Intertwined Souls

Chapter 16 (part 1)

As the Munroe family car pulled into the expansive driveway of Aegon Mansion, the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the lawns, shimmering on the polished surfaces of the parked luxury cars. The Aegons stood waiting at the entrance, their smiles warm and welcoming.

Frank Munroe, was the first to step out. "James, your home is as splendid as ever!" he exclaimed, his voice booming with genuine admiration.

"Welcome, welcome! So glad you could make it," James exclaimed, genuine warmth in his voice. "We've been looking forward to this evening."

"Thank you, James. We're honored to be here. What's the occasion, by the way?" Frank inquired, curiosity piqued by the grandeur of the gathering.

James chuckled, gesturing towards the elegant setup of tables and chairs arranged on the sprawling lawn. "Well, I thought it was high time we had a proper sit-down. Business and pleasure, you know," he replied with a wink. "Plus, it's been far too long since our families gathered for a formal get-together."

Frank nodded in understanding, "Sounds like a perfect evening. Thank you for having us," he said sincerely.

Beth and Ann found themselves seated together, their chairs subtly angled towards each other, allowing for quiet exchanges beneath the hum of cheerful conversations. Richard, spotting the pair deep in their murmurs, walked over with a mischievous grin.

"So... tell me, Beth, what kind of a girlfriend is Annie? Because at home, all she talks about is Beth this, Beth that. Honestly, I've never seen her so utterly and hopelessly devoted. It's like watching a romantic comedy that never ends!"

"Richie, enough," Ann warned with a laugh, though her eyes twinkled with amusement.

Beth, feeling a warmth spread through her at the mention, smiled softly. "She's wonderful," she began, "Ann is thoughtful, always making sure I'm happy and comfortable. She's romantic, more than I could have ever imagined. Every moment with her feels like it's straight out of a love story."

"Aww, Annie, I didn't know you could be like this." Richard teased. "You know, Beth, Ann used to be such a Casanova, flirting here and there. But now, it's as if she can't think straight. She's absolutely smitten like a lovesick puppy. It's all Beth, all the time. Quite a transformation, don't you think?"

Beth's eyes widened slightly; her curiosity piqued. "Is that so?" she asked, casting a playful glance at Ann, who was now mock glaring at her brother.

"Oh, you wouldn't believe the stories," Richard continued, chuckling. "I lost count of how many hearts she's charmed."

Ann nudged Richard lightly, signaling enough was enough, but he only laughed, stepping back. "I'll leave you two lovebirds to it. I think I hear Finn and Robin calling."

After Richard departed, Beth turned her attention back to Ann, her eyes glinting with a playful curiosity. She nudged Ann gently, her voice tinged with teasing warmth. "So, you were quite the charmer, huh?"

Ann's cheeks flushed a light pink, her usual confidence momentarily faltering under Beth's amused gaze. "Oh, it's nothing like that," she murmured, trying to dismiss her brother's comments.

Not satisfied with the dismissal, Beth leaned closer, her voice lowering conspiratorially. "So, how many people have you been with, exactly?"

Ann blinked, taken aback by the directness of the question. She fumbled for words. "I... What? Beth, I mean, I haven't really kept count."

Beth's expression softened, her hand finding Ann's under the table, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Hey, it's not like it's going to change anything between us. It's just a number, and it's your past. I really don't care about that. You're with me now, that's all that matters."

Ann fidgeted, trying to gauge Beth's expression. "Baby, I mean, it's not like I kept a count. A few, I guess?"

Beth crossed her arms, her eyebrow raised. "A few? Come on, Ann. At the campfire, everyone was teasing you about being the 'camp's gem.' And now Richie tells me you were quite the charmer. I need numbers, Ann. How many are we talking about?"

Ann's eyes searched Beth's, looking for any sign of discomfort or disapproval. Finding none, she let out a small, nervous laugh. "I just don't want you to think less of me, or to be upset."

"Ann," Beth said gently, her tone intense, " I won't be mad. Just tell me, please? Pretty please?" Her eyes twinkled with a mix of affection and mischief, making it hard for Ann to resist.

Ann took a deep breath, the weight of the moment pressing on her. "Okay, okay," she surrendered, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Maybe... thirty or forty? I really don't know for sure."

Beth recoiled slightly; her voice laced with disbelief. "Forty? Ann, that's... wow."

The panic momentarily flashed across Ann's face as she quickly tried to reassure Beth. "No, no, look, it's not like that. They were nothing, meaningless flings, before I knew what real love was. You—you're different, Beth. You're the best, the only one who's ever truly mattered."

"Oh, so I'm the best, huh?" Beth replied in disbelief. "Was I up to your very experienced standards then?"

Ann gulped nervously. "Beth, you're not just up to some standard, you are the standard."

Beth stared at Ann; her eyebrows arched in mock horror. "I seriously can't believe it. Forty? Ann, what were you even thinking?"

Ann fumbled for words, her cheeks flushing. "I... I don't know, Beth. I was... reckless. Just going wherever, the wind blew me."

Beth shook her head, feigning exasperation. "That's quite a strong wind, then. Must've been a hurricane to blow you around that much."

Ann reached out, taking Beth's hands in hers. "Hey, none of that mattered. It was never real. You are what's real to me. You've changed everything. Before you, it was just... passing time. With you, every moment is precious."

Beth smirked, her voice tinged with sarcasm. "Passing time with forty people, huh? I must really be something special then to make you want to stop the clock."

Ann reached out, trying to catch Beth's gaze. "Beth, come on, you know it wasn't like that. They meant nothing to me—"

Beth interrupted, still sulking. "Nothing? Forty nothings are quite something, Ann."

Ann sighed, desperately trying to lighten the mood. "You're the only something. You changed everything. You know, I was just lost before I found you."

Beth's expression didn't waver; she continued to pout; her voice tinged with feigned severity. "Lost seems quite mild for forty, Ann. You were on an expedition."

Ann chuckled nervously, trying another tack. "Can we call it a bad tour guide? Because now, I've found my perfect destination. You, Beth. It's always been you since I met you."

Beth looked at Ann. "Well, keep that map handy, Ms. Explorer. No more expeditions."

Ann smiled, a mix of relief and affection. "No more expeditions, I promise. Just this... just us."