Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Romeo
Sunlight hits my face as I turn over in bed, and I wince with how bright the sun is.
Reaching for Nell, I find her side of the bed cold and empty.
Sitting up, I look around the room, feeling that something is off. Scanning the room, I see nothing of hers. Her purse is gone from the chair; her shoes that have been left in the same place all week are no longer there.
“Nell,” I call out, but silence echoes back at me.
Pushing the covers back, I go and check the bathroom, but my gut is telling me what I already know. I look in the closet and all of her side is empty.
My stomach sinks.
She is gone.
I fucking knew something was wrong. I run my hands through my hair in frustration for not doing more to push and see what was wrong.
Picking up my cell phone from the bedside table, I call her, but she never picks up. Fuck, when did she leave?
Rushing to my clothes, I pull on a pair of shorts and sneakers.
Making sure I have my room key, I stop seeing the card next to a note.
My eyes scan over every word she has written, my heart pounding in my chest as I read what she thought had happened. She thought the deal was all part of a game I was playing with her.
Her slurred words echo in my head, and now it all makes sense.
“What the hell, Nell?” I mutter, then keep reading.
She heard my conversation with Asher, that was not about her, it was all about Daniella, but I can understand why she would have misconstrued that, and as for my late-night intimate moment with Daniella, that could not be further from the truth.
Fuck, I need to speak with her.
I leave the room and head for the elevators; I need to get to the lobby to see of anyone saw her leave.
I try calling her again, but it just rings until her answering machine picks up.
I reach the ground floor and step out. People are everywhere with luggage, chatting and laughing while my world is being turned upside down.
As I call her again, I spear my fingers through my hair, grunting when I snag a knot.
My heart skips a beat when the call doesn’t go through. Pulling the device from my ear like it is a demon, I sigh.
She blocked me.
Forcing my feet to move, I walk in the direction of where we have breakfast and see some of my family eating and talking. My mom sees me and she must sense my distress.
“Romeo. What is wrong? Where is Nell?”
“Have you seen her?” She shakes her head, no.
My question gains my family’s attention. “She wasn’t there when I woke up, and I searched my room. All of her things are gone.”
“Did she say why she was leaving?”
I sigh, sinking into the seat next to my father. Asher nods to me, telling me it is time to come clean.
Taking a deep breath, I give my auntie a grateful smile when she places a mug of coffee in front of me. Taking a sip, I think over the best way around informing my parents of the deal between Nell and me, but I know that it is safer to just come outright and explain everything.
“Let me get all of this out before you interrupt.”
My mom goes to say something but my father cuts her off.
“Go on, Son.”
“I know that you mean well, Mom, but fuck, you have got to stop trying to marry me off.
Nell was not my girlfriend when we got here.
How we met was the truth. Her ex-husband and his new woman were being dicks to her, and I stepped in to help.
It was the perfect timing because you were sending women to me, pushing them on me to pick a date for the wedding.
After speaking to Nell for a short time, I saw something in her I liked, so I thought, why not make a deal.
“She was to be my date for the wedding. Convince all of you that we were happily dating, while Nell got a vacation out of it and time to reflect on her future. Since her divorce, she has not been living up to her standard.”
“She wanted something fun in her life,” my mom says, and I nod. “Go on.”
“Yeah. We went on a date or two before we came here and she got under my skin. I told Asher that…”
“You knew and did not tell me?” My mom slaps his bicep, and he grunts.
“Damn, woman, keep those brute fists to yourself.” He looks at my father. “Control your woman, Pops.”
My father chuckles, as does the family at the table.
“Boy, you know that I cannot control her.” He winks. “Unless we are in the bed—”
“You finish that sentence, Anthony De Massy, and you will find yourself in a dry spell.”
“Eww, what the fuck?” I shudder, while Asher fakes puking.
“My ears need bleaching.” He coughs.
“Son, we are old, not dead.”
“Anyway, back on track. I found a note from Nell when I woke up. She explained that she overheard a conversation between Asher and me and thought it was about her. It was not. Then the night before the wedding, she got drunk with you ladies and I put her to bed, then went for a swim. Daniella joined me and we had a talk and cleared the air, but…”
“But what, Romeo?” My mother’s voice goes deathly flat and I shiver.
“Don’t ever piss off Renata De Massy,” one of my uncles mutters, then sips his coffee.
Shaking my head at him, I carry on. “She must have woken up and come out to the balcony and saw us by the pool. Nell took it that we were having an intimate moment and thought we were getting back together. She also accused me of playing games with her. I assure you I was not; I am...”
“In love with her,” my mom finishes for me.
I nod, my heart beating really fucking fast in my chest. I reach up, rubbing my sternum and look to my mother, whose eyes go soft as recognition sets in.
“I am in love with her.”
“Of course you are, Son. She is a wonderful woman,” my father adds.
“Fucking hell, never saw that coming.” Asher’s tone makes people laugh.
He winks at me with a bright smile on his face, showing that he is happy for me.
Sitting back in my chair, I let the idea of being in love sink into my soul. Nell is good for me; she makes life brighter and less stressful. Her goofy ways make me laugh, the way her unfortunate mishaps, as she calls them, have her both embarrassed and accepting of whatever happens.
“I need to find her,” I say to no one in particular.
My gaze goes across the room, where I see Daniella sitting with some of her and Mia’s friends. As if sensing me watching her, she looks my way, offering me a small smile, before getting to her feet.
Walking toward me, my spine straightens, my shoulders going back, ready for what she has to say.
“Morning, everyone. Romeo, have you spoken to Nell this morning?”
“Have you seen her?” I ask.
Nodding, she says, “I saw her in the early hours; I was leaving…” She stops talking, looking around the room, her gaze searching for someone. “Anyway. I saw her leaving. She had all of her luggage, and she stopped at the elevators.”
“Did she say anything to you? Say where she was going?”
She shakes her head. “No, I’m sorry. All she said was that I had won, and that you were all mine.”
“Fuck,” I mutter. I run my fingers through my hair again.
My frustration is building.
Why did Nell run?
She should have talked to me, that way I could have cleared all this shit up. This is the part of a relationship that I fucking hate. The miscommunication, and everyone not fucking talking and just assuming shit.
Fuck.
“Romeo, I am sorry again. I know we talked the other night, but I do want what is best for you and if that is Nell, then I think that you need to go and get your girl,” Daniella speaks up with a smile on her face.
“I agree, Son.” I look to my father. “Go get her.”
Pushing from my seat, I step to my mom, leaning down to kiss her cheek. She taps mine softly, a smile on her face.
“I love you, Romeo, and I think Nell is someone special. Do not let her slip away.”
I smirk, winking at her. “She will be mine, Mom, don’t you worry. That little goofball is mine.”
As I leave the room, Asher calls after me.
“You can do this, Romeo. We have faith in you, my brother. Go and get the woman you love. May the Cupid be with you.” He uses a sing-song voice, making people laugh.
I flip the fucker off as I leave the room at a fast pace. Rushing to get to my room, I pull up the number for the company who flies our family jet. Once that is done, I throw all of my clothes and toiletries into my luggage and double check the room to be sure that I am not leaving anything.
Spotting something glimmering in the light of the sun, I bend down under the table and pick up a bracelet of Nell’s.
It is a simple flower charm on a silver chain. It reminds me of the one she was looking at while we were at the mall.
Smiling, I know what I have to do before I leave. Then, when I get back to the mainland, I am getting my woman.