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“Really?” I exclaimed, unable to hide my joy. “That is really good news.”

“Exactly,” he smiled. “That is why both your father and I are absolutely convinced that there is no need to stall the wedding. Everything should go according to plan. Your father is very excited about everything, I must add.”

I smiled a little nervously, which I tried my best to hide. Everyone seemed excited about this, but me. As Luke and I delved into discussions about the upcoming wedding preparations, my mind occasionally drifted to thoughts of Adrian. It was a constant battle to stay present, to focus on the tasks at hand, while the lingering memories of our shared moments tugged at my heart.

Luke’s enthusiasm for the wedding arrangements was evident, and I couldn’t help but be grateful for his genuine excitement. He shared his ideas for the venue, the decorations, and the guest list, each detail carefully planned to create a memorable occasion. I listened attentively, offering my input when necessary, but my mind couldn’t help but wander.

As Luke spoke about the joyous celebration that awaited us, flashes of moments with Adrian danced through my thoughts. The stolen kisses, the intimate conversations, the electrifying connection we shared. It was a whirlwind of emotions, a bittersweet tapestry woven within the confines of my heart.

“Lil?” he suddenly called out to me, and I realized that I hadn’t been listening to anything he just said.

“Sorry,” I smiled apologetically. “I got lost in my own thoughts.”

“Is everything alright?” he asked. “I mean, between us?”

“Of course,” I nodded. “Why would you ask that?”

He looked at me as if he was trying to see through me, but the veil was too thick.

“I don’t know,” he said sincerely. “I feel like we’re not what we used to be before.”

“What do you mean by that?” I kept asking questions for a very simple reason and that was that I myself had no answers to give him.

“I mean that we don’t talk like we used to,” he tried to explain something I already knew, so listening to him was painful.

As Luke attempted to draw closer to me, I found myself instinctively maintaining a distance. It was an internal struggle, a battle between my loyalty to him and the conflicting emotions that swirled within me. Though his intentions were pure and his affection genuine, I couldn’t help but hold back, guarding my heart like a fortress.

I offered a gentle smile, attempting to bridge the gap between us, but there was a hesitance in my actions. The lingering presence of Adrian, like a phantom whisper, continued to haunt my thoughts. His touch, his gaze, the intoxicating moments we had shared lingered within me, making it difficult to explain any of this to Luke.

How could I tell him that my heart now belonged to another man, a man whose lips I had tasted, a man whose presence I felt inside of me, and I couldn’t stop yearning for more? How could I tell him any of this when I knew that he was starting to develop feelings for me, feelings that weren’t there before?

I saw the disappointment flicker in Luke’s eyes, a subtle indication that he sensed my reservations. He wanted to bridge the emotional gap between us, to deepen our connection, but myreluctance created an invisible barrier. I knew it hurt him, and that knowledge only intensified the commotion within me.

I struggled to find the words to explain, to articulate the turmoil that swirled within my heart. I didn’t want to hurt him, but I couldn’t deny the truth of my feelings, just like I couldn’t deny the fact that I couldn’t get Adrian out of my mind, even for a single second. He was always there, always present.

“It has nothing to do with you,” I finally told him.

It comforted me to realize that this was actually true. It was all me. My emotions had changed. I had changed. He was still the sweet, kind man he had always been. My best friend.

“Who does it have to do with then?” he asked for more clarification.

“Me,” I said truthfully. “And this commotion with the vampires, not knowing what is going on. It’s all taking a toll on me.”

“It’s all going to be alright,” he told me with a smile. “If you need some time alone, to yourself… you know, without me bothering you, just let me know, OK?”

“Thank you,” I smiled. “I appreciate that. Sometimes, I do need that.”

“We all need that sometimes,” he agreed. “There is nothing wrong with that. But I’m afraid you can’t be alone. It seems your new best friend is with you everywhere.”

“My new best friend?” I raised an eyebrow.

“The bodyguard,” he reminded me.

“Oh,” I voiced, not really sure what else to say. “Yeah. Well… that is his job.”

“We enjoy some of our jobs more than others,” he said mysteriously, walking over to me and giving me a peck on the cheek. “I know you trust him, Lil. But… he is a vampire. He is not like us, and he will never be like us. Don’t forget that.”

I didn’t really know what he meant by that, but I didn’t have the time to ask him about it, because he turned around and headed for the door.A moment later, I was left alone, with my own whirlwind of emotions and thoughts.