Page 27 of His Blue Moon Princess (The Silver City #1)

My mind goes blank, yet my eyes can’t stop watching them. This couple, standing across the room. Next to each other, a black and gold movie-like scene. I can’t think; I just stare like some mindless idiot. I feel so stupid...

In the crowd of werewolves around them, no one is surprised to see those two together. They all know. Except for me. Nobody told me, and worse, they all made sure not to. Foolish, ignorant, blind Nora.

“Nora, are you okay?” Someone asks.

I don’t know. How am I supposed to feel? I feel nothing right now. My heart just fell, somewhere really, really low. I’m numb as if my body is covered in ice. I can’t even cry. I have both eyes fixated on them, and I have no idea what to do or how to react. Damian is talking to someone else, while that woman is still attached to him, her arm around his like he belongs to her.

“He is mine!”

My wolf is screaming inside, growling and crying her guts out. Her pain hits me like a hurricane. My chest is so painful, I can’t breathe.

I take a step back. I want to run away from here. Why can’t I stop watching when it’s so painful? I can’t stay here. Her. With him. The two of them, side by side. My mate and that girl together. I don’t want to see that! The more I watch, the crazier my mind goes. Thoughts like a raging fire, burning me from the inside. How long? Since when? Why her? Does she love him? Does he love her? Does he love her more than me? Does he love me at all!

I can’t stay here. I take another step back and realize there’s broken glass at my feet. Is this mine? When I raise my head again, a lot of eyes are on me. Among them, a pair of silver eyes, wide open with surprise.

“Nora, watch out, you—”

I push them back. I can’t take anyone touching me now. Not Bobo, not Liam, not anyone. I want to run from this horrible place, from this world. I turn around and start running. I hear Damian’s voice calling my name behind me, and his brother’s.

I run to the elevator, and a surprised waiter steps out to let me in. I push the ground level button, again and again, but I hear Damian’s steps without looking up. Just as the door closes, he rushes in the tiny elevator space, and I instinctively retreat until my back hits the wall.

“Nora, listen to me. Look at me.”

I avoid his eyes. I don’t want to talk to him right now. I don’t want to look at him. It’s too painful! If I look at Damian, I’ll see that vision of him with her again! I see his hands coming close, and I scream. “Don’t fucking touch me!”

That’s when I realize I’m crying. From my scorched voice. I’m crying hard and shaking. His hands freeze just before he touches me.

“Okay, okay. I won’t touch you. But Nora, you must listen to me. It’s not what you think.”

Who cares about what I think? It’s what I just saw and heard that matters! And I’m not ready to listen to it again! I feel like my heart will stop beating if I do! I cross my arms around me, shielding myself from him, staying the furthest away I can from Damian.

Why does it have to be me? I can take a hundred hits from Alec, but I can’t take this! I trusted him. I knew something was wrong, somewhere in my mind I had that thought, but I still decided to trust him. Why now? Why this? After all this time? I love him, I love this man so badly, and that’s why it hurts.

I raise my head, looking at him in the eyes, and between my tears, I hear my own voice. “Tell me it’s not true. Tell me you’re not engaged, Damian.”

Maybe Liam lied. Perhaps I saw it wrong, and maybe that girl is just a close friend. Maybe it’s was all just a joke, maybe I’m dreaming, some nightmare I need to wake up from.

I see Damian open his mouth, hesitating, but he stays silent, and this time, he is the one to avoid my gaze. I can’t believe it. I cover my eyes with my hand, trying to calm down my crying, but gosh, it’s hard.

“Nora, listen to me, please. It’s true, I am engaged to Alessandra, but...”

“Shut up.”

I don’t want to hear her name in his mouth. I don’t want to hear anymore. He’s been with me for two months now. Yet he’s still having this engagement party. I don’t think of any good reason for this. He had weeks to call it off or break up with me. I... Who am I to him?

“...I thought you loved me.”

He looks at me with scandalized eyes. “...What? Nora, I do! Do you seriously think I don’t love you? I...”

“Then why the fuck is she the one you’re going to marry! Why?”

“Nora, Alessandra is not the one I love, you are! She will just be my official Luna!”

I look at him, stunned beyond words. Is he mad? Does he have any idea of what he is saying right now? His Luna? What would I be, then? I think of the apartment he gave me. So, he wants to keep me in that tower, like a bird in a golden cage? I shake my head, at a loss for words.

The elevator reaches the ground level and opens. He is still in front of me, barring the exit.

“Move out of my way, Damian.”

“Nora, no. You’re hurt, and...”

“You’re the one who hurt me!” I yell, ignoring all the people in the lobby. “I’ve had broken bones and a hundred wounds, but never have I ever been in pain like now! You took me for an idiot, Damian! Now, out of my way! ”

As I yell those last words, he brutally retreats oddly, like he’s pushed back or something. I don’t even care. I run out in the lobby, with a lot of people staring at me. I must be looking crazy... I try to wipe out my flowing tears, I can barely see in front of me, I’m so angry, sad, and confused. I bump into someone, a man. I try to step aside and go on my way, but before I can make two steps, he suddenly grabs my arm.

“...Queen Diane?”

What the...?

He looks at me, his eyes confused. Who is this guy? I shake my head and elude him, running away. I run to the entrance of the hotel, to outside where it’s pouring. I hate the rain... I keep walking anyway. I don’t care about the rain or the cold, I just want to put as much distance as possible between Damian and me. I don’t want him following me or something.

After a while of walking and crying, I finally stop. Gosh, I have no idea where I am... And Liam kept my phone, too. Who would I call anyway? I don’t want to see any of them, they all lied to me all this time! The Black Brothers, even the siblings! Who can I trust now?

Suddenly, I remember Elena. I’m so agitated that it takes me a while to mind-link her, though.

“...Nora? Nora, why are you crying? Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“Elena, can I come to your place? I have nowhere to go.”

“What? But what about your...?”

“I’m not going back there.”

I know she can feel my distress. I’m tired, cold, and angrier than I have ever been. And even sadder than that.

“Okay, okay. Do you know where you are? We will come and get you, okay?”

After a couple more streets, I finally find the name of a nearby restaurant to give her.

They arrive ten minutes later, in a car. Elena takes me to sit with her in the back seat, covering me with a thick blanket they brought. A blonde guy is driving, probably her friend Daniel. His human form is different from what I expected. He is thin, tall, and has a rather pretty face, with blue eyes and small, round glasses. With his little goatee and fold-over sweater, he looks like a bit of a bookworm. He starts the engine, and Elena turns to me, handing a tissue.

“Nora... What happened?”

“Wait, it smells like blood, babe,” says Daniel.

Elena looks down, and we both see my injured feet. Gosh, I didn’t even realize I was cut.

“Oh, my Goddess, Nora!”

The broken glass from earlier pierced my shoes and cut me all over. My previously white shoes are now covered in red. Oh... I didn’t even feel any pain, I was too angry. Now that I’m staring at it, it does feel quite painful. I sigh, too tired to even react to this. Elena, however, looks deeply concerned.

“Danny, you think you can handle that? Or do we take her to the hospital?”

He looks over his shoulder a couple of times, inspecting my wound, and frowns. Oh right, Daniel is a medicine student, isn’t he?

“It should be okay, but we need to disinfect it quickly.”

“My Goddess, Nora... What happened to you?”

I start explaining everything. I start crying again in the middle of it, with my chest and heart being painful. Elena and Daniel stay silent. She pats my back, looking deeply concerned. When I’m done talking, we have entered a part of the city that I don’t know at all.

“...Men are jerks.”

“Not helpful, Danny,” sighs Elena. “Nora, I’m so sorry about what you went through tonight, really. But don’t worry, okay? Tonight, you can stay at our place, have a good sleep, and calm down. And we can talk about it tomorrow when you feel better, okay?”

“What is there to talk about? She needs to ditch the guy and basta .”

“Danny, park the damn car and shut up!” Growls Elena.

Once we arrive, Daniel decides to carry me on his back, so I wouldn’t hurt my feet anymore, and Elena keeps the blanket around me as we go to their flat.

We enter a very cozy apartment, and I love it instantly. It’s small, but full of warm colors, with a small kitchen counter, a sizeable bottle-green couch, and a fluffy carpet. There are three large bouquets of flowers dispersed in the room and a strong smell of coffee, freesia, and citrus.

Daniel helps me sit on the couch and goes behind a door. He comes back with an extensive first aid kit and surgical gloves, and Elena sits next to me while he helps me take off my shoes.

“How is it, Danny?”

“Well, bleeding. I’m going to have to make sure she doesn’t have any glass left in her foot, but it should be okay. Not a good idea to run around with your feet in that state, sweetheart.”

“Sorry... I didn’t realize it.”

Daniel sighs, but puts the gloves on and starts taking care of my feet carefully.

“Do you want a cup of coffee, Nora?” Asks Elena.

“If you have some tea...”

“I would love a cappuccino, too,” says Daniel.

“I wasn’t asking you!”

“Thank you, babe.”

Apparently, they are both used to those kinds of arguments because Elena gets up and does take out three cups. Daniel turns his head into her direction and clicks his tongue. “No coffee for you, mama!”

She growls. “Crap, I forgot...”

Right, I forgot she’s pregnant too. Has she told Nathaniel yet? It’s been a week or two now. Now that I’m thinking about it, Elena is wearing a large sweater. She had boyish clothes on too last time, but this one is clearly oversized. Even if there was a baby bump, it wouldn’t be showing with this kind of top on.

While she is pouring some milk in the cup, her phone rings. She frowns when she sees the number and shows her screen to us.

“It’s Nate...”

“...They are probably looking for her. You should answer before the whole Blood Moon Clan rushes to our territory.”

Elena hesitates for a while, but after a few seconds and looking at me, she answers the call. “Yes, Nate? I’m okay, thanks... I know, sorry, I’ve been busy. ...Yes, she’s here with me, at my place. ...Yeah, she’s okay. Well, a bit shook up, but she is safe, and Daniel is taking care of her feet... Not tonight, Nate. It’s not a good idea. Nora is still upset; she needs some time. ...Yes, of course. As long as she needs.”

She stays silent for a while, apparently waiting for Nathaniel’s answer. I hear him talking, though I can’t really get what he is saying. Elena frowns. “...That’s none of your business, Nate. ...Fine, I can ask. ...Nora?”

“Yes?”

“Bobo wants to come and see you tomorrow morning... Is that okay?”

I hesitate a bit. Bobo also kept the truth from me, but... he is still my best friend. I don’t want to see Damian or even Liam, but I guess I can see Bobo. I nod.

“...She said yes. ...Okay. Yes, I’m fine, I told you. Good night, Nathaniel.”

Elena hangs up, a bit too fast to act normal. She sighs and comes back to us with the cups. Daniel is observing her with a genuinely worried look.

“...Are you okay, babe?”

“I am. Anyway, Nora is the one to be worried about.”

“Well, she should be happy, Bobo is coming for her .”

Is that... jealousy I hear? Elena rolls her eyes. “Oh, stop being a baby, Danny! Bobo is worried about Nora as a friend! Now drop the jealousy act, or, baby or not, I’m really kicking your scrawny ass!”

Oh my gosh!

“So, you’re Bobo’s mysterious boyfriend!” I exclaim.

“Okay, it’s time you girls both get to bed,” he says, blushing.

The next morning, I wake up with a very annoying headache. I’m a bit disoriented, and for a while, I have no idea where I am. Until I remember about last night. The party.

I wish I had forgotten a bit longer. I get up. Oh, right, Daniel gave me his bed. Their apartment only has two tiny bedrooms, so he slept on the couch. I walk into the main room, but it seems like I’m the last one up. Elena is curled up on the sofa, and Daniel is busy making hot chocolates behind the kitchen counter. It’s still pouring outside, and so dark I can’t tell how late it is.

“Good morning, cousin,” she says with a smile.

I can’t help but smile when I hear that. It does sound good... I sit on the couch with my cousin, and Daniel brings us the cups.

“So, everyone decided to wake up early,” sighs Daniel. “What is the program for today, ladies?”

“Waiting for Bobo, for now,” says Elena. “And I’m not going anywhere with this rain and this hellish nausea.”

“...How is the baby?” I ask.

She smiles. “Fine, thank you. I think...”

Before she can finish her sentence, the doorbell rings. She smiles at Daniel, who is slightly blushing. He rolls his eyes and gets up to go open the door. Bobo appears, carrying a little paper bag that smells terribly good. Daniel, still blushing, tries to avoid looking at him in the eyes. Still, Bobo grabs him around the shoulders anyway and kisses his forehead. Oh, my Goddess, Daniel is so red, it’s like his hair is about to change color, too.

“S... stop it. Just... come in. What’s with the ba...bag?”

Next to me, Elena laughs behind her cup. “I never see Daniel stutter like this, unless Bobo is there. Never. It’s so cute,” she whispers to me.

Indeed, it’s too cute and funny to watch. Bobo’s eyes are fixated on his beloved with a little smile, while Daniel is clumsily trying to ignore him. However, he’s red like a tomato, and his eyes blinking way too many times. He goes to the kitchen, but still stumbles halfway. I can’t help but chuckle, too. I didn’t know there was someone who could be worse than me around their mate...

Bobo walks up to us, and Elena opens the bag with hungry eyes. “Croissants! Moon Goddess, thank you, Bobo, we didn’t get any breakfast yet,” she says while taking one.

“It’s from Nathaniel, actually. Did you tell him about...?”

Elena frowns and shakes her head. “No, he doesn’t know about the baby yet.”

“Oh... He was worried about you. You should give him a call.”

“Mh.”

She doesn’t say anything else and starts eating her croissant. Too soon, I guess...

Then, Bobo comes closer and sits just next to me, on the floor. He is so tall that it’s doesn’t really make a difference, though.

“Hi, Nora,” he says with his usual smile.

“I’m mad at you, too, you know,” I reply with a pout.

My wolf raises her head, a bit annoyed at me. She likes Bobo; she is not mad at him. I decide to ignore her.

“I know,” he says. “I just came to check on you. How are you?”

“Are we talking about my feet or my feelings?”

“Both.”

“My feet are fine.”

I’m really hurt by their lies, though. I still can’t believe none of them told me anything. About Damian’s engagement or that woman, Alessandra King, whoever she is. Do I mean nothing in their eyes? Don’t I deserve to know the truth? Even Bobo didn’t say a thing... I sigh. “I don’t know, Bobo, I can’t get what Damian’s thinking. He... He said he loves me, but...”

My voice breaks, and I feel tears coming. I don’t know what to believe anymore... I love him, I really do. Nothing to do with that stupid mate thing. I just love Damian. His silver eyes and the way he looks at me. His voice, so deep. How he treats me like I’m so precious, his hands, and gentle touch. I don’t want to lose him.

Bobo puts his large hand on mine. “He loves you, Nora, a lot more than you think. He really does. If you had seen him after you left yesterday...”

“But what about this engagement, then?”

Why would he get engaged to another woman! He knew I existed, that he had a mate, for years! If he was searching for me, what was the point if he planned to marry someone else anyway? I start crying silently, and I hate it. I hate feeling so lost and powerless. I have no idea what to do, what to say to them. Am I supposed to make decisions now? My mind is in such a mess! I don’t want to.

Elena starts patting my back. “Hey, Nora, it’s okay. Why don’t you take a couple of days to cool off, hm? I think you might need a little break to think things over. Stay here with us for the weekend.”

I look at Daniel and Elena. Is that okay? I do feel like I really need a break right now. “What about Daniel? You are not going to keep sleeping on the couch...”

“Daniel can sleep at my place,” says Bobo immediately.

“You...your place?” Stutters Daniel, blushing again.

“Great idea!” Says Elena with a big smile.

“What great idea! I haven’t agreed to it. ...Yet. Maybe I... I like the couch,” mumbles Daniel.

“Oh, please. I’m done with you complaining about Bobo staying with Nora all the time, so now you enjoy your man all you want, and I’ll spend time with my cousin. Come on, baby, you know you want it,” says Elena, pushing him gently with her feet.

“Elena!”

We both laugh at his offended look. Daniel is so red and embarrassed, it’s way too cute. Bobo starts whispering something into his ear, and Elena winks at me. A few seconds later, Daniel is red like a tomato again and pushing Bobo away.

“Okay, okay, okay! I’m coming, but please, stop that! Where did you learn to say such... stuff!”

He steps away from his boyfriend and comes to grab a croissant before sitting between Elena and me, who tease him again. I know this whole scene is also to help me cheer up a bit. Bobo comes to joins us, sitting on the floor next to me again.

While Elena is arguing with Daniel about some sweatshirt that she apparently took from him, Bobo comes closer to me. “He canceled the party yesterday.”

I stare at him, surprised. “...Really?”

He nods. “Right after you left. He sent everyone home, and he didn’t want to see anyone, either. It took a while to calm him down.”

I remember Damian’s eyes from yesterday. Usually, they shine with assurance, but all I saw last night was confusion, and even fear. He was genuinely panicked. I play with my pendant between my fingers for a while, remembering the night he gave it to me. I finally raise my head to look Bobo in the eye. “...So, he really doesn’t love her... Alessandra?”

He shakes his head and gently tightens his hand around mine. “No. Trust me, Nora. I may not be the closest one to the Boss, but one thing I’ve seen is the way he looks at you. The way he is with you, he isn’t like that with anyone else. Before he found you, he was like a machine. The only ones who could approach him without any fear were his brothers. You are immune to his aura, so you don’t know, but for anyone else, Damian Black is the most terrifying man-wolf in this city.”

It’s strange to hear it all from Bobo’s mouth. It’s like I was blinded for a while. I know how much Damian tried to protect me, but along the way, I also forgot what kind of man he was, and the responsibilities that come with it. And how lucky I’ve been so far...

Without Damian, I would be dead, killed by my own brother’s hands. He gave me everything I needed and more. For two months, I have been living without any worries about where to sleep or what to eat. Compared to the last ten years of my existence, it’s... It doesn’t change what I saw yesterday, but I can’t just blame Damian and forget everything he’s done for me either. That would be too unfair of me.

“I need time, Bobo. Thank you for talking to me, but this is still too fresh for me. No matter Damian’s reasons... He kept it hidden from me for weeks. He should have told me. I’ve had too many secrets in my life already. I want to be able to trust my mate. For real.”

He nods. “I understand. I just wanted to tell you. Also, um... Liam wants to talk to you, too.”

“Liam?”

He suddenly takes something out of his pocket. My phone! Right, I left it at the party last night... I open it. Six missed calls from Damian, and two from Tonia. He also left a message on the voicemail... I hesitate and decide I’ll listen to it later. Not now, not in front of these three. Whatever he said in that message, I am not ready to listen to it now.

Liam left me a text, though, so I open it. He apologizes for last night, saying he feels I deserved the truth. He wants to talk to me face to face. “No surprises this time.”

I reply, a quick text to say we can meet tonight. I finally feel a bit better now. I take a sip of Daniel’s delicious hot chocolate, warming myself up from the outside a little. Elena is right. All I might need right now is a bit of time.

Since the downpour should continue all day, we decide not to go out. Daniel must prepare some exam coming up and surrounds himself with lots of enormous books. Apparently, he wants to specialize in psychology. Elena is a business student, but she doesn’t feel like studying today. She goes to shower first, changing into some jeans and an oversized top, then lends me some of her clothes to change into.

Once I come out of the shower, it turns out that she fell asleep on the couch while waiting, despite the radio station playing in the kitchen.

Daniel raises his head from his books. “Don’t worry, it’s like that since she learned about her pregnancy. She will wake up from her mini-nap in ten minutes or so.”

“Is she okay?” I ask.

“Yeah, it happens to some pregnant women. She feels sleepy suddenly, and within a minute, she’s napping. Don’t worry, she’s fine.”

I nod. Elena is curled up on one corner of the couch, and they covered her with a blanket. Bobo is sitting at the opposite corner, busy with his phone. I make myself some tea and come back, joining Daniel who’s sitting on the carpet, bent over the little table with all his books and a computer. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“How did you meet Elena?”

He smiles and takes off his glasses to look at his sleeping friend. “When we were really young, like five or six. The same pack, but we didn’t really fit with the other kids. I would always get mocked by the other boys for being tinier, weaker than them. Elena was an orphan, so she was ostracized, too, but unlike me, she was the one who would come and beat those kids once they were done kicking my ass.” He chuckles at the memory. “She made them cry a lot. She was a real little punk, even picking fights with kids bigger than her.”

“So, she helped you?”

“Oh no, she kicked my ass and called me a weakling a lot of times, too! But after that, she would always come and share her cookie with me or something. She was like that. Even when she lost and got beaten up, Elena would never hold it against them. She moved on and trained harder. So, I trained harder, too.”

“Pfft... You cried whenever I trained you.”

Elena just woke upand is looking at us with a grumpy look.

Daniel sticks his tongue out to her. “That is not how I recall it, mama. And for the record, you were a violent, thick-headed little punk.”

“Not going to deny that...”

I laugh. It’s funny to witness their interactions. They are best friends, but also like brother and sister, bickering non-stop. I suppose Daniel will always be there for her, even if she decides to part ways with Nathaniel...

Here I go thinking about Damian again. He brought more people into my life than I thought I could ever have. Bobo is like a big, protective brother to me. Liam is a bit of a brat, but he still is someone I trust and like having around. Tonia, too, is like an older sister. I never had anyone like those three in my life before.

Elena was right about the downpour. It rained all day, but despite that and everything else, we enjoyed it. Those two basically listen to music from dawn until dusk and even dance around sometimes. They made me cook for lunch, and in the afternoon, I trained a bit with Elena, while Bobo helped Daniel review his notes. We couldn’t do any boxing or shapeshift because of her condition. Still, she did show me some new workout exercises and moves. She also explained to me some meditation techniques to help me interact better with my inner wolf, things I had never tried before. It was like opening a new door, and at the same time, seeing things differently, better.

The training helped me empty my mind for a while. Also, I had no time to be anxious before Liam’s arrival, though it came quickly.

As planned, he showed up around eight, alone. “Hi, Nora. Ready for our little date?”

I smile and grab the coat Elena landed me.

“Yes. Where do you want to go?”

“Since you met with the Sea Moon Wolves, how about the harbor? There is a little café by the docks I used to go to a lot when I was a kid, and the lady there makes mean hot chocolates...”

Liam takes his favorite black bike, and since it’s only the two of us, we arrive quickly at the docks. As we enter the Sea Moon Wolves’ turf, some wolves come, but they recognize us and let us through. As we had fought side by side only a couple of weeks ago, they have no real reason to argue with us. Not today.

Liam finally parks his bike in front of a family restaurant, a large one facing the sea. The building has been built in one of the dock’s warehouses entirely renovated to give it a seventies decoration, with leather seats, neon lights, and a retro feel. Once we enter, a few heads turn, mostly sailors and dockers, but nobody says a thing. I guess the word must have been given, as everyone quickly go back to their meal.

A waitress runs up to us, a plump woman in her fifties. She smiles at Liam and opens her arms.

“Liam, boy! It’s been a while, sweetie! Moon Goddess, you are so grown up already! How old are you now?”

“Eighteen, Nina! How is my favorite waitress? I missed you!”

“Oh, you little sweet-talker...” They quickly hug, and the adorable lady turns to me. “Did you bring a girlfriend this time? Hello, darling!”

“Hi, I’m Nora.”

“She’s my brother’s girlfriend. I stole her for a date,” says Liam with a wink, putting his arm around my shoulders.

Nina laughs and adjusts her red bun before grabbing two menus. “I see, I see, well, come on, I got your favorite table available, sweetie.”

She takes us to a great spot, a little table with a view on the ocean. Giving us the menus, she is still looking fondly at Liam. “Oh, sweetie, I feel so nostalgic seeing you there again! You know, darling, this boy used to come here every single day when he was a kid! Oh, Liam, I remember you doing all your homework on this very table, with that little mint diabolo you always had.”

“And you would always give me free refills, Nina. Can I get that diabolo today?”

“Sure, you can, sweetie! What would you like, young lady?”

“I’ll have the same as Liam.”

“Okay! Take your time, I’ll come back for your order. Our special today is the fish and chips; I would recommend it!” She takes off quickly, and Liam sighs with a smile.

“She loves you a lot,” I say.

“Nina is the sweetest waitress in the world. She didn’t just give me refills, you know. Most of the time, she didn’t take any money for those diabolos.”

“So, you really came here often?” I ask.

Liam nods, but before saying anything else, Nina comes back with our diabolos, takes our orders. I pick the fish and chips, the biggest burger for Liam. Once Nina leaves, he starts playing with his straw and looks at me. “How are you, Nora?”

“I’m fine, I suppose... Better than last night.”

“Looks like it. I was a bit worried. Well, a lot actually. I was afraid that might have been a big blow for you.”

I frown and push my drink aside to lean closer to him. “Why did you take me there, Liam?”

I want to know what he was trying to achieve. After all, he was the only one among all the others who chose to do so.

He frowns and sighs. “To be honest with you, Nora, I didn’t do it for you. I did it for Damian. That engagement is total bullshit, and I don’t want him to be unhappy, tied to a bitch like Alessandra King.”

He says her name with so much disgust, I do feel a bit better.

“Why did you bring me to the party, then? Couldn’t you just talk to him before all this? Liam, now that it’s done, I’m... It’s just plain painful for me!”

Does he realize how much I suffered last night? Seeing Damian with another woman... No matter the reasons Liam had, I still feel like I was just brought there to watch this nightmare and suffer. Why use me in all this?

Liam stays silent for a while, apparently thinking. After a while, he turns his head to the docks, and a soft smile appears. “...You know, my brother is the worst liar.”

What does he mean now? Sometimes I can’t decipher Liam. One minute he is acting like a kid, and the next one, he is there acting all mysterious and plotting behind his brothers’ backs... He points to the docks, and I follow his finger.

“When I was young, Damian used to work right there. He started when he was ten. After school, I would go see my mom at the hospital, and then Damian would take me to this restaurant. I’d do my homework and drink diabolos while he was working. He worked, on this very dock, for five or six hours straight every day. He carried huge boxes back and forth from boats to the dock. Whenever he stopped, he just came here to check up on me, and he went back right away.”

I try to imagine a young Damian, working there, sweating under the weight of heavy containers. It’s hard to imagine how his youth was like...

“Those boxes were awfully huge and heavy. It was a job even a lot of adults didn’t want because it was hard. Old man Seaver let my brother work there, because he never complained, never took a day off. When he was done, if I said I was tired, he would carry me home. Whenever I asked, he lied, saying he wasn’t tired.”

He must have been. How could he have not been, after working like that... And Liam and Damian have a six-year age difference. No matter how young Liam was, he must have been heavy for Damian to carry after all that...

Liam chuckles. “He lied all the time. He made me believe for ten years that he didn’t like chocolate because our Mom often gave me chocolates for the three of us, and I loved it. So, Damian would say he didn’t want it, and I’d eat his share without knowing.”

I can’t help but smile, imagining a young Liam happily eating chocolate... Our plates arrive, and after thanking Nina, Liam goes on.