With hands not quite steady, she opened the card. Seeing his masculine handwriting did funny things to her. The words blurred before her eyes as she read. Happy Birthday, beautiful. The significance of this gift is to always treasure yourself, and others will too. With love, Ren.
The fact he’d taken the time to write it himself was proof he cared, making her body tingle. She traced his scrawled signature lovingly, interpreting the meaning behind his words. Carefully, she peeled back the tape, wanting to keep every piece of his gift for her keepsake trunk. When the red box was finally exposed, she popped open the lid and held her breath. There, nestled in the center, was a beautiful heart-shaped pendant enclosed in a larger circle in platinum with tiny diamonds around the edges. Lifting it out, she admired the beauty and noticed an inscription. The word Angel had been etched on the inside.
Angelina slipped it over her head, loving the way it nestled between her breasts. She wished he had been there to put it on her, and then hoped to see him standing with her family, but, to her distress, he was nowhere to be seen. Surely he hadn’t just dropped off her present and left? Disappointment hit her like a punch to the stomach.
Her parents and Gia rushed forward, admiring the gift. She smiled and showed the inscription. A feeling of being cherished had her heart beating as her parents murmured about how thoughtful Lorenzo Delgado was. The party was half over as she was rushed into cutting her cake, still thanking everyone for the wonderful gifts. Everyone except the one person she really wanted to thank. Lorenzo, or Ren to his family and friends, was still absent, but she wasn’t going to let that ruin her night. He’d show up, and then she’d show him how much she loved his gift.
“That is a beautiful necklace, Angel. My brother must have put a lot of thought into the gift.” Gia lifted the heart-shaped pendant, her finger tracing the edges.
“I wish he was here so I could thank him.” Angel stood on her toes, staring over the crowd as she searched for what felt like the hundredth time.
Gia’s eyes were all too knowing. “My brother is way too hard for my bestie. You’d be better off cutting your teeth on a sweet boy like Jack.”
Angel laughed. “You did not just suggest I go out with Jackson Wells because, if you did, then we are over.”
“Hey, just because he is most probably gay, and sorta in a relationship with a dude…” Gia stopped as Angel narrowed her eyes.
“I rest my case. Jack is a dear, sweet young man, who I love like a brother. However, I think there would be a major issue, since he is clearly in love with Mark, and Mark is obviously the top in that relationship.” Angel finished.
“Fair enough, but that doesn’t mean you should be turning your sights on my big brother.”
She wished Gia would have forgotten where their original argument had started, but, like a dog with a bone, her best friend wasn’t ready to give up. “Gia, I’m eighteen, and we graduate next week. It’s not like I’m a little kid anymore.”
“Angel, your mother is looking for you. Some of your guests are leaving. Come so you can say goodbye,” her father said.
Hours later, exhausted but far from ready to end the night, she excused herself from the guy she’d been dancing with. When she said she needed to use the ladies room, it wasn’t a total lie, since she hadn’t stopped moving, except to drink a glass of water here or there, since her party began. Between stilettos and the nonstop dancing, a break was just what was needed. Weaving her way through the crowd, she tried the handle on the women’s, finding it locked. With a shrug, she turned the knob on the family room, stepping into her own version of a nightmare.
The large room had a small couch for the women to come in and take a break during the day. However, tonight, that wasn’t what it was being used for. There, seated on the couch, was none other than Lorenzo himself. His head was thrown back as a woman with short brown hair bobbed up and down between his legs. She couldn’t actually see what was going on, but, from his groans and the sounds coming from the woman she recognized as Candis, she knew.
Her stomach heaving, she tried to back out without being seen. She must have made some kind of noise that alerted them they were no longer alone. Lorenzo’s eyes snapped open, pinning her with a glare. Her hand flew to her mouth, suppressing the keening wail building in her lungs from escaping. Before she could make a hasty exit, he said two damning words that would forever be etched on her brain. “Get Out,” Lorenzo snarled.
Turning, Angelina yanked open the door, unable to form a reply as she ran out. She glanced toward the grand ballroom, but returning and facing her family and friends was the last thing she wanted to do. Knowing her car was with the valet, she kept her head down and headed to the front doors.
Not paying attention to who or what was in front of her, she ran into a large man. His arms came up and kept her from falling. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled into his chest. Glancing up, she recognized him as one of Lorenzo’s friends.