The sound of breaking glass made me cringe. Well, shit. That’s going to be expensive.

“Are you okay?” his velvety voice probed. “You fell pretty hard.” He hooked his arms under mine and helped me to my feet, checking me for injuries. I released myself from his grip and bent over to pick up the rest of my belongings. I nodded a thank you and dusted off my black skirt, frowning when I saw the run in my pantyhose. I huffed as I picked up my phone and examined the shattered screen. I just got this damn thing in May. It was my present to myself for graduating from high school. Now, I have to pay to have it fixed.

I shoved it into my backpack and took a moment to study him. It only took a few seconds, but I immediately recognized him as my old friend Damien. My eyes widened as I realized who I had just crashed into. “Oh. My. Gods! It’s really you!” I said as I flung myself into his arms.

“You always were clumsy,” he laughed and squeezed his toned body against mine.

It had been four years since I saw him last. Damien and I were next-door neighbors and although he was four years older than me, we spent nearly every day hanging out. I had the hugest crush on him, even though he only saw me as a sister. After years of pining for him, I decided I was no longer going to hide how I felt. I stole two of his dad’s beers, chugged them in rapid succession, and went in search of the boy I’d loved since 7th grade.

We snuck away from his party and hid out at the playground down the street from our houses and about how much we would miss each other after he went away to college. There, under the jungle gym, I drunkenly confessed my feelings for him. That was also the first time I kissed him. After he gently pushed me off of him, he told me that he cared about me, but that I was only 15 and it was inappropriate for a guy his age to pursue me. I was so embarrassed, I ran away from him and hid out at my house for the rest of the night.

He came home for Christmas that winter but we didn’t get to see much of each other. Now that he was here in front of me after all this time, I realized how much he had changed since then. My eyes traveled the length of his denim-clad legs, past the black t-shirt stretching across the muscles of his broad chest, up to his face. He had the softest chocolate brown eyes, wavy brown hair, and warm tan skin. Just a hint of stubble peppered his chin and his defined jaw tensed as he watched me. His intense gaze made my cheeks tint pink.

“Yeah, sorry about that. Are you okay?” I replied. Of course, he was. He barely flinched when I all but plowed into him.

“I’m more worried about you. I’ve never given someone a concussion on the first day of classes before and I’m not looking to start.”

I rapped my knuckles against my temple. “You know me. I’ve got a thick skull. My phone on the other hand, well R.I.P.,” I said, miming pouring out a 40-oz for my now-broken handheld device. He chuckled and his brown eyes bored into mine, making me feel suddenly self-conscious.

“How have you been? How’s your first day going so far?”

“Well, I overslept and was late for my first class, I still haven’t had caffeine, and I bulldozed into a random guy with reckless abandon. So, I’d say it’s going well.”

He laughed again, the sound warming my insides. My eyes scanned his face, taking in his strong features. He was so pretty, I could cry. “So, where are you off to in such a hurry that you’re Miley Cyrusing people?”

“Oh, I’m trying to get to Alexander Hall. I missed out on the campus tour during freshman orientation, so I’m trying to find my way around.”

He took my map from my hand, his fingers brushing mine in the process. The sensation of his touch coursed through my entire body and I had to remind myself to breathe. He retrieved a pen from his backpack, pulling the cap off with his teeth. I’ve never wanted to be a pen cap so bad in my life.

“So, you are here,” he said, marking an “X” where we currently stood in front of Clark. “You’re going to want to keep on this path and head past the library, then take a left at the fork,” My eyes followed the line he drew along the paper. “And then you’ve reached your destination.” He circled the building in question and handed the map back to me, before capping his pen and slipping it back in his backpack.

I opened my mouth to ask him if he wanted to hang out later when a female voice pierced the air, interrupting us. “Babe, hurry up. We’re going to be late for Social Psych.”

Babe? I looked over his shoulder to see a woman with dark brown hair, full lips, and piercing brown eyes making our way toward us. She narrowed her eyes at me, then turned back to Damien, slipping her hand in the crook of his elbow and pressed a kiss to his jaw. He glanced at me apologetically as she pulled him toward Waterfield Hall.

“Be careful out there. And have fun this year. We'll get together soon,” he winked and gave me a wave as the two of them walked away toward their next class.

“Who was that?” I heard her ask, their voices fading with every step.

“Just an old friend,” he replied. My stomach sank. No matter how much I wanted us to be more, we never would be. I glanced at the courtyard and noticed the crowd thinning out, meaning the next block of classes would be starting shortly. I hitched my backpack on my shoulders and sighed deeply as I made my way to Alexander.

***

Damien

Alana’s nails gently scraped up and down my bicep as we sat in the lecture hall, listening to Professor Henderson drone on over the syllabus for this semester. Just two more to go and I’d be done with this place. Don’t get me wrong, I’d enjoyed my four years at Hartfeld, but I was ready to graduate and GTFO already.

Sophomore year was particularly hard. I almost dropped out halfway through fall semester after Dad passed away. Except Mom wouldn’t let me. She begged me to stick it out and made me promise to graduate. I couldn’t say no to her. Call me a mama’s boy if you must, but she’s the most important woman in my life and I couldn't bring myself to let her down. If we’re being honest here, I was doing it for me too. To be the first person in my family to graduate from college was a pretty big achievement.

I struggled to listen to the professor’s lecture, jotting down notes in my notebook. I should have been paying attention, but I had too much shit on my mind. Mainly my schedule for this semester. I needed to meet with my advisor after class and get my internship shit lined up. That’s what you get for waiting until the last minute, Dames. I pulled out my phone and shot a quick text to my advisor, asking if she had a free period this afternoon to get my paperwork filled out.

I looked to my right and saw Alana jotting notes in her notebook as her left hand still stroked my arm. I watched her for a few moments, taking her in. Alana and I met spring semester during our freshman year. We sat next to each other in Western Civ and our class discussion on long-standing issues in Western history turned into a full-blown shouting match. The professor pulled both of us out into the hallway and calmly explained to us that she would not allow that kind of behavior in her class. She then decided the best form of torture was to pair us up for the semester research project.

The first few weeks were hell. Alana and I disagreed on everything. Including the topic for our project. About halfway into the semester, she and I were studying in the library, when she asked me why I was — and I quote — “such a moody little bitch.” I told her she would be too if she had a pain in the ass like her for a partner. She laughed and told me how lucky I was to even be in the same vicinity as her. We exchanged jabs for a good ten minutes before she leaned over and kissed me. When I asked her what that was for, she replied that it was to shut me up.

Not going to lie, I was intrigued. She had a level of snark I had only seen from the women in my family. I knew I was in trouble, but there was just something about her that drew me to her. We began dating a week later and have been nearly inseparable ever since. Being that this was our senior year, I found myself wondering what would happen to us after graduation. I raised the topic of marriage once or twice over the last year, but she was always quick to shut me down. She insisted that she loved me, but didn’t think marriage was “for us.” I shook the thoughts from my mind and peeked at Alana from the corner of my eye. She was still focused on the professor. Good thing she couldn't read my mind.

My thoughts wandered to Kaia. It felt like a lifetime since we saw each other. She had grown up since then. I remembered the last things we said to each other before we parted the night of my grad party. She got drunk and told me she was in love with me. As much as I wanted to return her feelings, she and her cousin Nadia were like little sisters to me, which made the whole situation weird. Plus the whole age thing. I sighed and dragged my hand across my face, trying to clear my head. Before long, the hour was up and our professor released us. Alana and I gathered our things and linked hands as we made our way out of the lecture hall.

“I’ve got some free time before my noon class, so I'm going to head back to the dorms. You wanna come with me?” she said, batting those long lashes my way. My dick screamed yes, so I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pressed a kiss to the spot behind her ear as we walked.

“As long as we’re back in time for my Interpersonal Comm class.”

She rolled her eyes. “I can't believe you, a senior, are taking a 200 level course. Why didn’t you take that class sophomore year?”

I shot her a look. She knew why. She was the one who stood by me during Dad’s illness. I was lucky I was able to finish most of my classes that semester. Interpersonal Communication is the only one I had to drop. So, here I was retaking the course so I could graduate with my full 120 credits.

“It is what it is,” I said as we walked back to the dorms. A few minutes later, we arrived at Richmond Hall where Alana lived. I waved to some guys I recognized from one of my classes last year and followed her inside, checking out her ass the entire time.

When we arrived at her room, she dropped her bag off at her desk and disappeared into the bathroom. I moved around her dorm, looking at the pictures of us on the wall. All the memories we shared in the last four years. The Winter Formal sophomore year. The summer before senior year at the Cape. Our trip to San Francisco junior year over Spring Break.

I rubbed the aching spot in my chest, remembering proposing to her on that trip. She looked like she wanted to throw up when I dropped to one knee in front of the Golden Gate Bridge. She covered her face in embarrassment and begged me to stand up. Confused, I asked her what she meant. She pulled me away from the gawking tourists shooting me sympathetic looks and explained that while she loved me, she wasn’t ready for marriage. I felt like the biggest idiot.

I was still looking at the photos when the bathroom door swung open and Alana strutted out, wearing nothing but a silk bathrobe. Ho-lee-shit. Pretty sure I died and went to heaven. She sauntered up to me and wrapped her arms around my neck, peppering my jawline with kisses. “Is this what you brought me to your dorm for?” I whispered in her ear, taking her lobe between my teeth.

“Mmm...This one is my favorite. Look how hot you are in your board shorts,” she said pointing to the photo of us at Cape Cod. She examined the photo wall while she casually slipped her hand down my pants. I snaked my arm around her waist and slid it down to her ass, which the robe barely covered. My eyes widened when I noticed she wasn’t wearing panties. I turned her around to face me, then grabbed her by the waist and tossed her on the bed. She squealed and reached up to grab my t-shirt, pulling it over my head. I dipped in and began to kiss her neck when my phone went off.

“Ignore it,” she panted, raking her fingernails up and down my back. I licked a trail from her earlobe down to her collarbone, peeling the robe open to expose her breasts. I kissed my way down the swell of her left breast when my phone went off again. I groaned and rolled off her, grabbing my phone from my back pocket, and saw two missed calls from my advisor.

“Shit. I gotta take this babe. Gimme a sec.”

“Are you fucking serious?” she huffed and pulled the robe closed. I grabbed my t-shirt off the floor and slipped it on before stepping out of her room into the hallway. I pulled up my missed calls and hit the redial button. Dr. Griffin picked up on the first ring.

“Mr. Nazario. I’m glad you called back. I have a free period now if you’re available to go over your internship paperwork.”

I sighed and raked a hand through my hair. I really needed to get my internship taken care of so I could get credit for my work, but my girl was on the other side of the door, half-naked and waiting for me. Waging a war with my thoughts, I decided that I’d have to make it up to Alana tonight.

“I’ll be there in ten minutes,” I told her, then hung up the phone. I steeled myself for the difficult conversation I was about to have with Alana and made my way back into the dorm room. She sat on the bed, a scowl on her face as she looked at her phone.

“Hey, babe. That was Dr. Griffin. I need to go get my internship paperwork taken care of.” Alana rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath. I moved in front of her and leaned over until we were at eye level. “I promise I’ll make it up to you tonight. Okay?”

She glared at me, not saying anything. I gripped her chin between my thumb and forefinger and pressed a kiss to her lips. She didn’t pull away, so I knew she wasn’t that mad. I kissed her once more before I turned and headed out of her room.

I made my way out of the dorm and shot her an apology text as I headed across campus to Dr. Griffin’s office. The grey text bubbles popped up, then disappeared a few times, before she replied, “K.” I sighed and slipped my phone in my jeans pocket. I couldn’t blame her though She was mad because she felt I hadn't been the most reliable boyfriend, but if I knew her like I thought I did, she’d get over it. Either that or I’d have blue balls for the next week.

#best beloved #pm au #college au #friends to lovers #perfect match #choices fanfic #damien nazario #kaia park #damien x mc #nazariolahela fanfic

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nazariolahela · 4 years

Text

Best Beloved: Chapter 6

Catch up here

Series Tags: @burnsoslow @lady-calypso @irishwhiskys-blog @loveellamae

All characters are the property of Pixelberry Studios. Thanks for allowing me to borrow them.

Chapter Summary: It’s the night of the homecoming dance, and things are burning up on and off the dance floor.

Kaia

“Stop fidgeting. You’re going to mess up my hard work,” Nadia snapped as she put the finishing touches on my hair. It was the night of the Homecoming dance and the whole campus was in a festive mood. The year’s homecoming week featured a "Wizard of Oz" inspired theme, aptly titled, “There’s No Place Like Homecoming."

Judging by the lineup of activities, that statement wasn’t entirely false. The week’s festivities kicked off with a Wizard’s Festival on the Campus Green. Members of the Campus Activities Board were donned in costumes that could have been featured in the actual film. The rest of the week featured a Pep Rally, a campus scavenger hunt, and a concert featuring pop star Alyssa Griffin.

The parade was held earlier in the day, where the Homecoming Court was presented. The queen was Damien’s friend(?), senior Cecile Contreras. I recognized her from that day in the bistro. She eyed me with such disgust, if looks could kill, I would have dropped dead right then and there. The king was another senior by the name of Mikail Greene. I recall seeing him in passing on campus. He seemed nice. Damien said he was really popular with the student body.

The football game followed shortly after. The Badgers took an early lead but ultimately lost in OT. Steve had another stellar game, of course. I heard from people in the crowd how he was already drawing interest from NFL scouts as a freshman. When I asked Steve about it after the game, he brushed it off, saying he wouldn’t be draft-eligible for another two years.

“Okay! We’re all done. Now, get dressed. I want to see the finished product,” Nadia said, giving my updo a final spritz with hairspray.

I retreated to the bathroom and grabbed my homecoming dress hanging on the back of the door. I pulled the dress off the hanger and examined it. It was a low-cut, sparkly red, spaghetti strap number with a gold belt at the waist. I ran my fingers across the A-Line tulle skirt and smiled as I slipped the dress over my head, careful not to mess up my hair. Once I was dressed, I applied my makeup and took one last look at myself in the mirror. Students of Hartfeld, eat your heart out!

I swung the bathroom door open and stepped out into the shared space of our dorm. Nadia turned and gasped when she caught sight of me all dolled up.

“Ohmygods, Kaia! You look amazing!” she said, her eyes welling with tears.

“Really?” I asked, twirling around the room.

She nodded. “Whoever you’re planning on impressing tonight is going to be blown away.” She didn’t say it, but I knew she meant Damien. To be honest, I’d been upping my game in terms of my appearance lately. Ever since he told me he and Alana had been having problems, I’d been going out of my way to show him what he was missing. I put my hand on Nadia’s shoulder in a silent thanks, then moved to my room to retrieve my clutch.

Once we were ready, we exited the dorm and made our way to the parking lot. Steve’s trusty blue Chevy pickup sat in the empty space in front of our building. He and Sloane were seated on the tailgate, showing each other something on their phones. Steve looked up and a wide grin spread across his face when he noticed Nadia.

“Babe...You look...wow…” he stuttered as she wrapped her arms around his neck and peppered his face with kisses. I turned towards Sloane and gave her a bright smile as she hopped off the tailgate.

“Your dress is so pretty!” I squealed motioning for her to twirl. Her dress was similar in style and material as mine but in a light blue color.

“Thanks! Yours too! You ready to go?” she said, smoothing down her skirt.

I hooked my thumb back towards Steve and Nadia. “Sure. As soon as those two come up for air.”

Sloane laughed and shouted at the kissing couple to break it up. Nadia flipped us the bird, then we all piled into the pickup and made our way towards the Sports and Activities Center, where the homecoming dance was held every year. When we pulled up in the parking lot, it looked a lot different from the first time we were here. Gone were the tailgaters; replaced with a few remaining parade floats being dismantled and students in formal attire.

We walked the sidewalk that connected the parking lot to the football stadium and activities center, noticing it temporarily painted yellow to simulate a “Yellow Brick Road.”

“Cute,” I said to myself as we made our way inside the center. The doorman took our tickets and directed us to the field house which had been transformed into The Emerald City.

“Ohmygods, Kaia! I just realized your dress reminds me of Dorothy’s shoes!” Nadia squealed, squeezing my hand.

My eyes roamed the room, taking in the magnificent job that CAB did on the decorations. A dance floor occupied the center of the room with several high-top tables scattered around it. The DJ booth was set up towards the back of the room under one of the basketball hoops. The bleachers were folded up on either side of the room to allow space for a photo booth and a bar area.

We moved through the room and found an empty table. The music from the DJ booth filled the room as dancers moved about the dance floor. A flash of black hair caught my eye and I turned to see Hayden strutting towards me. He had no business looking so good in a blue vest over a grey dress shirt and gray checkered tie. His eyes met mine and he grinned from ear to ear. When he arrived at our table, his eyes traveled the length of my body and I felt my cheeks and ears burning up.

“There’s no place like home,” he muttered under his breath and I barely caught what he said.

“What?”

“Nothing. You look amazing. Wanna dance?”

I looked over at Nadia and Steve, who were attached at the mouth. Sloane was nowhere to be found. I gnawed on my bottom lip, contemplating his offer. Damien’s words crept into my mind. You should give him a chance. Who knows? He might turn out to be a great guy. I turned back to Hayden and gave him a soft smile. “Sure. Let’s go.”

His eyes lit up as he took my hand and led me to the dance floor. Maroon 5’s “Animals” blared from the speakers as we moved together. I swayed my body to the beat, lost in the rhythm of the music. When I opened my eyes, I saw Hayden dancing, but his eyes were fixed on me. The intensity of his gaze made my skin instantly flushed. When the song came to an end, a slower track followed and I took this as my cue to grab a drink.

“You thirsty?” I asked.

He nodded and led me over to the bar. I perused the menu. Damn, no alcohol. I ordered both of us one of the signature “mocktails.” The bartender gave us our drinks and we made our way back to the table. Nadia and Steve were missing in action, but Sloane was standing there talking to a guy with auburn hair. She smiled when she saw Hayden and I approaching.

“Hey, guys! How was the dance floor?”

“Crowded,” Hayden replied, sipping his mocktail. The redhead guy whispered something in Sloane’s ear and she nodded before he walked away.

“So, who’s your friend?” I smirked at her.

“Oh, just some guy in my Spanish Comp class. Whatcha drinking?” she asked, eyeing my glass.

“It’s the signature mocktail. They’re pretty tasty. Have you tried one yet?” I said to her, holding up the multi-colored drink.

“Yeah, Derek went to grab us some.” She looked at Hayden, then back at me. Her eyes silently asked what was up between him and I. I smirked and shook my head as if to say, “tell ya later.” Derek returned shortly and the four of us fell into a comfortable conversation. He and Sloane had a class together and had been texting for a few weeks. I learned that Derek was a sophomore and a member of CAB. I complimented him on the decor, to which smiled and nodded. He finished his drink and asked her if she wanted to dance.

“Watch my drink for me?” she asked.

I nodded and smiled as Derek led her out to the dance floor, leaving Hayden and me alone. He rested his forearms on the tabletop and turned to me.

“So, you excited for midterms?”

I laughed. “Who would be excited about that?”

“Well, me for one. It means the semester’s half over.”

“Hmm...good point. I guess that’s one thing to look forward to,” I replied and took a sip of my drink.

He nodded and we fell into an awkward silence, watching the crowd. After a few minutes, he cleared his throat and spoke up. “So, I know I asked you this before, and I don’t want to come off too desperate, but I really like you, Kaia. And I know you like me too.”

My cheeks flushed. How did he know? As if he could read my thoughts, he continued. “Your cousin told me.”

Damnit, Nadia!

He smiled and continued. “Let me take you out. We don’t even have to call it a date. I just want to get to know you.” He reached across the table and took my hand in his, lightly brushing his thumb across my knuckles.

I looked down at our joined hands, then back up at him. My body reacting to the contact. Why was I acting like this? We were both single and obviously attracted to each other. What could it hurt? For some odd reason, my thoughts wandered to Damien. Jesus, what was wrong with me. He wasn’t available. It was because of him that I was hesitant to pull the trigger with Hayden. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to clear my thoughts. When I opened my eyes, Hayden was looking at me expectantly.

“Okay.”

He seemed taken aback. “Okay?”

I nodded. “Okay, okay. Let’s do it. Take me out. When are you free?”

A wide grin spread across his face. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

“Whatever you want to do,” I replied.

Something flashed in his eyes. He grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips, placing a chaste kiss on the back of it. “I think it’s time for another dance. Don’t you?”

I nodded and let him lead me out onto the dance floor. Ariana Grande and The Weeknd’s “Love Me Harder” started playing and Hayden placed his hands on my waist as we swayed back and forth. I looped my arms around his neck and pulled him close, pressing our foreheads together.

“Kaia? Can I ask you something?” he whispered into my ear.

“Sure,” I replied.

“What changed?”

I pulled back and searched his face. “What do you mean?”

He sighed. “I mean. I’ve been asking you out for almost a month now, and you’ve been side-stepping giving me a definite answer. Don’t get me wrong. I’m so happy you finally said yes, but I’m curious what changed?”

I thought back to the conversation I had with Damien in the bistro. How I was too afraid to pursue anything with Hayden because I was still harboring feelings for him. Would I ever get over them? Maybe in time. And he would always hold a special place in my heart. But this schoolgirl crush was getting in the way of me having a life. “Honestly? I just felt like it was time I got my shit together.”

Hayden seemed to accept that answer and pulled me back against him. We danced through two more songs, laughing and talking. As the current song was coming to a close, I looked across the room and saw him. Damien. The sight of him caused my breath to catch. He looked absolutely mouth-watering in a navy blue suit. The top two buttons of his dress shirt were unbuttoned, giving me a glimpse of his chest.

He had his arm wrapped around Alana’s waist, but his eyes held mine with a look of pure lust mixed with jealousy. He leaned down and whispered something into Alana’s ear, never taking his eyes off mine. Hayden came up behind me and wrapped his arm around my waist. Damien looked over to him, then back at me.

I was the first to break eye contact, turning to Hayden and telling him that I had to use the restroom. He nodded and headed back to our table as I made my way through the crowd to the ladies' room. I grabbed the first open stall and rushed inside, shutting the door. I leaned up against the stall door and sucked in several deep breaths. What the hells was wrong with me? I was here with another guy, but I was eye-fucking my best friend from across the room. Jesus! Get ahold of yourself, Kaia!

***

Damien

Alana and I walked into the gym hand-in-hand. The strobe lights danced across the room as some upbeat pop song poured from the speakers. We spotted Cecile and Rowan dancing together, the lights reflecting off Cecile’s Homecoming Queen crown. Alana pulled me toward one of the tables and set her clutch down on the tabletop. She scanned the room, taking in the decor.

“Well, at least it's better than last year’s theme,” she huffed.

I cringed. Last year’s homecoming theme was “Boot-Scootin’ Victory,” a western-themed event that was as cheesy as you’d expect. I’m not sure who approved that one. The entire campus looked like a scene from the movie, “Tombstone.” The dance was even worse. CAB hired a country-western band to entertain, and they played nothing but ‘90s country music for the entirety of the dance.

The most amusing thing that happened was watching the basketball team try to line-dance. A video of the team’s center riding a mechanical bull went viral, causing his draft stock to dip. Apparently, NBA scouts frown upon a 6’10” player having almost-sex with his girlfriend on the mechanical bull at the school dance.

Cecile and Rowan joined us a few minutes later at our table. Rowan and I made small talk while Cecile and Alana reenacted an episode of Project Runway, judging the dresses of our classmates. Rowan left to go grab drinks for the table, leaving me with the girls. I leaned over the table and congratulated Cecile on winning Homecoming Queen. She scowled, then muttered thanks.

I chuckled to myself. She was probably still pissed about seeing me and Kaia together at the bistro. I know she tattled to Alana right after they left. That night, Alana came to my dorm. We fought, made love, fought again, then didn’t talk for two days. I remembered Kaia’s words in the bistro when I told her about mine and Alana’s relationship troubles. This whole relationship seems really unhealthy. There’s a huge lack of trust on both sides. That’s something a break isn’t going to fix. If she only knew.

Rowan returned to the table with the drinks. I picked up the glass and eyed it skeptically as the green and yellow colors swirled together. I took a sip and turned up my nose.

“What the hells is this?”

“Some signature mocktail. Pineapple, orange and melon juice,” he said, taking a drink of his. “And it tastes like shit.”

He reached into his suit jacket and retrieved a flask, pouring what I assumed was alcohol into the cup. He turned and offered me some. I held out my drink and he dumped a splash of the clear liquid into my glass. I shook my head. “More.” He smirked and kept pouring until I motioned for him to stop. I took a drink. It was better, but not by much. I bit my tongue and chugged the drink, happy to finally have finished it off.

As Alana and Cecile continued to gossip, I spotted Nadia and some blonde kid making their way towards me. Her eyes lit up when she saw me and moved faster through the crowd. She wrapped her arms around me in a bone-crushing hug.

“Damien Elvis Nazario! Have you been avoiding me this semester?” she squealed.

I laughed. “Even if I was, you’d track me down.”

“It’s like you know me,” she replied.

I looked over her shoulder to see Alana staring at us with a scowl. I detached myself from Nadia and introduced her to Alana. The two women sized each other up in some sort of awkward standoff. After several tense moments, Nadia grabbed the arm of the guy she was with and drug him over to us. “Damien. I want you to meet Steve, my boyfriend.”

At the mention of his name, I remembered Kaia telling me about him at the frat party. “Ah, yes, Tennyson. Good game today, man. You’ve been tearing it up this season.”

He nodded and shook my hand. “Thanks, man. I know it’s still early, but I think we have a shot at the natty this year.”

The two of us talked for a few minutes before Alana wrapped her arms around me from behind and began pulling me toward the dance floor. I rolled my eyes and said my goodbyes to Nadia and Steve, then followed her. We made our way through the tables and found a spot near the edge of the crowd. A slow pop ballad played and Alana wrapped her arms around my neck. I rested my hands on her hips as we swayed to the music. As we danced, I scanned the crowd.

At first, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. I caught a glance of her on the other side of the dance floor. Kaia. My Kaia. She looked like a goddess in that shimmery red dress. She was dancing with some tall guy with black hair. He leaned down and whispered something in her ear, and she started laughing. The jealousy radiated through my body. I watched her as the other guy rested his hands on her waist. I wanted to sprint across the dance floor and break both of his arms. Instead, I stood there — my arms wrapped around my girlfriend — watching my best friend dance with another man.

She looked up and locked eyes with me. Her shocked expression caused my lips to turn up in a small smile. She looked over at Alana, who was talking to some random girl. She probably introduced me, but I was too preoccupied watching Kaia to care. I glanced over at my best friend’s date, then back at her. The two of us stared at each other across the room for several moments before I felt Alana tug at my arm.

“I’m going to go grab another drink. Do you want anything?” she asked.

I leaned down, never taking my eyes off Kaia and muttered in her ear. “No, I’m good. I’m gonna go use the restroom.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Alana move away. Kaia turned to her date, said something to him, then made her way through the crowd towards the doors of the gym. I waited 10 seconds, making sure Alana or none of her friends were around, then followed her. I reached the doors leading to the hallway when I saw her enter the bathroom. The alcohol began to take effect as I walked past a couple making out against the trophy case and stood outside the entrance to the bathroom.

Several minutes passed before she emerged. Her head was down, and she didn’t notice me until she nearly crashed into me.

“Holy shit! Damien!” she said, nearly toppling over. It was very reminiscent of the first day of school. I reached out and grabbed her arm to steady her. The touch of her smooth skin sent my senses into overdrive.

“We’ve gotta stop running into each other like this,” I smiled. She laughed and my chest tightened. My eyes raked up and down her body. Fuck, she looked phenomenal. That dress hugged her curves. I wanted to reach out and feel the fabric between my fingers

“You here by yourself?” I asked.

“I came with Nadia, Steve, and Sloane. They’re around here somewhere.”

I noticed she didn’t mention the guy she was dancing with. Which meant she didn’t come here with him. “No date?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Technically, no.”

“Who’s the lucky guy?”

“Hayden. You remember me telling you about him, right?” she smirked. I saw the amusement in her expression. Of course, I did. I was the one who told her to go out with him.

I nodded my head. “So, you finally decided to give the poor guy a chance.”

“I did. He’s taking me out tomorrow,” she smiled and it made me jealous.

“Oh yeah? On a Sunday?” I replied sharply, the alcohol giving me courage.

She cocked an eyebrow. “Not that it’s any of your business, but yes. He didn’t want to wait until next weekend to see me again.” I could hear the challenge in her voice.

I shoved my hands in my pants pockets. “Hmm...that’s interesting. Usually, guys who aren't that interested take girls out on Sundays.”

“Are you speaking from experience?” she scowled.

I shrugged. “I just know that Sundays are usually the day when people wind down from the weekend and prepare for their week. So, he probably won’t be all there mentally.”

Annoyance flashed in her eyes. “I don’t know why you give a shit, Dames. You were the one who told me to go out with him. He likes me and I like him. Why is that such a big deal to you?”

“I just want to make sure you know what you’re getting into. I mean, what do you know about this kid anyway besides his dog’s name and what classes he has?”

That seemed to piss her off even more. She stood up straight and stepped into my space. Her voice was low but held so much anger. “What the hells has gotten into you, Damien? First, you encourage me to go out with the guy. Now you’re trying to talk me out of it. You’re my best friend, not my dad. You don’t even know him, so stop judging him. The whole reason I’m going out with him is so I can get to know him. Why don’t you just back off?”

A loose strand of hair fell from her updo into her face. On instinct, I reached out and tucked it behind her ear, my palm brushing her soft cheek in the process. Her breath hitched at the contact. My eyes traveled to her mouth as she gnawed on her bottom lip. I knew my presence was making her nervous. That was her tell.

Thanks to the combination of the alcohol coursing through my body and the tension between us, I threw all inhibition out the window and leaned in to capture her mouth in a kiss. She froze for a moment, then her body melted as she gave in. A slight gasp escaped her lips as I wrapped my hand around the back of her neck and pulled her to me. I knew what we were doing was wrong, but damn if it felt so right. My fingers tangled in her hair and I slipped my other arm around her waist. Her lips parted slightly, allowing my tongue to dart into her mouth and massage hers. I had forgotten how good it felt to kiss her.

”Damien,” she whimpered.

My hands traveled down her back and cupped her ass. She moaned in my mouth, the sound shooting straight to my dick. I pressed my growing hard-on into her thigh. ”That's it, Kaia. Say my name.”

”Damien, please,” she said, breaking the kiss. She pressed her palms flat against my chest and shoved me back. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “You have a girlfriend.”

“And?” I replied, moving closer.

She stepped back. “You should figure your shit out with her first. I won’t be a cheater,” she huffed.

“Kaia,” I said, my voice coming out in a harsh whisper.

“I have to get back to my date.” She looked me up and down, noticing the bulge in my crotch. “You should probably do the same.” She took one last look at me before turning and stomping down the hallway back towards the dance. She stopped at the entrance to the gym and turned back to me. The intensity of her gaze made me want to march up to her and claim her in front of the whole school, but my feet were rooted to the floor. Her eyes searched mine, both of our gazes saying what our mouths couldn’t. After a few beats, she shook her head and walked back inside.

I stood there and watched the door, waiting for her to come back. When she didn’t, I sighed and made my way back to the gym. I scanned the crowd for her but gave up after a few moments. Spotting Alana at our table with Rowan and Cecile, I raked my hand through my hair and sighed before walking back to my girlfriend.

#best beloved #pm au #college au #friends to lovers #perfect match #choices fanfic #damien nazario #kaia park #damien x mc #nazariolahela fanfic

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nazariolahela · 4 years

Text

Best Beloved: Chapter 4

Catch up here

Series Tags: @burnsoslow @lady-calypso @irishwhiskys-blog

Synopsis: What happens when you find yourself crushing on your best friend? For years, Damien and Kaia have been best friends, while secretly harboring feelings for one another. Everything changes one night after a little too much alcohol and years of pent up feelings. Can they control their emotions and salvage their friendship, or will the feelings they hold for one another destroy everything they have?

All characters are the property of Pixelberry Studios. Thanks for allowing me to borrow them.

Chapter Summary: Damien struggles with the state of his relationship and Kaia meets Hayden.

Damien

I sat at my cubicle on a Thursday afternoon, putting the finishing touches on the report I needed to write up for my internship. I had landed a Securities and Intelligence Analysis Internship with a local security agency. My duties included collecting, processing, and analyzing, intelligence, and providing assistance to the senior analysts within the agency. If everything went well, they mentioned offering me the opportunity to join the agency full-time. To be honest, though, I had bigger dreams.

I was proofreading my report when my phone went off. I looked at the screen and saw Alana’s name flash across it. I sighed and dragged my hand down my face. She had been blowing up my phone all day with text messages. After the frat party last weekend, we got into an argument about how I “disappeared on her” after our makeout session in the bathroom. I didn’t intend to, but when she stormed off and I lost her in the crowd, I didn’t make much of an effort to go look for her.

I felt like our relationship was going in a different direction than I was hoping. You could blame it on our busy schedules, and her turning down my proposal left a sour taste in my mouth. But as much as I wanted to deny it, I felt like Kaia coming back into my life had a lot to do with it. Feelings I didn’t know I had crept up on me every time she was around. Her touch, the sound of her laugh, and the sweet smell of her shampoo stirred up all these emotions in me. I needed to get them in check before I did something I’d regret.

My phone buzzed again and I groaned and dropped my head to my desk. I should have called her back and smooth things over, but I had to get this report done before I left today. I picked up the phone, and stared at it for a moment, then clicked the lock button and slipped in in my pocket.

A moment later, the research analyst I was paired up with rounded the corner of the cube farm and called out as he approached me. “Nazario. Do you have that research portfolio on current conflicts and security threats?”

I reached into my desk drawer and pulled out the manila envelope, handing it to him. He took the files and peered over my shoulder at my laptop.

“Thanks, man. Looks good so far. When you’re done with this, can you compile the materials from the counterterrorism report?”

“Sure thing, Agent McDaniels. I’ll have that to you shortly.”

He nodded and clapped me on the shoulder before walking off. I signed off on my report and hit “send” then leaned back in my chair with a smile on my face. This internship was easier than I thought it would be.

My phone buzzed in my pocket again. I groaned and pulled it out to see another missed call from Alana. I locked my computer and got up from my desk then made my way into the break room. Tapping my phone against my palm, I took a deep breath and dialed her number. She answered on the first ring.

“What?” she snapped.

“Baby, come on-”

“Don’t ‘baby, come on’ me, Damien. I’ve been trying to reach you all day! I’m sick of you always bailing on me all the damn time. First, you ditch me to go meet with your advisor. Then, you disappear during the frat party last week. And yesterday you fucking bailed on our date to go visit your mom. I know you have shit going on, but so do I. And I don’t think it’s too much to ask for a little reliability from my boyfriend.”

I groaned. We had planned to spend the afternoon together after classes, but Mom called yesterday morning, asking if I was able to come home and help her with something. And like the good son I am, I emailed my professors that I’d be absent, hopped in my car, and made the hour drive home. Now, I had to face the consequences. As much as I hated to admit it, I’d been kind of a lousy boyfriend lately. I wasn’t doing it on purpose, but with everything going on this year, I had to prioritize. “I know, Alana. I’m sorry.”

“Are you fucking someone else?” she accused.

“What?”

“You heard me. What about that freshman you’ve been hanging around the last few weeks?” she spit out, the venom in her voice leaking through the phone.

Was she serious? I never told her about me and Kaia, so I don’t know where she even got the idea from. Just because Kaia and I had history, didn’t mean that I wanted to sleep with her. Okay, maybe I did, but I sure as shit didn’t act like it around my girlfriend. I dragged my hand down my face, sighing deeply. “Who? Kaia? She’s an old friend from home. I don’t even like her like that.” Lie. “Why would you think that?”

“It would make sense. Look, I know our relationship isn’t perfect, but if you have feelings for someone else, the least you could do is let me know so I’m not wasting my time.”

I yanked the phone away from my ear and mouthed several curse words. After all that we had been through, she had the audacity to say that to me? I pressed the phone back to my ear. “Excuse me? Did you forget that I fucking PROPOSED to you? And you have the nerve to say I’m wasting your time! What the fuck, Alana?” I growled.

She went quiet on the other end and I had to check to see if she had hung up on me. After several beats, she spoke up. “It’s just...fuck, Damien. I feel like you never want to be around me anymore. Especially since you started hanging around with that Kaia girl. Plus, we're both always so busy, it’s like our relationship got put on the backburner.”

“Alana. If I didn’t want to be with you anymore, I wouldn’t be with you. I get why you’re upset. I do, but you have to understand that I have a life outside of this relationship. This internship is important to me. And my mom’s been having a hard time since my dad passed. I’m sorry for bailing on you, but you can’t go around accusing me of cheating on you every time. This relationship is never going to work if you do.”

“Well, what do you expect me to think, Damien? This new girl pops up out of nowhere, and all of a sudden you’re spending all this time with her,” she huffed.

“We have one class together, Alana. That’s it. We don’t go out to eat or spend time together on the weekends. Other than the frat party, the only time I’ve hung out with her was during our study groups. I’ve had female friends for almost our entire relationship and you’ve never batted an eye over it. Why is this one any different just because I’ve known her since we were kids?”

She sighed. “I really don’t want to talk about this over the phone.”

“I’m at work right now, but I can come over later if you want me to,” I said, tugging at the knot of my tie.

“No, I don’t think that’s a good idea, Damien. I just need time to myself right now. I feel like you’ve been smothering me lately, and I can’t deal with this.”

Jesus, this woman was making my head spin. “I don’t understand. First, you say I’m neglecting you, and now you say I’m smothering you. Which is it?”

“It’s...it’s complicated, Damien. I just don’t know if this relationship is worth it anymore.”

“Babe, what are you saying? Are you saying you want to take a break from us?” My chest tightened as I struggled to say the words.

She paused for what felt like an eternity before answering. “I don’t know, Damien. I’ll call you in a few days,” she said, before hanging up the phone.

I stared at the screen, anger coursing through my veins. I fell back against the refrigerator, digging the heels of my hands into my eyes. My department supervisor entered the break room and saw me leaning against the fridge.

“Hey! Everything alright in here?” she asked, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

“Yeah, just dealing with some personal stuff. It’s taken care of though,” I replied. I slipped the phone in my pocket and made my way back to my desk. I sat down in my chair, powered up my laptop and opened my school email. I noticed two new emails: one from my advisor and another from Kaia. Jesus, talk about shit timing.

I sighed and opened the one from my professor. It was an outline of the things I needed to do to complete the first half of my internship. I skimmed through it, taking note of all the important parts, then replied that I would have it to her by midterms.

I closed out the email from my professor and hovered the mouse over the one from Kaia. I wasn’t sure if opening it was such a good idea, but a voice told me to do it anyway. I opened up the email and started reading.

Hey Dames!

Here are the notes from yesterday’s lecture. I highlighted everything Prof. Ross said would be on the test. Let me know if you need anything else. :)

- K.

P.S. Hope your mom is doing okay. Tell her hi for me next time you talk to her!

Of course. I had texted her on the way to Mom’s asking her to take notes for me in class. Sure, I could have asked anyone else in that class, but let’s be real. I wasn’t going to. Any excuse to talk to her, I snatched it up like a dog with a bone. Her email was innocent enough, but just seeing her name pop up on the screen made my heart beat faster. I swallowed the lump in my throat and closed out the email. That must be why Alana was so upset. I sighed deeply and got to work on my next task. After about thirty minutes of struggling to stay focused, I powered down my laptop and walked over to my supervisor’s office.

“Hey! I have an assignment due tomorrow that I need to finish up. Do you mind if I take off?”

She looked up from her computer and nodded. “Sure thing. Just let me sign off on your timesheet and you can be on your way.” I handed her the sheet required for my internship credit hours and she initialed the document, then handed it back to me. “We’ll see you next week,” she replied, then went back to her computer.

I walked back to my desk, packed up my things and headed out. When I got to my car, I dumped my bag in the backseat, then climbed in the driver’s side. Pulling out my phone, I contemplated texting Alana. But after the conversation we had earlier, I decided to let her have her space. She would reach out to me when she was ready to talk. Until then, I had to be patient. Against my better judgment, I texted Kaia.

My breath caught in my throat. Yep, she was definitely flirting with me. Good lords, this girl was going to be the death of me. I’d been fighting feelings for her since my sophomore year of high school. It was easier back then because she was so young, but now that she was older, I was having a hard time keeping my emotions and my dick in check. If I didn’t get this sorted out soon, I was going to completely fuck up both of my relationships. I shook my head, put the car in drive, and headed back to the dorms.

***

Kaia

Sloane, Nadia and I sat in the library Monday afternoon, studying for our Comp class exam. Even though we were only a couple of weeks into the semester, our professor decided this morning that we needed to have a pop quiz on Wednesday and told us to be prepared.

“Ugh, this stuff is so confusing and not at all pertinent to my degree. What is an independent clause anyway?” Nadia whined, holding her phone in one hand.

Sloane leaned over and tapped Nadia’s note sheet. “It’s a clause that has a subject and a verb and can stand alone. Didn’t you learn this stuff in high school?”

“Psh probably. What does that even mean?”

I sighed. “It’s a complete sentence. You’d know that if you were actually reviewing your notes and not texting Steve.”

Nadia rolled her eyes and went back to her phone. “I wish we all had this class together so I could just cheat off your papers.”

Sloane snorted and I rolled my eyes, throwing a ball of wadded up paper at her. “Shut up and study.”

Nadia laughed and grabbed her highlighter, highlighting some sentences on her study guide. “Prepositional phrases are going to be the death of me.”

Ugh, this was so reminiscent of high school. I love my cousin, but she can be a bit flighty. “I’m going to be the death of you if you don’t study your notes, Miss Art Major. Just because this class isn’t,” I held up my index and middle fingers, making air quotes “pertinent to your degree, doesn’t mean you can slack off and not study. What’s going to happen when Steve gets drafted to the NFL and he dumps you for someone smart?”

“Steve would never do that. I’m too cute,” she gasped. Sloane chuckled and went back to her notes.

Ten minutes later, Nadia looked up from her study guide. “So, you guys going to Homecoming?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” I sighed, not looking up as I turned a page in my book.

“I don’t know, it might be kind of fun,” Sloane said, looking up from her study guide.

A grin spread across Nadia’s face. “I agree, Sloane. Plus, there’s so much to do! There’s the parade, the game, the dance. And Delta Sigma Phi is having another party!”

“They have parties every weekend.”

“Not like this,” Nadia retorted. “This one is supposed to be huge.”

I shook my head and went back to studying my notes. The idea of homecoming made me cringe. I only had bad memories of going. Most recently, my junior year. The game was a total blowout (the other team kicked our asses 55-0) and my boyfriend ditched me at the dance for the Homecoming Queen. I didn’t even bother going my senior year because I knew it was going to be a suckfest.

An hour and several chapters into our composition textbooks, Nadia groaned and smacked her head on the table. “I’m hungry, you guys. I say we take a break. My brain hurts.”

I pressed my forefingers to my temple and sighed. Sloane dropped her pencil on the table and removed her glasses, rubbing her eyes. “For once, I agree with Nadia. We could use a coffee break. I’m kind of going cross-eyed over here from reading and re-reading these notes.”

“Fine. I’ll go grab coffee. Who wants what?”

“Ooh. Get me a Strawberry Passion Fruit Boba Tea, please!” Nadia said. “And a banana muffin.”

“I’ll take the caramel almond latte,” Sloane replied. I nodded and grabbed my purse, making my way to the campus coffee shop. Whoever designed this college to put a coffee shop in the library is a motherloving genius. When I arrived, there was only one person in line in front of me. I perused the menu, trying to decide which caffeinated beverage would give me the boost I needed to power through the last leg of our study session.

When it was my turn, I approached the counter and put in Sloane and Nadia’s orders. The barista asked me if that would be all, and I replied there would be one more drink, but that I was still deciding.

“You should try the Cinnamon Roll mocha. It’s indescribable,” a deep voice behind me suggested. I whipped around and came face-to-face with a tall man with warm brown eyes and jet black hair. His soft pink lips were curled into a friendly smile. It was crazy how suspiciously attractive he was. Was every guy at this school an undercover model or something? He looked familiar and I studied his face, trying to figure out where I knew him from.

“How do you know I’ll like it?” I asked him.

“You seem like the type of girl that likes sweet things,” he winked.

I blushed then turned back to the barista. “I’ll take that.” She nodded and got to work making my drinks. I turned back to the mysterious stranger. “If I don’t like this drink, you have to buy me a new one.”

“That won’t be necessary, because you’ll like it,” he laughed.

I moved over to wait for my drinks as he ordered his. I smirked when I heard him also order the Cinnamon Roll mocha. Okay, guy. I see what you’re up to. As we waited for our drinks, he moved over and grabbed a stirring straw, sticking one end in his mouth. My eyes were automatically drawn to the movement as his tongue swirled around the tip of the straw. He noticed me watching and winked.

I cleared my throat. “So...um. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look really familiar.”

“I should. We’re in the same College Algebra class.”

I paused, cocking an eyebrow at him. “Oh?”

“Yeah, you sit in the second row. Let’s just say, I may have checked you out once or twice. No big deal. And since I helped you out with your drink order, you can help me out by telling me your name.”

I laughed. “It’s Kaia. I knew you looked familiar. And thanks for the suggestion, I guess. We’ll see how you did here in a minute.” He extended his hand and I took it, feeling his warm hand squeeze mine.

“Hi, Kaia. I’m Hayden. And trust me on this. You’re going to be so blown away by this drink, you’ll offer up your firstborn for another one.”

I rolled my eyes and grabbed a stack of napkins as the barista called my name and slid the tray with my drinks across the counter. I moved to collect them along with Nadia’s muffin. Hayden watched me intently as I picked up the cup marked “CR” and took a tentative sip. When the coffee hit my tongue, my tastebuds were transformed to a new world. He must have seen it by the look on my face because a huge grin spread across his.

“What did I tell you? You love it, don’t you?”

“Okay, okay. You were right on that one. Any more life-changing advice you want to give me?”

“You got something… right…” He reached over and wiped a dribble of the coffee from my chin with his thumb, then brought it to his mouth, sucking the liquid off. My breath caught in my throat at the contact. I quickly composed myself and grabbed my items. As I juggled the drink tray with shaking hands, Hayden swooped in and took it from me.

“Need a little help with that?” he asked.

“Thanks. We’re just sitting over here,” I replied, guiding him over to where Sloane and Nadia were chatting. Nadia’s eyes lit up when she saw us approaching.

“Ooh! Coffee and eye candy,” she squealed, leaping from her seat to take the tray from his hand. “Who is this tall drink of water, Kaia?”

“Don’t you have a boyfriend?” I eyed her incredulously.

She sat down and handed Slone her drink before taking a sip of her own. “Hey! You can look at the menu as long as you don’t order anything from it. I’m Nadia. And you are?”

I shot her a glare. “Nadia, this is Hayden. He's in my algebra class. Hayden, this is my cousin Nadia and my friend Sloane.” He leaned over the table and shook each of their hands.

“You’re in my American Government class. Do you want to sit with us?” Sloane asked, taking a sip from her coffee.

Hayden looked around the library, like he was waiting for someone, then back to me. “Oh, I don’t want to impose. Looks like you ladies have your own study group going on.”

“Nonsense. Come, have a seat next to my extremely beautiful and extremely single cousin,” Nadia insisted, motioning for Hayden to take the chair next to mine.

“Nadia!” I snapped.

He grinned and sat down, raking his eyes over my body. I blushed as I took the seat next to him. He tugged his backpack from his shoulders and dug around, pulling out a spiral notebook. He then leaned over to see what we were studying. “Well, I don’t have Comp homework, but I guess I can work on my algebra homework.”

I glanced at his notebook and nodded. “I can help you with that when we’re done here.”

He smiled, sending the butterflies in my stomach into overdrive. He had a nice smile. Sloane looked up from her notes and addressed Hayden. “So, what are you majoring in?”

He paused and took a sip of his coffee, eyeing the three of us, then swallowed. “I’m actually majoring in photography.”

“Wow! A fellow art major! How exciting,” Nadia said, extending her hand for a high-five. Hayden laughed and slapped his palm against hers.

“Photography, huh? That sounds exciting! How’d you get into that field?” I asked.

“I joined Yearbook my sophomore year of high school and took pictures for the club, and I just kind of fell in love with it. I started taking pictures for fun and ended placing second in my state’s high school photography competition.”

I placed my elbows on the table and rested my chin in my hands. Listening to him talk about his love for photography made me smile. I wish I was half as passionate about anything as he was about photography.

The four of us settled into a comfortable conversation, neglecting our studying. We talked about our favorite (and not so favorite) professors, which classes we were looking forward to taking the next four years, and which spot in the student union was best for people-watching. We learned that Nadia and Hayden also shared two classes and the same advisor. Another hour had passed when my stomach growled and I looked at my phone to see the time was 5:30 p.m.

“Holy shit, it’s dinner time. You guys wanna go grab a bite?”

“I can’t. Steve gets done with football practice soon, so we’re going out after,” Nadia said.

“I’d love to, but I have a ton of homework I need to get done for my Spanish comp class. Maybe another time.” Sloane said.

I debated texting Damien to ask if he was free, but he sounded really weird when I spoke to him a few days ago, so I let it go. I shrugged and started gathering up my books. Nadia left first, with Sloane taking off shortly after, leaving Hayden and me by ourselves. He shoved the last of his things in his backpack and slung it over his shoulder, then followed me out of the library. We walked through the courtyard toward the dorms, surveying the sun as it slowly set behind the horizon. He stopped walking then turned to me.

“I hope you don’t think I’m being too forward, but would you want to go get a bite to eat sometime?”

I stared down at my shoes, kicking a stray pebble on the pavement. He seemed nice enough. But why was I so hesitant to say yes? I shifted on my feet and looked up at him. “Oh...um...I don’t know.”

He frowned. “Hey, no big deal. I get it. Just thought I’d shoot my shot.”

“No. I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant that I’m not ready to date yet. I guess I’m still adjusting to the new school year. But if you’re ever up for another study group, let me know.”

He smiled, although it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah, sure. Do you want me to walk you to your dorm?”

“Nah. I think I’m okay. I’ll see you in class.”

“You too,” he replied and winked as he made his way to the dorms. I watched him walk away as I stood in the middle of the courtyard. What was wrong with me? This extremely good-looking and nice guy just asked me out, and I shot him down. It’s not like I already had a boyfriend, so why was I acting like a scared little bitch? I briefly considered chasing him down and saying, ‘lol j/k let’s go out sometime,’ but something held me in place. I just couldn’t figure out what it was.

#best beloved #pm au #college au #friends to lovers #perfect match #choices fanfic #damien nazario #kaia park #damien x mc #nazariolahela fanfic

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nazariolahela · 4 years

Text

Something Domestic: Chapter 10

NOTE: This chapter contains adult themes. Reader discretion is advised.

Catch up here

All characters are the property of Pixelberry Studios. Thanks for allowing me to borrow them.

Chapter Summary: Things between Riley and Liam get hot and heavy after a tense standoff.

“That dinner was amazing. I don’t think I can eat another bite,” Hana exclaims as she pushes her plate away. Meanwhile, I scowl down at mine, picking at the entree with my fork. I’ve barely touched my food, too upset to eat. Why was Liam kissing Madeleine? Maybe I saw that wrong. Nope, pretty sure that was a kiss on the cheek. And the look on his face was pretty affectionate. I need to find a way to get him alone and figure out what the fuck is going on. Busboys come around to our table to collect dirty dishes. I drain the remainder of my wine and motion to the waiter for another.

The waiter sets another glass of wine in front of me and I immediately chug it. Hana frowns. “Are you okay, Riley? You should probably slow down. And definitely eat something.” I pick up my fork and violently stab several pieces of broccoli and carrots with it. I shove the vegetables in my mouth and set the fork down.

Dr. Ethan Ramsey takes the podium and begins his speech. He talks about his patients at Edenbrook Hospital and the rookie interns he’s mentored throughout the years. He also speaks about kids who have gone on to become successful physicians at his hospital because of the opportunities granted to them from this scholarship program. All eyes in the room are on him, except for two. I glance to my left and see Liam staring at me from across the room. I look from him to Madeleine, and back to him. Anger burns in my eyes. He gives me a confused look.

After Dr. Ramsey wraps up his speech, I get up from my seat and move to the bar to order another glass of wine. I lean up against the bar and survey the room. Most of the people here are networking. I see Hana talking to an older gentleman before they exchange business cards. I chug my wine and signal for another one when out of the corner of my eye, a tall, blonde man sidles up to the bar and takes the seat next to me.

”So, this is the amazing nanny.” I look to my left to see the man Maxwell pointed out earlier as Liam’s brother perched on a barstool. ”I have to say, my brother has excellent taste,” he says, looking me up and down. Up close, I can definitely see the similarities between the two of them. He has wavy blonde hair and the same piercing blue eyes as his younger brother. The lines around his eyes definitely give away his age. His sharp jaw is covered in a light stubble and he flashes me a mouth of straight white teeth. I understand now why the tabloids (and the ladies) love this guy so much. If I wasn't so hung up on his brother, I could find myself interested in him.

”You must be the infamous older brother I've heard so much about. Riley Brooks. A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” I extend my hand to shake his, and he brings it to his lips, pressing a feather-light kiss to the back of it. My cheeks immediately flush. Obviously from the alcohol.

”Leo Rhys. Trust me, the pleasure’s all mine. It’s not every day a gorgeous woman falls into my lap.”

”Do wha…” before I can finish, he grabs my forearm and pulls me into his lap. I let out a yelp as he wraps his arms around my waist. ”Mr. Rhys. I see your reputation speaks for itself.”

He chuckles and signals to the bartender. She pours three fingers of scotch and slides the tumbler toward him with a wink. He grabs the glass and brings it to his lips, grinning seductively. ”If you really want to know about my reputation, I can show you.”

I look over Leo’s shoulder to see Liam staring at us from across the room, his expression unreadable. Oh, this is going to be fun.

I hide my blush behind my wine glass. ”Mr. Rhys. Are you coming on to me?”

He leans in closer to whisper in my ear and I inhale his scent. His cologne is intoxicating. He slides his hand down my back, coming to rest just above my ass. ”That is an amazing dress, Miss Brooks. Is this what you wear when you watch my niece and nephew? Cause if so, Uncle Leo needs to come and visit more. We could get to know each other over naptime.”

Whoa! This took a turn.

”Mr. Rhys…”

”Call me Leo.”

I clear my throat. “It seems the tabloids were right about you, Leo. I had heard you were a bit of a flirt.”

He laughs and squeezes my ass. “Sugar, you have no idea.”

Okay. As fun as this is, we’re getting a little out of control. ”Leo, I'm flattered, but I take my job seriously. And as much as I’d like to learn more about your ‘reputation,’ I have my eye on someone else.”

He grins. ”Don’t worry. I’m well aware. My brother wouldn't appreciate me trying to steal his girl. Nor would he like it if I banged his kids’ nanny. I'm simply trying to help you out. Don't think I haven’t seen the looks he’s been giving you from across the room. He might have everyone else in this room fooled, but he’s been eye-fucking you all night.”

I look past him and see Liam staring a hole through me. The intensity of his gaze sets my body on fire. His eyes move to Leo, then back to me. I raise an eyebrow at him, daring him to come over here and do something. He rises from his seat as if to head my way when Madeleine appears from behind and loops her arm in his, kissing his cheek.

“Excuse me. I need to get some air,” I say quietly — sliding off Leo’s lap — and make my exit. I spot Hana from across the room and she gives me a concerned look as I sneak out and make my way toward the front entrance of the hotel. I push open the door and the cool night air hits my face. I turn to the sky and let out an aggravated scream. People walking past me on the street shoot dirty looks as they pass. Deep breaths, Riley. Don’t let him ruin your evening. Is he doing all of this to test me? I keep thinking about what he said in the conference room. How his words sounded so sincere. Was it all bullshit? Was the whole court date story just a line to try and get into my pants?

I battle with my inner thoughts. Okay, so what if he is telling the truth? Does that mean that once the divorce is final, we can be together? What happens with my job? I’m pretty sure getting involved with him is a conflict of interest. Even though he’d technically be divorced, people would still frown upon the whole “sleeping with your nanny” thing. And what happens if we can’t make it work? I’ve only been with them for a few weeks, but I already care about Charlotte and Philip. They would be devastated. I lean against the side of the building, struggling to figure out how to handle this whole situation. The realization hits that I’ve been standing here for a while. What time is it anyway? I check the pockets of my dress for my phone and curse when I remember that I left it at the table. After taking a few more moments to calm myself, I head back inside. I’m greeted by the sight of Liam standing in the lobby. My mouth waters as my eyes rake up and down his body. His black suit fits like a glove and I find myself struggling to breathe.

“Where did you go?” he asks. I regain my composure and shoot him a glare before brushing past him. He catches my arm, stopping me. “Riley? What’s going on?”

“I don’t know, Liam. You tell me?” He stares at me for a long moment, trying to figure out what I’m talking about. I roll my eyes and try to jerk out of his hold. His grip tightens. “What happened to ‘the divorce becomes final on Wednesday?’ It sure didn’t look that way when you were cozying up to your ex.”

He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “It’s not what you think.”

“Yeah, whatever,” I reply and pull free from his grip.

He laughs sarcastically. “Yeah, well what about that little show you were putting on with my brother just now?”

“Just giving you a taste of your own medicine. Since that’s the game we seem to be playing tonight.” I attempt to walk away and he grabs me again, shoving me into the nearby coat check closet.

“Riley. Listen to me. It’s not like that at all. This whole evening is for show. It’s my last gift to Madeleine before the divorce is final.”

Tears prick my eyes. “Your last gift? You don’t owe her anything, Liam. She cheated on you. Or did you forget that?”

He sighs and puts his hand on my chin, tilting my face up. “You’re right. And no, I didn’t forget. But I agreed to ‘play nice’ with her tonight to keep up appearances with her friends and our colleagues. They don’t know about the divorce, and she doesn’t want to tell them until it’s done. She said if I went along with it, she wouldn’t give me any trouble with the custody hearing.”

“And you believe her?”

“I have to. I just want this whole thing to be over, so I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.” He leans in and presses his forehead against mine. “Please understand me when I tell you that you’re the only woman I want. Any love I had for her is gone, and the only thing I want from her is to go to this hearing, say there are no unresolved matters, and get out of my house.” He reaches out and touches my arm and my body tenses. He notices and pulls away. “Riley, please. It was an act.”

“Well, someone should give you an Oscar, because that was very convincing,” I snap.

His expression hardens and for the first time in weeks, I see a different side of Liam. Sure, I’m being stubborn, but I feel like it’s warranted after being strung along all this time. He gives me an almost unreadable look. “Is that what you think of me?” he barks.

“I’m starting to question everything I think about you.”

He grabs my hand, pressing it to his crotch. His erection strains against his pants. “You feel this? This isn’t because of her. This is because of you. Every night, when I get myself off, it’s not to images of her. It’s to images of you.” He leans in brushes his lips against mine, whispering, “I don’t want her. I want you right here, right now, in this coat closet.” I look around the closet. It’s small, but there is just enough room for the two of us, even with all the expensive coats and jackets. The hunger in his eyes for me is carnal; it makes me physically shudder.

“Prove it,” I challenge.

He pushes me against a rack of coats, his face against mine, and pulls my skirt up. I wrap my arms around his neck and nibble on his earlobe. He grunts and slides his hands in my underwear, finding my wet clit. I swallow hard, letting my legs fall open at his touch. “You’re so wet for me. Your mouth says that you’re still mad, but your pussy says you’re all mine.” He slips one finger into me and I nearly explode on the spot.

He pulls his hands away and I gasp in disappointment. He smirks and drops to his knees, lifting my skirt and draping it over his head. “Lean back. Grab that closet rod and hold on tight.” He moves his mouth down my stomach before grabbing my underwear with his teeth and dragging them down my legs. Once I step out of them, he puts both hands on each of my legs and slowly drags them up toward the apex of my thighs, spreading my legs. I grip the closet rod, my knuckles turning white, as he rubs his nose along my clit. He lifts one of my legs and rests it on his shoulder. In one motion, he flicks his tongue against my clit and my knees buckle.

“Ohmygods, Liam,” I cry. I immediately slap one hand over my mouth. He laughs softly before giving me another long, luscious stroke. I allow a whimper to slip out, then bite down on my palm to keep from screaming. The last thing we need is for someone to hear us and come barging in. He pushes my dress off his head. “Do you want me to stop?”

“Don’t you dare!”

He grins and returns to massaging my clit with his tongue. He slips a finger inside me and begins fucking me with his hand, causing my body to tighten. It doesn’t take long before I’m gasping and shuddering, my orgasm powering through me. With one last kiss to my inner thigh, he crawls out from under my skirt and rises to his feet.

“Holy shit,” he says, pressing a kiss to my lips. I taste myself on him and it’s the hottest fucking thing ever. I reach down to undo his pants when he grabs my hands, stopping me. “Not tonight, sweetheart.”

“What do you mean? It’s my turn to take care of you.”

He shakes his head and kisses my forehead. “Another time. Tonight was for you.”

I nod and take a few moments to come down from my high. We straighten ourselves out and exit the coat closet, making sure no one saw us. He takes my hand in his and we make our way back down the hall towards the ballroom. When we reach the doors, he brings my hand to his lips and softly kisses the back of it.

“If I don’t talk to you again tonight, I’ll see you Monday morning, okay?”

I nod, avoiding eye contact. After what just happened in that coat closet, it’s going to be hard pretending we’re just associates. He grips my chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing me to look into his eyes.

“Hey. I know what you’re thinking right now, but remember what I told you. We just have to get through these next few days.” He leans in and presses one last kiss to my lips. “You go ahead. I need to hit the men’s room before I go back in there.”

I smirk. “Behave yourself, Mr. Rhys.”

He groans and taps me on the ass before turning and making his way down the hall towards the bathroom. I chuckle and enter the ballroom, making a beeline for Hana.

“Riley? Are you okay? You ran out of here pretty quickly.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just needed some air. You ready to get out of here?”

She nods and heads over to our table to retrieve our things. We say our goodbyes and make our way out of the ballroom arm-in-arm. Before the doors close, I take one last look back and see Liam standing next to his brother. He shoots me a wink and my cheeks flush. As Hana and I make our way outside to wait for our ride, I feel a little better about our situation. We just have to get through these next few days. I repeat his words in my mind, willing myself to believe them.

#something domestic #nanny au #trr au #trr fanfic #playchoices fanfic #liam rhys #riley brooks #n*fw #nazariolahela fanfic

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nazariolahela · 4 years

Text

Best Beloved: Chapter 5

Catch up here

Series Tags: @burnsoslow @lady-calypso @irishwhiskys-blog @loveellamae

All characters are the property of Pixelberry Studios. Thanks for allowing me to borrow them.

Chapter Summary: Damien and Kaia meet for a study group, but the assignment isn’t the only thing they’re struggling with.

Kaia

“You’re late,” I said, my feet propped up on the table, as Damien shuffled across the library to where I was sitting. It was our weekly study session and we were supposed to start 20 minutes ago, but I was the only one in our group who had grasped the concept of time management.

“Yeah, sorry. This internship is kicking my ass. I had to stay late because we were setting up some new security clearance protocols. Don’t tell anyone though. That information is classified,” he replied as he slid the backpack off his shoulder. He took a seat at the table and shot me a panty-dropping grin. My body instantly reacted. Bastard. How did he keep doing that?

“Yeah, well Brad and Allison aren’t here yet either, so I guess I can’t be too mad at you.”

“You couldn’t be mad at me if you wanted to. You love me.”

I paused. Did he really just say that? He always knew how to push my buttons. Even when we were kids. It’s like he lived to get a reaction out of me. I cleared my throat awkwardly. “Anyway. We need to get the rest of this project done. It’s due on Monday. Did you finish your part?”

“Of course I did. What do you take me for?” he grinned, pulling his laptop from his backpack. I watched him from the corner of my eye as he set it on the table and opened it up, powering up the device. “I’m emailing it to you right now so you can add it to the final document.”

I had the unfortunate task of presenting the project to the class, so everyone sent their parts to me. It was my job to outline the project, then organize each part into our PowerPoint.

“Not gonna lie, this is not how I wanted to spend my Saturday afternoon. I have a very pissed off girlfriend right now,” he said.

I hid my smirk behind my laptop. I know, I know. It wasn’t very nice of me, but I got a little thrill hearing that Damien and Alana were having problems. It wasn’t that I wanted my friend to be miserable, but if he suddenly became single, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. I had nothing against Alana personally, but the few times we interacted, she was very cold towards me.

“Hmm...that sucks. So, I have Allison’s part. She emailed it to me last night, but I’m still waiting on Brad’s part. I put your part on slides 5 and 6 to transition from Allison’s slide, then we’ll put Brad’s part on slides 9 and 10 after my part. Then, we should be good to go.” I checked the time on my phone. Brad and Allison were over half an hour late. I sent both of them a text asking when they planned on showing up, then went back to laying out the presentation.

Damien and I worked in silence for several minutes. Occasionally, I would look up from my computer and sneak peeks of him. I couldn’t help but stare at his features. Even after all these years, my attraction for him never waned. He looked up and caught me staring; his lips turned up in a wide grin.

“Do I have something on my face?”

“Um...uh...nope. Y-you’re all good!” I replied a little too enthusiastically.

“Then why are you staring at me like that?” he smirked.

I felt my cheeks turn beet red. I quickly looked away and tried to focus on what I was working on, but I could still feel his eyes on me. My phone pinged, breaking the silence — and thank the gods — the tension. I grabbed it and saw a message from Allison. She mentioned that she wasn’t feeling well and would not be able to make our study group tonight, but that she would see us next week. There was still no word from Brad, which I was not surprised by.

I rolled my eyes and placed my phone on the table. “Well, Allison’s not coming. I don’t know about Brad, but I’m guessing if he was going to show up, he’d be here by now.”

Damien shrugged. “No biggie. That kid is a major tool anyway. Not having him here is a blessing.”

I giggled. “True, but we can’t finish without his contribution, so we’re stuck with him until we turn this stupid ass project in.”

“Yippie,” he said in a monotone voice. I rolled my eyes and went back to finishing up our presentation.

We worked for about ten more minutes until my eyes started to blur from staring at the screen. “Well, I guess this is a good stopping point for now. Until we get Brad’s part, this is as far as we can work,”

I stuffed my things in my backpack and slung it over my shoulder when Damien stopped me.

“Hey, you busy right now? Wanna go get a bite to eat?”

I cocked my head in confusion. Was he really asking me to hang out? I had offered to meet him for lunch or coffee outside of our study group several times, but he always had plans with Alana. “Uh…I guess. If that’s okay with you.”

“Obviously it is because I just asked you,” he smirked.

“Yeah, sure. You wanna go now?”

“Nah, I was thinking sometime next month. Of course, I want to go now. When else would we go?” His voice dripped with sarcasm.

I looked down at the yoga pants and hoodie I was wearing. “Well, I was hoping to shower and change before I go out in public.”

“You look fine. No one’s going to give a shit what you’re wearing. Besides, you’re technically already out in public, so it’s a little late for that,” he laughed.

I huffed. “Fine. Where are we going?”

“There’s a little bistro off-campus that has really good burgers.” He slung an arm around my shoulder, pulling me to his body. The feeling of him pressed up against me sent chills down my spine. I shuddered as he grabbed my backpack and handed it to me, then led me out of the library.

When we reached his car in the campus parking lot, he unlocked the doors and tossed his backpack in the back seat. I stopped in my tracks. He still had the same car from high school. All the memories of us riding around in this thing on Friday nights came flooding back. He moved to the driver’s side door, stopping to wait for me. “Are you going to get in the car, or are you just going to stand there all day staring into space?” He extended his arm and tapped his index finger to his wrist. “Time’s a-wastin', Park.”

Snap out of it, Kaia. It’s just Damien. But it wasn’t ‘just Damien.’ It was the boy I had been in love with for as long as I could remember. I moved slowly to the car and opened the passenger’s side door, sliding in. He smirked and started the ignition. We drove in silence, the only sounds coming from the radio. A song from our childhood started playing and we looked at each other with goofy grins on our faces.

“Remember the first time we heard this song? You wouldn’t stop singing it for weeks,” he said with a laugh.

“What? It’s a good song,” I replied, singing along and dancing in my seat.

I smiled at the memory that song brought back. It was the summer of 2009. Damien and I were in his backyard, hanging out in the treehouse he and his dad built a few summers before. Two of his younger sisters, Isabela and Carina, were having a sleepover, so he was hiding out. His sister Carina was my age and we were in a couple of classes together, so I was friendly with her, but I spent more time with Damien. The sun had finally set over the horizon so we decided to start up a fire in the fire pit and make S’mores. We climbed down the ladder and he pulled a lighter from his pocket.

“Why do you have that?” I gasped.

His eyes met mine and a smirk spread across his face. “I was smoking a J behind the school gym this morning, so I needed it.” He stared at me for a few seconds, watching my reaction, then burst out laughing. “I found it in the junk drawer in the kitchen, you dork. You know I don’t smoke.”

I leaned over and smacked his arm. “Not funny, Dames.”

“I disagree. I thought it was hilarious.”

“Whatever. Just light the stupid fire. I’ll run inside and grab the stuff to make S’mores.”

“Watch out for the slumber party,” he called back as I walked into the house. I made it to the kitchen and started rummaging through the cabinets, looking for the ingredients we needed. I found the graham crackers and chocolate bars but had no luck locating the marshmallows. I was about to go back outside and asked Damien when I turned and bumped into Isabela.

“Hey, Kaia. Whatcha doing?” she asked, holding several bags of chips in her arms.

“Dames and I are making S’mores. Where are your marshmallows?”

She set the bags of chips down and rummaged around the pantry before locating and tossing me the bag. “So, what’s going on with you and my brother?”

My cheeks instantly flushed. “Wh-what do you mean?”

She smirked. “You know what I mean. You two spend an awful lot of time together. Are you two a thing?”

“No. It’s not like that. We’re just friends,” I lied. Her cocked eyebrow said she didn’t buy my bullshit, but she nodded her head. I grabbed the bag of marshmallows from her hand and hightailed it back outside. "I Gotta Feeling" by Black Eyed Peas blasted through the portable speakers in the yard. I approached Damien sitting in front of the firepit, poking one of the logs with a stick. He was shirtless and the moonlight bounced off the muscles of his toned back. The sight made my mouth water. That was the first time I realized I was in love with him.

I was thrust back into the present by the sound of Damien killing the engine. I looked up and noticed we had arrived at the bistro. We exited the car and made our way inside, snagging a table toward the back of the restaurant. The waitress dropped off the menus and took our drink orders, before leaving us to decide what to eat. I pretended to peruse the menu, but my mind was on the guy sitting in the booth across from me.

“Order whatever you want. My treat,” he said.

“Huh?”

I looked up and he was watching me. He nodded toward the menu in my hand. “Don’t worry about paying. I’ve got it this time.”

“You don’t have to do that, you know.”

“I know,” he said softly, riling up the butterflies in my stomach. Our waitress returned a few minutes later and took our orders. Damien ordered the Maple Bacon Burger while I ordered the Mac ‘N Cheese Burger. The waitress left to put our orders in, leaving us alone again.

“So, now that we’re a month into the school year, how are your classes going?” he asked.

I shrugged, swirling my straw in my glass. “Classes are going well. I’m not ready to drop any of them, so that’s a plus. Dorm life is pretty fun, too. I got really lucky with my roomie. Her schedule is different from mine, so we don’t see much of each other, but one night a week, we hang out.” I tapped my finger against my chin. “It’s crazy to think that we’re already a quarter of the way through the semester, so that means I’m 1/32nd of the way through my college career.”

He laughed. “I guess that’s one way of looking at it. What else is going on? Any interesting guys catch your attention lately?”

My eyes shot up to meet his. Why was he asking me that? I went back to staring at my drink. “Uh...not really. There is this guy in my algebra class who asked me out, but I turned him down.” I peeked at him from under my lashes, unable to make out his expression.

***

Damien

I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. On one hand, I wanted her to find someone who would make her happy if I couldn’t. On the other hand, knowing that she wasn’t involved with anyone gave me a tiny sliver of hope. I know she wouldn’t wait for me forever, but I still liked that there wasn’t another guy capturing her attention. Jesus, I was such an asshole.

“So, what happened?” the words left my mouth before I could stop them.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s super nice and really cute, but I just couldn’t bring myself to say yes. Which is weird, because there’s definitely an attraction between us. My whole goal for this semester was to step out of my comfort zone.”

She looked up at me, those big, beautiful brown eyes staring into my soul. No matter how hard I tried to fight it, everything about this girl did things to me. Her laugh was like the most beautiful music to my ears. Her sense of humor was aligned with mine. Even her looks were enough to make other girls jealous. When she complained earlier about how she was dressed, I internally rolled my eyes. Even when she didn’t try, she still looked mouth-watering. She was wearing a pair of black yoga pants and a light pink hooded sweatshirt with the words “Rosé and Shine” written in gold cursive letters across the chest. Yes, I looked at her chest. If she busted me, I would’ve just said I was trying to read her shirt.

I awkwardly cleared my throat. “You should give him a chance. Who knows? He might turn out to be a great guy. We all know those are in short supply lately.” Gods, what was I doing? I knew it was the right thing to do, but saying those words hurt.

She nodded. “Yeah, I guess. Maybe he is great and we’ll be really happy together. I just don’t know if I’m ready to start dating yet. I think… I just...I’m not over...” she trailed off.

“You’re not over what?”

“Nevermind,” she shook her head and took a long sip of her drink.

The wheels started turning. Was she talking about me? I know she dated in high school, but Nadia told me those relationships never lasted longer than a few months. She suspected I was the reason for that. Yeah, I know it sounded a tad creepy, but I was able to keep tabs on her, thanks to her cousin’s need to gossip.

One particular moment was that first Christmas after I left for college. I received a text from Nadia asking if I was coming home. She then asked that I keep my distance from Kaia. When I asked her “why,” she told me that she was still upset about what happened after graduation.

But I didn’t care. I wanted to see my best friend. I dropped by her house to say hi to her parents. They always treated me like the son they never had. Her dad asked how college was going. I told them about my classes and the friends I had made so far. Her mom was filling me in about the neighborhood gossip when I caught a glimpse of Kaia hovering in the hallway. She looked like she wanted to talk to me, but I could tell she was embarrassed to see me.

We locked eyes briefly before she turned around and retreated to her bedroom. I waited a few moments then excused myself to use the bathroom. I stood outside her door, listening for any signs of movement, before lightly tapping on the door. I heard the springs of her mattress squeak under her weight, then the door swung open. She looked adorable in her red and white Reindeer pajama pants and white thermal top. My eyes briefly traveled down and I noticed she wasn’t wearing a bra.

“So, you weren’t even going to come to say hi to me?” I asked.

She shifted on her feet. “I don’t know. I figured you didn’t want to talk to me after what happened last time.” I watched as her eyes traveled up and down my body. It took everything in me to keep from pushing her into her room and kissing her. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t. Not only were her parents in the other room, I knew the whole age difference was frowned upon. And what if we did get together and it didn’t work out? I’d lose my best friend forever.

“You’re my best friend, Kaia. No matter what happened in the past, that will never change,” I replied.

“Even when I get drunk and act like a lovesick idiot?” She played with the drawstring of her pants, avoiding my eyes.

I gripped her chin with my thumb and forefinger, tilting her face up towards mine. “There’s nothing you could do that would ever make me want to stop being your best friend. And hey, I don’t hold what happened back then against you. Sometimes we do dumb things when we’re drunk.”

Her face dropped and it told me I had said the wrong thing. I brought my hand up and cupped her cheek and she leaned into my touch. The moment was interrupted when her mom called from the kitchen to ask me if I wanted some hot cocoa. I dropped my hand and gave her a weak smile, then backed away slowly as I made my way down the hall back to the living room. I looked over at my shoulder to see her still standing in her bedroom doorway, watching me go.

I was pulled back into the present when the waitress arrived at our table and delivered our food. The two of us ate in awkward silence, occasionally looking up at each other. After our plates were cleared, the waitress reappeared and I ordered a slice of cherry pie for us to share. When the pie arrived, we each took a fork and dug in.

“So, tell me more about this mystery guy?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

She chewed for a few moments, hesitant to talk about it, then finally spoke. “Well, his name is Hayden. He’s a freshman and a photography major. He’s from Upstate New York and has a Border Collie named Dipper. He also has a twin brother named Harley, but I guess they don’t get along. Nadia loves him and she’s been bugging me to go out with him for the last few days.”

I didn’t know this kid from Adam, but I instantly didn’t like him. Was it jealousy? Probably. Was I going to do anything about it? Nope. “It’s obvious that you like him, so why not go out with him. You’re overthinking this, Kaia.”

“Yeah, maybe,” she sighed and took another bite of pie. At that moment, Alana’s friends Rowan and Cecile walked by. They waved, then stopped short when they noticed it wasn’t my girlfriend sitting in the booth across from me. Cecile gave me a skeptical glance while Rowan looked on in shock.

“Hey, Damien. What are you up to?” He asked, looking between Kaia and me.

“Hey, guys! Just capping off a little study session. This is Kaia. She’s an old friend.”

He nodded. “Cool, cool. You guys going to Homecoming next week? Cecile is a candidate for court, so we were going to have a little get-together after the crowning ceremony. You and Alana should come. It’s gonna be fun.”

“Yeah, that sounds good, man. I’ll talk to her about it this weekend.”

Cecile cocked an eyebrow as if to call me out on my bullshit, but didn’t say anything. She narrowed her eyes at Kaia, then turned back to me. “Well, we gotta go. Tell your girlfriend, Alana, hi for us.” She grabbed Rowan’s hand and they walked out. I sighed. I was sure I was going to get a phone call about that by the end of the night.

“Well, that was weird,” she said. “Speaking of, what’s going on with you and Alana?”

Shit, where do I start? “It’s complicated right now. We’re taking a break.”

Her eyes widened. “You guys broke up?”

“Eh...Not exactly. We’ve been fighting a lot, so we’re taking a few days to calm down and re-evaluate the relationship. It’s not how I would have handled things, but she thinks it will give us time to,” I held up my index and middle fingers, making air quotes, “figure things out. She thinks I’ve been neglecting her, which I kind of have been. But she also thinks I’m cheating on her.”

“Wow...I genuinely don’t know how to respond to that,” she replied.

“Yeah, me neither.”

Kaia nodded silently, setting her fork down on the plate. She rested her elbows on the table and folded her hands in front of her face. “Can I be honest with you? This whole relationship seems really unhealthy. There’s a huge lack of trust on both sides. That’s something a break isn’t going to fix. If she doesn’t trust you to be faithful, your relationship is doomed to fail. So, it’s up to you to figure out how you want to proceed. If you think the relationship is worth saving, you need to prove that you’re a reliable partner, and she needs to work through her insecurities. If not, you’re better off ending it now. Especially before you two decide to get engaged or something.”

“I kind of already proposed to her though,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck.

“Oh,” she replied. “Well, you should think about doing some sort of premarital counseling before you get married.”

“Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because she said no,” I deadpanned.

Kaia went quiet. I waited for her to say something else, but before she could speak, the waitress reappeared to drop our check off and ask if we needed anything else. Neither of us spoke as I paid the bill and we made our way out to the car. I debated asking her what she was thinking but decided against it. We rode in silence back to the dorms. When I pulled up in the parking lot, she grabbed the handle to exit the car, then stopped.

“For what it’s worth, Dames, I am sorry about you and Alana. I might not like her, but you’re my best friend. And if she makes you happy, then I’m happy for you. If you ever want to talk about it, you know where to find me. I’ve been told I’m a good listener.”

I nodded. “Thanks. I appreciate that. And hey, let me know how things go with Hayden.”

She frowned slightly, then quickly covered it up with a smile. “Will do. I’ll see you in class on Monday. Have a good weekend.” She got out of the car and took off running towards her dorm.

I dragged my hand down my face. Get it together, Dames. She was my best friend. And I had a girlfriend. I got out of the car and headed toward my dorm. When I reached my floor, I swung open the door to my room and was met by the cold stare of my girlfriend, sitting on my bed, her hands folded in her lap.

“Alana? What are you doing here?” I asked as I moved into the room. She rose from the bed and made her way towards me.

“Cecile texted me.”

Shit. I knew this was coming. “Babe, it’s not what you think.”

Her eyes gave away nothing as she took a deep breath. “It’s not important. What matters is you and me.”

Confused, I grabbed her hand and sat down on the bed. “You know I love you, babe. And I know I’ve been a shitty boyfriend these last few weeks, but I want to make this work and I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

She nodded, but her face told me she didn’t believe me. I sighed and pressed a kiss to her temple. It was going to be a long night.

#best beloved #pm au #college au #friends to lovers #perfect match #choices fanfic #damien nazario #kaia park #damien x mc #nazariolahela fanfic

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