Did he change his mind? I started to think that he did. I suppose the whole thing was too good to be true. I’ve never felt that kind of severe pain in my heart when he told me that he planned to marry Camilla again. I wanted the one month to validate how much I love him.
The moon was high tonight. It was a bit chilly tonight but it was tolerable while we were consuming alcohol. This was a private beach and it stretched for miles. The only people that can stroll about were home owners, so the area is totally secure.
Studying the moonlit path, I started to walk leisurely on the soft sand, loving the feel the soft waves as it pulled in and out of the sea on my toes. I held the edges of my white dress so it wouldn’t get soaked with water.
I sighed. It was so beautiful here…
“Do you mind if I join you?” Clive asked, matching my slow pace.
“Sure, why not?” I didn’t even notice that he had followed me out here. Since Friday, we didn’t speak much. He was pleasant though—a bit arrogant—but endurable.
We strolled along the shore for awhile without speaking. It was a comfortable silence. “I gathered that you’re Blake’s? But apparently not his girlfriend?” Clive’s smooth tone was very firm but curious.
Huh. “Well, I’m an ex, I suppose.”
“You’re an ex? But he still wants you I take it? I’ve noticed his eyes set ablaze when he looks at you.” Blake has been looking at me?
I stopped walking and looked back. The fire that came from the beach party looked like a puny dot from where I was standing. I glanced back at Clive. He looked confident and handsome. The moonlight highlighted his striking face. Blake and Clive really won the lottery for the best DNA.
“What’s with the twenty questions?” I quirked up a brow. He laughed huskily and shrugged.
“To be quite honest—when I first saw you—I was curious but later found out that you were Blake’s. I just wanted to know why you two aren’t together when his eyes tell me something else.”
Dish or not to dish? He will eventually hear it from someone. What’s the point of hiding things anyway? It gets exhausting and he seems to be decent. Well, apart from his womanizing lifestyle, there seemed to be a good man inside.
I sighed and consented. “We broke up because I found out about the thing with the Clayworth’s. We didn’t speak for about two months—then we sort of got together. After a couple days, that fell apart because I slept with my childhood best friend, Kyle—an ex as well. From then on, it went downhill. Today, he told me that he planned to rectify his marriage of convenience with Camilla. I then confessed that I loved him. Which he profusely didn’t believe—then he offered a month for me to prove it to him.”
“That was a copious amount of information. Knowing my kin, he doesn’t condone sharing his girlfriends. But if it’s just a shag—then that’s a different matter. You’re direct and forward. I find that rejuvenating—especially amongst these deluded façades of perfection our lot revolves in.” I looked at him in shock then guffawed.
What an amusing man. He doesn’t take himself too seriously. “Deluded façade of perfection? Seriously, coming from a man who only goes for the crème de la crème of women?” I wiggled a finger at him. “You can’t fool me—you’re quite the famous libertine around town.”
We carried on walking when he belted out a roaring laugh. “Precisely, I am part of that lot. In my defense, these lassies tend to not adhere to the word ‘no.’ An indecent, cheeky man such as myself, tends to not hold out for much. Truth be told, being naughty is certainly more diverting and gratifying rather than a monotonous repetitive lifestyle like some pompous, snobbish privileged folks. Alas, soon that will change when father gives me more responsibility. Then life as I know it will forever be a distant memory.”
“That must suck but I guess that comes with birthright, I suppose? You and Blake are quite lucky. You two have the world at the tips of your fingers.”
“Most people would say that—I must admit there are certain advantages to it. I suppose I could be thankful that my life isn’t like Blake’s. My father’s company is enormous but Blake’s responsibility—whew—I’d gladly take mine any time of the day.” Clive really did look relieved. Ha.
“He looks like he’s handling it well.”
“Precisely, he is Blake Knightly. Do you know when he was eighteen, he was acknowledged to already be a business whizz? That’s why it made sense for him to pair up with Camilla. I was quite shocked when I heard the news of the severed agreement—and even more so when I found out he did it due to another woman. I didn’t quite understand it—but now that I’ve met you—I do now. Tell me, what happens if the month is over and he still doesn’t believe your love and affection?”
Good question there buddy. I guess he moves on and gets married then I will be back to my college life. “He would resume his life as he saw it before I entered the picture.”
He nodded and placed his hands in his pockets. “That’s quite sad, isn’t it? To love someone and not have it work out?”
I took a quick peek at him and he seemed to be deep in thought. “Yes, it definitely does. Are you speaking from experience, Clive?”
His face split into two, looking at me like I’ve lost it. “Good God no, that would be a bloody disaster. I thought—of all the satyr’s I never did think Blake had it in him to fall in love—but if he did—it could only be done by such a compelling woman. That proves a lot about you, Sienna.”
“Um…thanks?” I smiled at the handsome charming man. “We should get back. I don’t want them to worry. My friends tend to go overboard sometimes with worrying. I don’t want to be the person in the hot seat tonight.”
“Of course”
The stroll back was quite nice, Clive was refreshingly funny. When we got there, Madeline looked at us scornfully. Ick, the woman has a serious thing for Clive, but he doesn’t want to entertain it from what I’ve seen for the past few days.
Clive Barrington did arrive with his own party crowd of twenty people or so. It included this weird Madeline woman. I shrugged and left them to party.
I entered the Arabian-themed tent and lounged next to Lucy. She was texting on her phone and looked up in surprise when she found me. “What have you been up to all on your own? Where’s Chad?” I inquired.