Chapter 40 Lines blurring, hearts stirring
Chapter 40: Lines blurring, hearts Stirring
Varney tried to ignore it at first. Then his thumb hovered over his phone out of habit. Without thinking, he opened his gallery.
There were pictures from the resort, group photos in the pool, blurry selfies Fabulous took without permission, Golden laughing under the sun, and…
Varney paused. Pictures of Alex. How? When?
Fabulous had been the designated photographer at some point and he used Varney's phone to capture moments.
There was a picture of Varney and Alex exchanging a mischievous look at the shooting range.
Then another of Alex standing happily with her hands in the air when they went hiking, Varney was captured looking at her with a smile.
Another with Alex in the pool with her hair forming a halo around her.
Another with Alex looking at Varney as he spoke to the resort manager the day he arranged for the car race.
And finally a picture of Alex sleeping peacefully on the lounge chair after their safari.
Varney couldn't help but stare at the last picture for a while before putting his phone down.
He picked up his drink and took a sip of the rum and let it burn his throat.
He closed his eyes and tried to thinking about the moment in the SUV when Alex launched at attack on him because he implied she wasn't a lady.
He recalled the feeling she evoked in him when she sat on his lap and he tickled her.
How she jumped off his lap when she realized she was sitting on him. And the awkward moment after that.
He recalled the moment in his study.
The look on her face when she threatened to gut him if he ever threw money in her face again.
He was used to solving everything with money that's what he knew.
Alex made him realize people could be sincere and genuine. She was genuine.
He remembered her voice, sharp, firm:
“The next time you try to throw money in my face when it has anything to do with Golden. I swear I will gut you with a knife.”
He chuckled now.“That woman will actually do it,” he murmured.
But he hadn’t been offended. Quite the opposite. The intensity of her loyalty surprised him. It moved him. And that was dangerous.
The hug had been spontaneous, something his body decided on before his brain caught up. He still didn’t fully understand why he did it.
But he didn’t regret it. Her scent, lavender and peaches, lingered in his head. He closed his eyes as if trying to store it in memory.
Something warm flickered in his chest, something he quickly scolded himself for.
“Nope. Absolutely not.”
He snapped his laptop open as if discipline could chase away thoughts.
“Work, Varney. Work.”
But after three lines of emails, he was still thinking about her laugh. And he groaned. This trip was going to be a problem.
Meanwhile in Florida…
Morning sunlight spilled into Golden’s room, gentle but not enough to settle the nerves in her stomach. She wasn’t exactly eager to return to school, but she wasn’t dreading it either. Somewhere in between.
Alex, refreshed, loud as usual, and fully in “best friend bodyguard mode” barged into the room from the bathroom with her toothbrush in her hand.
“Rise and shine, Miss Nixon! We have a school to conquer.”
Golden rolled her eyes but smiled.
“At least pretend you’re normal.”
“Never,” Alex replied proudly.
They got ready and headed out.
At school, the air was cooler, quieter. Students bustled around, but Golden scanned instinctively for red hair and familiar brown eyes. Nothing. No Linda. No Allan.
She exhaled, more relief than she intended.
Alex nudged her. “Relax. Even if they show up, I’m here. And I’m equipped.”
“What exactly are you equipped with?” Golden asked.
“A pen. A comb. Hand sanitizer. And a God-given ability to drag anyone’s soul out through their nostrils if they bother you.”
Golden laughed, genuinely. The morning was slow and soon it was lunchtime. Alex and Golden strolled to the cafeteria.
With their lunch, they walked and went to seat at their table A.K.A “the losers corner ”
Soon, Fabulous made his entrance. Since Africa, he seemed to have lost his nerdy persona and was now more vibes.
He approaches their table, dropped his tray and slid into the seat beside Alex shoving her a little to the side.
“Ladies. Did you miss me?”
“No,” Alex deadpanned.
“Yes,” Golden smiled.
Fab gasped dramatically.
“See? One of you appreciates greatness.”
Alex poked his forehead.
“Tell me something. What exactly does your family do? And don’t say ‘we have money,’ because I swear Fab…”
“Okay, okay,” he laughed.
“My dad’s family builds cars. Supercars. Limited editions. Customized luxury engines… the type that people wait two years to buy even after paying deposits.”
Golden’s raised her brow slightly.
“And my mom’s side?” Fab continued smugly.
“Wine. Some of the most expensive in the country. We have vineyards in Napa. Old estates. Private collections. Basically… my family is the reason people get drunk in style.”
Alex blinked. “So you’re like… luxury royalty?”
Fab leaned back, satisfied.
“My dear Alex, wealth is not noisy. It’s simply present.”
“Boy please,” Alex scoffed.
But Golden smiled knowingly.
“Explains the Phantom Zenith.”
“What can I say? We ride in style.” Fab grinned.
“Speaking of my birthday’s in a month. You both better be there.”
Golden shrugged. Alex hesitated but eventually sighed.
“Fine. But if your party turns into some billionaire circus, I’m stealing your wine.”
“Steal anything but the wine,” Fab warned.
Later that evening…
Octavia burst into Allan’s room holding her phone.
“I need Golden’s number.”
Allan looked up sharply.
“What for?”
“My dance battle! I want her there.”
He hesitated, but only for a second.
Maybe she’ll come. Maybe I’ll see her again. He gave the number. Octavia immediately texted Golden.
Golden’s phone buzzed.
Octavia: Hey! Dance battle this Saturday! I want you there! Pleeease?
Golden hesitated. Saturday? Her chest tightened. She typed slowly.
Golden: Will Allan be there?
Octavia didn’t answer. Instead, she switched to video call.
Suddenly Allan’s face appeared behind her.
“Allan! Are you coming to my dance battle?” she asked loudly.
Golden froze.
Allan ran a hand through his hair, glancing down.
“I… yeah. I’ll be there.”
Octavia beamed and turned the camera fully back to Golden.
“He said yes!”
Golden swallowed.
“Oh.”
After some smiling and goodbyes, the call ended.
Golden turned to Alex with a tiny, helpless, pleading smile.
Alex crossed her arms.
“No need to beg. I’m going with you.”
“Really?”
“Yes,” Alex said, grabbing a throw pillow like a weapon.
“To support you. To keep you calm. And just in case…”
She smirked darkly.
“…we need to hide a body.”
Golden burst into laughter, her nerves easing for the first time.
Saturday was set.
And somewhere in the sky, Varney Nixon was still trying and failing not to think about lavender and peaches.