Maya
Chelsea had come to ours for dinner and drinks. We stayed out for a few hours at the restaurant. Conrad is in the kitchen making dinner for us all. We did offer to help, but he refused. I think he wants us to spend some time together and maybe become friends. It would be nice to have a friend.
“How did you and Conrad meet?” she asks curiously.
“At a masquerade ball. My old boss Meredith sent me to pretend to be her daughter. Conrad was quick to work out I wasn’t here.”
“No, he knows Taylor, so it wouldn’t have,” she laughs, “You have been together since then?”
I shake my head, “No. I didn’t tell him who I really was because if I did, it would have gotten me fired. My plan was never to see him again after that night, which I thought would be easy. But it wasn’t. I told him my name was Mia, but then he started asking my boss questions, and that was when he found out who I really was.”
“Oh, wow, really? It was like Prince Charming looking for his Cinderella. It is all very romantic. Why didn’t you tell him the truth when he realised you weren’t Taylor?”
I sigh, “Because I convinced myself I was not good enough for him. I had gotten out of a terrible, abusive relationship six months previous. I wasn’t ready to let anyone else close. I was terrified, but he didn’t give up on me.”
I smile at the thought. He could have walked away, but he didn’t. He made his choice to stay. He chose me.
“Your ex, the one who ran Conrad down?” she asks softly.
“Yes,” I whisper, looking at the ground.
“Maya, I am sorry you have been through so much. I don’t know the full story; it’s just a little here and there. Maybe one day you can tell me?”
I expected her to get pissed or annoyed when we talked about my ex hurting her brother, but she doesn’t seem to be.
I look back up at her, “One day. It isn’t something I tend to talk much about. Your mom knows quite a bit; besides that, it is only Conrad. Perhaps once it is all over and Callum is in jail, then I will tell you.”
Chelsea rubs my arm, “Only when you are ready. Hopefully, they will catch him soon.”
“I hope so, but let’s not discuss all the bad things. What about you? Do you have someone back in London?”
She scoots closer to me, “Yes, but no one knows yet.” She whispers.
“Why not?”
“Because it is one of Conrad’s old friends from back in his college days with whom he used to be close. He is also older than me. We randomly met at a bar in London a few months ago. I didn’t even know he was in London. We connected and have been together for a couple of months. I am sure Conrad will be okay with it, well, maybe, but for now, we just want to enjoy our relationship without anyone else knowing.” She says.
“I am sure he would be fine. It is like you are a kid. You are a grown woman. I get that, wanting to keep it between you. I was the same with Conrad. If he didn’t get hurt because of my ex, there is a chance no one would know about us even still.” I reply.
“I just feel like a relationship should be able to develop between two people first before family needs to be introduced. Yes, my mother informed me; you two had been together for a while without anyone knowing.”
“Tell them when you are both ready and not before.”
“That is the plan. I want Conrad to be the first to know since they were friends.”
“Yes, good idea. I think he would be a little mad if he found out from someone else.” I say honestly.
Chelsea agrees, “You and my brother should visit me in London some time. The four of us can go on a double date.”
“I would like that. I have never been outside of America. It would be nice to visit somewhere else.”
“We can arrange it, maybe soon. Within the next month or two.” She smiles.
“I will talk to Conrad. I am sure he would love to come and visit you.”
“I am sure. He has only come once to visit, I think. I understand, though, because he is busy.”
We hear Conrad coming back through, “Dinner won’t be long. What are you two talking about it?” he asks, sitting next to me.
I move to snuggle into his side, and he wraps his arm around me, “How we should go and visit Chelsea in London.”
“I would love to. We can come next month.” He grins.
“Great! I would say you can stay with me, but I don’t know if that would be such a good idea. I would rather not hear you two getting it on. I would be scarred for life.” She snickers.
Conrad laughs loudly, “Don’t worry, little sister, I wouldn’t torture you like that. We will book a hotel. We can get dates arranged. You can send me your schedule when you arrive back in London.”
“Yay! I can’t wait.” She celebrates.
“It will be nice to get away for a bit. We can come for a week.” Conrad says.
“Perfect. So, when are you two getting married?” she asks with a smirk.
“One day,” Conrad answers without even thinking about it and kisses the top of my head.
I don’t say anything but snuggle in tighter to him.
“You two will be married by this time next year. I would bet my life on it.” She says confidently.
“Maybe not that soon.” I laugh.
“We will just need to wait and see how things go. It will happen when it is meant to. I don’t know when, but I know for sure it will happen.”
I glance up at him, “You think about us getting married?”
“I do. Does that bother you? Scare you?”
I shake my head and kiss his cheek, “No.”
Chelsea smiles brightly, “I knew it! You two were made for one another.”
“I agree,” Conrad says.
“Me too,” I add in, nervously.
It is crazy we are saying and thinking these things since we haven’t been together long. When something feels right, it feels right. I want all of that with Conrad, but I need Callum to be gone before I can even think about it in detail. I am happy we seem to be on the same page, though.