Page 22 of Stronger Than Fate

Both of them stared at him wide-eyed, but he, with one ankle resting on his other knee, wearing his best smile and displaying overwhelming calmness, simply answered without giving many explanations.

“I arrived a few minutes ago because I wanted to apologize to Dalina. I didn’t want her to stop coming to our house because of my bad behavior and have that affect your friendship. She’s your friend, and I don’t want to cause you problems,” he stated, still smiling.

Both looked at him suspiciously while I blushed deeply. Niky drew a sincere smile, a sign that she had believed her brother’s argument, or at least that’s what I assumed, but Sol looked at him seriously, and I thought I glimpsed some fury. She also looked at me the same way, which surprised and hurt me. She was the only one I had told something about what happened with Henry, and I thought she would understand. It seemed she didn’t.

“I assume he was just leaving,” Sol said, “because we’re planning to go dancing and have fun all night, and we don’t need a babysitter. Besides, we need to get ready.”

We all looked at her in astonishment. What was all this hostility about?

“Henry never babysits me, Sol. My brother isn’t like that,” Niky said, looking at her seriously.

“To be honest, I’m interested in knowing where you’re going,” he stated, but instead of looking at his sister, he looked at me.

“We’re going to...” Niky began to say, but Sol interrupted her.

“We’re going dancing, as I already told him, but I don’t think we need to explain ourselves to him, and besides, we haven’t decided where to go yet,” she lied, and Niky looked at her seriously again. It was obvious that Sol’s behavior was starting to make her uncomfortable.

I was still in shock. Sol had never behaved like this before, and I couldn’t imagine what had prompted her to be so unfriendly and rude to him.

“Don’t worry, Henry, the three of us will be together,” Niky pointed out, I suppose trying to ease the tension that had already built up.

“In that case, I’ll leave you ladies to finish ‘getting ready,’” he said the last part with an ironic tone while looking at Sol, who returned an arrogant look.

“Dali, walk my brother out since you’re already ready. Sol and I are going to do our makeup, okay?” she said, and I thought I detected some complicity in her gaze.

Could Niky suspect what happened with her brother?, I wondered.

“Of course,” I responded, and looked at Henry, who gave me a crooked smile.

“I don’t see why she needs to walk him out when the door is just a few feet away. He won’t get lost,” Sol remarked.

“Sol, that’s enough,” I warned, looking at her seriously. I didn’t like her behaving this way; after all, this was my home and I could receive whoever I wanted.

Sol looked at me with irritation, then looked at Henry and left the living room, heading toward my bedroom where the vanity with all the makeup was located, or perhaps she just did it because she was upset and wanted to get out of there.

“Little brother, behave yourself, okay?” That comment, accompanied by a wink, made me blush.

“I behave myself most of the time,” he responded with that sensual smile.

The siblings said goodbye with a kiss, and Niky followed Sol.

“What’s wrong with your friend? Is she always this charming?” he stated.

“I honestly don’t know. She’s not usually like this. I apologize on her behalf.”

“No need,” he said, taking my chin, “Let me know which place you’ll be at,” he requested.

“Why?” I asked, looking at him strangely.

“I want to be with you. I don’t want you to be with anyone else.”

“You can’t say that. Besides, Niky and Sol will be with me.”

“So? I repeat, I want to be with you, and I’m someone who always gets what he wants. Let me know,” he asked or ordered—I wasn’t clear about his intention. He gave me a soft kiss on the lips and left, leaving me completely confused.

Chapter 4

"Life is so uncertain that happiness must be seized the moment it appears"