18 Plan of action

Date = 5 April
Place = San Francisco (Enrique’s home)

POV – Aria

Mel hasn’t moved since she started reading what’s in her hands, making me a little queasy and I feel like shaking her back to reality.

But instead, I peer through the huge windows where storm clouds gather dark and looming - as if they know our secret. The sea is a somber gray; it matches the sky … and my mood - I’m dejected and drowning in uncertainty right now.

The first drops splatter against the glass. I examine how it breaks and then slowly trickles down in small streams; spellbound. A heartbeat passes and then the spell breaks, drawing my eyes back to the blonde.

She tosses the paper and moves her hands carefully over her tummy, her face still in a stock-still emotionless state … simply gazing ahead. I hold my breath; expecting the worst at any moment I pick up my phone, ready to dial 911.

“I seriously need a VERY big glass of wine right now,” she slowly turns her head and I meet her earnest gaze. I take a comfortable pained breath, dropping the phone. Thank the heavens above; she’s back. My heartbeat slowly returns to normal. Mel crept into my heart … I’m not sure exactly when, but she did, and I can’t let anything happen to her.

“Are you okay?” my tone is a touch harsh and unsure, but optimistic.

“Do you think this is true? Did my mother … “ she doesn’t complete the sentence but this time I’m her jam … this time I know what she’s saying without her actually expressing it. I take her hands in mine; they’re cold and tense.

“I’m not sure, Mel … “ I don’t want to deceive her, “but it seems that way.” I make a motion toward the documents, now strewn undignified on the ground. “But it can be fake.”

She runs her palm across her face, looking forlorn and tired. I encircle her in a hug.

“Brian gave me a week,” I say against her shoulder, “so let’s run a test tomorrow.” I feel her nod and then she pushes me away.

“Aria, we’re smart, right?” Is this a trick question? I’m no genius, but I’m for sure as hell not dumb either.

“Yes … “ I answer tentatively.

“So we …” she gestures with her finger from her to me and back; as if there are others in the room.

“We’re gonna come up with a plan to beat that son-of-a-bitch at his own game.” The fire in her eyes burns my insecurities. Fuck Brian Cruise. I’m not going to let him ruin me … or this family … and he’s for sure as hell not going to ruin Enrique.

“So what’s the plan?” I cross my legs and rub my palms eagerly together. Mel stoops to pick up the fallen papers. Then she holds them next to each other … one in each hand. A deep V develops between her brows, those blue eyes lacking the glint of mischief that always lingers there.

“One of these is a lie … “ she states the obvious, shaking the papers as if she’s torturing them to confess. “One is a lie … one … is … lying … “ she repeats softly probably to let the facts sink in. When you find out that the people you trusted the most in life, lied to you … that’s a bitter pill to take. Trust me I’m well-versed in the subject … my parents also lied to us … kept secrets. Secrets that were only revealed after their deaths. So, yeah, I know exactly what she’s feeling right now.

“Let’s assume the DNA report is accurate … “ I merely nod, not wanting to interrupt her, “then this birth certificate is a phony … “

Now the certificate receives all her attention. I’ve looked at that thing a few times since Brian gave it to me … it seems legit. The names of her parents; the date of birth; everything is in place … as it should be. Even the doctor’s signature … nothing is wrong with it. If it’s a fake … it’s a pretty good one.

“Shit!” Mel yelps loudly and I almost fall from the sofa.

“What?”

“The doctor … that’s Deimos’s signature!” Her shocked eyes find mine. Deimos Grimm signed the birth certificate? That can’t possibly be a coincidence, right?

“Okay, I know he was the assisting doctor with all our deliveries … he told me that recently.” And things just got a whole lot more complicated. Melaena’s relationship just got dragged into this mess … so now we’re both in danger of losing our hearts. She must also be aware of this since she goes pale.

“Mel, you know what this means, don’t you?” I ask to confirm that she’s my peanut butter but it seems we’re not on the same sandwich this time.

“Yes, my father-in-law might be part of the cover-up.”

“True … but Mel, if he is … it may create an issue in your relationship with Damion,” I tell her straight and her face loses all color. She gets it now. She lifts the DNA report again.

“Half-sibling …” she mumbles the word, “my mom was unfaithful …”

“Mel, you don’t know that … maybe Brain is just trying his luck and he faked the DNA … “

“Or my brothers are going to get the shock of their lives,” she finishes my sentence.

“So are we gonna ask Deimos?”

She gets up and walks to the window, peering out into the darkness, clutching the documents behind her back; the only movement is her fingers crumpling up the corner of the one paper. I give her a moment. This can’t be easy for her, and it only adds to my admiration for this tiny human – she won’t let anything get her down. And the two of us are growing closer and closer. Will she still be my friend when she finds out about the contract? I don’t want to lose her too … she’s the best friend I’ve always wanted. Yeah, I know she and Kiara are like sisters, but I don’t mind sharing … and I love Kiara as well.

I notice the magazine, still folded in half; open at the article we were discussing earlier … and my eyes read the next item …

'If he's a super ambitious person and a diligent worker in life, he's not going to be lazy in bed and won't slack off during sex. He'll have the stamina to ride you hard, over and over again.'

Rings true to me, and the tenderness I have down there confirms this. Enrique does not slack down.

“No … we’ll talk to him after we’ve done a test.” Startled by her sudden voice, I let out a faint swearword, an unavoidable blush searing my face for getting caught in dirty thoughts. But luckily she seems too preoccupied to catch onto my predicament.

“And if all this is true,” she taps her lips with her index finger, “we’ll play along with that moron Brian for a bit…” I don’t like the look in her eyes, they look just like her crazy brother’s.

“He wants the leading role so we give him the fucking leading role.” All that’s needed is an evil nemesis laugh to fit the expression on her face.

My jaw drops. Not exactly the plan I was expecting … I was more for NOT giving him what he wants. I blink a few times slowly.

“Eh … we stab your brother in the back then?” I just want to make sure we’re spread on the same PB&J. Mel waves her hand.

“Ug … it’s just a role … there will be more. And it’s not as if Enrique needs the money … or the fame for that matter.” Okay, I didn’t think about it like that. It’s true … it’s just a stupid part in a stupid movie …

But our contract states that I must help Enrique get the part … and if he ever finds out that I worked with Brian, he’ll never forgive me. I will lose him forever. And if he gives up the part … it means he doesn’t need me anymore. That thought right there scares me the most.

“Yeah… that’s gonna be a fun conversation. Hey, Enrique … you have to give up the role … so Brian can get it … but I can’t tell you why. Yep, I’m really looking forward to that,” I mock sarcastically, my eyes getting wet.

I swallow down the tears and bite my lip to forcefully keep them down. Mel turns her head and looks at me … the psycho look subsides into a soft warm one.

“Don’t worry … our family is strong enough to survive this … so as soon as we’re sure I’ll tell my brothers. But we’ll need Brian to give us more time until Logan comes back, without him knowing our plan.” She taps her finger against her lip, thinking deeply.

“Ah … I know … we can use my sister’s sickness … I’ll tell Brian that I can’t focus on all this right now because of Leyla’s chemo. I’m sure he would extend the deadline.” Or I desperately hope he will.

“What deadline?” The abrupt intrusion of his voice behind me actually jolts me off the sofa this time, bruising not only my ego but also my butt. Toss … these guys for sure need bells around their necks … the whole lot of them. They have a tendency to sneak up on people … and they’re great at it might I add.

The documents! I quickly look at Mel; she’s similarly surprised, but her hands are behind her back, probably hiding the wretched papers. I slowly take a deep breath and then turn my head to face our unexpected guest. He’s now standing next to me with a huge grin on his face, undoubtedly enjoying my uncomfortable, embarrassing tumble … or maybe he just likes me crouching at his feet.

“So … “ he looks at me with teasing eyes and for a moment I’m lost, “what deadline?”

I realize we haven’t answered him yet and I scutter unflattering back onto the sofa … my knees not able to hold my weight successfully right now.

“Eh … “ I look at Mel to help a sister out, but she seems to orbit in space somewhere “eh … Leyla’s … eh … birthday,” I say the first lie that jumps into my head. “We’re planning a party for Leyla’s birthday.”

Mel agrees overeagerly; looking like a bobblehead doll; eyes big. That girl has to work on her lying skills … shit. Me? I don’t have a problem … you quickly learn to lie like a pro when you’re in an orphanage. But I must admit … lying to these guys are not so easy; especially the twins. It’s as if they have supernatural senses or something.

“Really? But she’s gonna be in the hospital then,“ Enrique scrutinizes us with that multicolored gaze that leaves me breathless and wanting every frickin time. I hate myself for being such a wimp. For my lack of self-control whenever he’s around.

“Eh, yes … but it’s gonna be a surprise … eh … " I look at Mel, pleading for her to help.

“Yep, a surprise … eh … party … to … okay I know now … to reveal the gender of the bean.” My eyes grow into probable saucers. I know they planned to have a gender-reveal party later … she asked me to help plan it. But I didn’t expect it so soon.

“You’re acting strange … “ I can see clearly that he’s not buying any of this.

“Hormones … “ I lie again, watching his face pull irrevocably sour. He’s definitely not buying any of this … I can see it in his expression; in his eyes. He drops his phone on the coffee table, next to the empty envelope.

“I need to get back to the club … just came for a shower,” but judging from the look in those eyes, he could just as well have said ‘We’ll talk about this later.’

Then his expression changes again … and just like that he winks at me causing the now-familiar ache to form down under. Ug, Aria, you’re pathetic.

“You could always join me … “ he teases and I snort annoyed … more at myself because I would not mind joining him. I seriously would not - and I know he knows it. He laughs and leaves the room. Dick! I pout, pissed at my body for betraying me so easily.

“Thank hell,” Mel sighs and quickly runs to grab the envelope, shoving the papers inside; thrusting the envelope back into my bag. She wipes some imaginary sweat from her forehead.

“I’m gonna tuck in. Go wash your man’s back … we’ll sort this shit out in the morning. And don’t worry, Enrique is going to be fine … I’ve seen the way he looks at you,” she whispers softly with a wink before leaving down the hall. Is it true? Can he maybe fall in love with me too? And for the first time in my life, I feel as if there’s some hope. Hope for me to be happy; to love and be loved.

I get up to go join Enrique, just as his phone beeps. I pick it up without thinking.

Amanda: I’m waiting in your office like always (heart emoji)(eggplant emoji)

My hope explodes; in full force; the blast wave shattering my heart on its path of destruction. I fall back onto the sofa, still clutching the phone, I roll myself into a little ball of rubble; incapacitated; destroyed; back in reality - Sport will never love me!