Page 10 of Eternal

She grins up at me, “Are you looking forward to seeing mother and father?” Her tone is almost sarcastic.

My smile starts to fade, “I suppose so, but I was trying to keep my visit with them around six hours total, including the gala. This is going to push us towards 10-12 hours. I might be the first case of human combustion," I tease.

Serena rolls her eyes, “Whatever you say.”

I study her reflection in the mirror. She’s dressed in my brand new Prada dress; it looks like a button-down shirt unbuttoned to the middle of her chest and off the shoulder and a pencil skirt under the breast. Her flowing chestnut brown hair was straight across her back. She stands to be next to me in the mirror. My balayage blonde hair almost matches my mother's but is not so color-processed, so it clashes against my sister’s darker head of hair. Her eyes are jade green, while mine is a seafoam green to match my father's. We both shared the same full lips, but my stomach pokes out a little further than hers, and my curves are more apparent. She always had a place in haute couture modeling, whereas I’d be cast off as a “plus size” model. Both our noses are turned up at a curve to match my mother's. We both are beautiful Spencer girls.

She hugged my side. “Ready?”

I nod and turn away from her grabbing my clutch. “Where’s Abe at?”

“Oh, he had to get the car around front to make it look better for our parents. He has to turn on his professional face again.”

I hum in understanding. He now has to act as though there are no feelings between the two of them. It must be hard for the two of them to have to constantly sneak around.

We meet Abe downstairs in the lobby and head towards my mother and father’s house. When we arrive, we are greeted with an oh-so-familiar row of palm trees leading up to the gate, where a guard sits outside 24/7. After being cleared, we are allowed in. Two other cars are sitting outside that I don’t recognize.

I asked Serena, “Did they say there would be guests?” I ask as we walk up the steps to the front door.

She frowns and shakes her head. Abe follows us up close. I raise my hand to knock when the door opens to our butler from childhood.

“Ms. Spencer, Ms. Spencer. A pleasure to see you again.” He gives a slight nod in each of our directions.

I can only offer a meek smile as my nerves start to tear at me from the inside. I hate coming back here. I don’t have many fond memories here. I can hear hushed voices from the living room. Serena shakes her coat off and hands it to the butler, exchanging pleasantries with him. There’s one voice I will never forget that rings out more clearly.

Soren Astor is in my fucking house.

Chapter four

Freya

Igasp,grabbingSerenaby both arms and dragging her into the bathroom right past the foyer. Yeah, I was just joking when I said I’ll combust, but now it was looking like more of a possibility..

“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. Serena.” She panics as I start to collapse to the floor.

“Freya, what the fuck is going on?”

“Soren. Oh my god, Serena. It’s Soren. This can’t be real. This can’t be fucking real.” I pull on my hair, trying to wake myself from this dream. Nightmare? I haven’t decided yet.

“Who the fuck is Soren?” Serena stands me back up finally. My eyes blaze at her with ferocity.Just remember, you dummy.“Oh. Oh, fuck Freya.ThatSoren.”

I close my eyes, my hand resting on my forehead, and I begin to nod my head vigorously. “Yeah. Yeah, Serena,thatSoren. Oh my god. How do I look?” My panic nearly escalates to hyperventilating. I check the mirror, my hair and outfit are perfectly in place, but my cheeks are flushed, and I look crazed.

“Bitch, calm the fuck down before I slap you. You look stunning okay? Now, let’s get out of here, and go say hello to everyone. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

She talks me off the ledge, and I begin to take steadying deep breaths. I nod again. “Okay. I’m okay.”

“Good, because someone is standing on the other side of the door.”

She rips the door open like a bat out of hell. Abe jumps back, alarmed. He looks between the two of us.

“Is everything okay?”

I swear I’m going to have another meltdown.

Serena answers, “Yes, we-- she is fine.” She puts on a fake smile while trying to communicate with her eyes. Abe is a typical dude. He doesn’t get it.

She grabs my wrist and drags me out into the foyer. My heels click with each step, and I’m beginning to wish I wore flats to stay as quiet as possible. My mother appears from around the corner.

---