Page 9 of Eternal

“Good. Dinner is at seven PM, and drinks will be served at six PM. Please be here by six. See you soon, loves.”

With that, my mother hangs the phone up.

Serena and I exchange glares and groan in unison. Another fucking family dinner. How lovely. Serena sits up and yawns, “Let’s go to lunch and get mani-pedis.” She bounces up to get ready. Apparently, she’s not too tired to get treated at the spa.

I start to get ready when I catch my reflection in the mirror. The bags under my eyes are darker than usual, my blonde hair is disheveled from my slumber, and I look like I’ve gained weight in the past few days. Probably due to the stress I’ve been under with this gala. Events like this used to be our favorite times. We got to dress up like princesses and be treated like ones, too, from the pre-gala pampering to everyone fawning over being our father’s daughters. We loved it. Now, we could care less. Most people are only there to try to get ahead in life. To try to size up their competition. Though, I think my sister still enjoys going to these events. Gives her an excuse to dress up fancy and get pampered.

I keep getting ready for the day, even though I’ll have to stop back by for a change of outfits for dinner. My sister comes back in just as I’m applying my perfume. We are both dressed the same. Hair slicked back up high on our heads in a ponytail, biker shorts that go to the knees, an oversized crewneck sweater, and flip-flop slides. She takes one look at me and starts laughing hysterically.

“You have to change. We can’t match like this.” She manages between laughs.

I scrunch my nose at her, “No, you go change. I just got done putting my perfume on.”

She wipes the tears from her eyes, mascara streaking down her face. “Fine. We will just match. Let’s go.” She loops her arm in mine as we sashay down the hall toward Abe.

After lunch, we arrived at our usual nail salon. Abe takes up residence in the lounge, reading a People magazine looking out of place in such a posh girly place. Serena watches him from a distance while sipping on her wine. We are getting our pedicures done first.

“How has it been since you told our parents?” I ask, lulling my head to the side to look at her.

“It’s been weird. They’re accepting of it, but I just feel like I need to watch his back, ya know?” Serena shrugs her shoulders, “But we’ve been great. Never been better honestly, not like we could get worse than we were in the beginning. It’s been a dream. I want to marry him, it’s just a matter of timing. Father doesn’t want anyone else to know yet. I want everyone to know we are together." She sighs, "There’s nothing more beautiful than to be able to lay claim to your man in front of the woman that’s flirting with him.” Her face twists up with jealousy.

I giggle. “You’re definitely not speaking from experience.”

She shoots me a glare, before turning her attention to her drink again.

Serena has been trying to get me to settle down and meet someone, but I haven’t found anyone that makes it worth my while until Soren. I try to shake him out of my head. He was a hot guy who happened to be a lovely person to speak with. It’ll never be anything outside of that. I mean, genuinely, he was a gentleman in a sea of sleazebags.

“Serena, I think you should announce it when it’s best for you two. Not when it’s best for Father. He will get over it anyway.” I shrug my shoulders, guzzling down the rest of my mimosa.

Considering my track record, I don’t know why I’m offering her relationship advice.

“You’re right. It’s just a matter of time. We can’t be apart like ever. I think he still feels an urge to protect me, just like he did when he was my bodyguard. Remember how he was?” Serena giggled recalling their earlier years, then her eyes widened as if remembering something. “How did I forget to ask? Did you get his number?” She is giddy, nearly shooting out of her seat. I shake my head at her abrupt change in subject.

“No, I didn’t. We just had a pleasant conversation and good drinks together. It was nothing more than that.” I shrug her off, gulping my wine down.

“Nothing more tha--? Are you stupid?” Serena nearly screeches at me. I give her my full attention, looking at her bewildered. “You spent a night with an incredibly hot guy. He makes straight guys question their sexuality. He bought you drinks, got to know you a little, and made eyes at you. He was into you. It was more than just a good conversation and drinks. Please, for the love of god, tell me he at least felt you up or that you at fucked in the bathroom?” Serena continues to lecture me.

“It was just a casual conversation, but my brain was short-circuiting. Besides, I have no way of contacting him. It’ll never go past last night.” I shrug her off again as an attendant comes to refill my glass. A part of me thinks that's a lie. Why else would he act like that wasn't the last time he would see me?

Serena’s nostrils flare. “You know what company he works for, right? Contact the company and try to get through to him that way. Duh!”

I sigh, turning my head away from her, beginning to regret telling her the contents of our conversation.That’s a fucking ridiculous idea.I’m not about to contact him through his company, that seems a little too desperate. Soren seemed to like the challenge I so gladly provided him. So I’ll do it again by not contacting him. If he wants something else, he will find me.

“Freya, look, I’m sorry. I just think there was something there that seemed a bit more than you were making it out to be. I haven’t seen you that happy since-” She cuts herself off, “well ever. I just want to see you happy.”

The sincerity in her eyes pries a small smile from my lips, and I nod, mouthing, ‘it’s okay.’

Serena turns her attention back to Abe, “I’m in love with him, the kind of love I can’t live without. It’s a love that goes neuron-deep. I can't function if I don’t see him every day. I can’t imagine life before him or even after him. It’s eternal love. Have you ever loved anyone like that before?” She’s zoned out, watching Abe’s every move while she pours her heart out to me.

I shake my head. “No, Serena. I haven’t.”

I’m quiet the rest of our trip while my sister babbles on about her friends from college and what they’re doing with their lives. I can’t stop thinking about what she said about loving Abe. I’ve never loved someone like that before. Even with Tristan at our best, in the beginning of our relationship. Everyone else after that has attempted to fill the void but was always unsuccessful. I've built up a wall with bricks and barbed wire fencing. No one will get past me.

I remained quiet the rest of the day, stuck in my head. They say you are your own worst enemy, and I definitely am. These thoughts replay in my head as I sift through the closet for a dress to wear tonight. I settle on my tight white Dolce and Gabanna dress with graffiti written on it, in bold words, ‘Amore’ sprawls across it vertically. Another dress I’ve never worn before. Paired with a pair of heels that just have two straps holding them in place, one across my toes and the other around my ankle. I’m deciding on jewelry when my sister appears behind me. She agreed on flats tonight, so we are eye to eye. She’s admiring my outfit and the pair of diamond earrings I’m putting on.

“Freya, you are so pretty. Just naturally beautiful,” She says simply, sitting down on the bed behind me. Her face looks conflicted, and worry presses wrinkles into her forehead.

I genuinely smile at her. “Not as beautiful as you, little sister.”

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