Relentless

Chapter 1

Willow

The party had turned out better than I imagined. It was suppose to be a small graduation dinner but had somehow ended up being the central zone for the graduating class of '23. 

My childhood best friend, Ria, was out there being the life of the party, as usual. I saw her yell at the DJ to play a specific track then signal for the bartender to send a round of shots. She waved at me from afar to join in but I smiled and shook my head. My alcohol tolerance wasn't the best and I had already had a few drinks.

I walked across my crowded lawn, around the side of the house and towards a familiar giant tree. Old benches lay beneath it and a swing hung from one of its branches.

My swing.

Mom had tried to have them all replaced several times. But I had resisted with tremendous force.

I liked that tattered old swing.

I took off my heels, lifted the hem of dress and perched on the swing. Sipping from my glass of water, I stared up at the wide open sky. My feet carelessly kicked the grass underneath, swaying myself.

"A house full of people and I still find you here."

The glass stilled in my hand. I knew that voice.

I had known that voice my whole life.

And yet...

The figure walked behind me and pushed the swing without pausing to receive an invitation.

Why would he? He had pushed that swing countless of times.

"Congratulations, Princess."

I rolled my eyes, sighing.

Princess.

That was his nickname for me. Neither of us could remember when or how it started and every now and then I told him to stop. But he never listened.

"Thanks." I smiled.

His gentle force set a pleasant rhythm to the swing. "Look at you, all grown up now with your fancy degree and elite group of friends. Not to mention how poised and sophisticated you look right now."

I tilted my head to look up at him. Light green eyes twinkled with mischief as he looked down at me: my long red dress bunched in my lap, heels discarded and hair thrown over one shoulder.

"Says the guy who finished his MBA six months ago. And I will not listen to comments on my appearance from someone who has taken a life-long oath to wear the happiest shades of white and black. "

"Wrong. I sometimes wear gray and navy."

Nathaniel Ryding.

The oldest of three brothers, heir to his father's sprawling business, a close family friend, neighbor and my brothers best friend.

And yet...

"Jeremy is here." I said. Though there was no need to mention it. Nathan obviously knew his own brother's whereabouts.

Jeremy, the second Ryding brother, same age as me, was also celebrating his graduation tonight. He had a party his house too but sometime during the night, the boys had come over...probably to run behind girls.

Nathan took a seat on one of the benches next to me. "I know."

"I thought you were still in Chicago."

"I landed an hour ago."

I looked at his black dress pants and white shirt. He had obviously not found the time to change from whatever meeting he had last attended.