Azalea Faye Larau - The sweetheart socialite with a fire underneath and an up and coming ballet dancer in London striving to stay afloat in an ocean of sharks, all the while dealing with heartbreak and loss.
Harlan Emeric Marchetti - The Italian Maf...
"I'd rather be alone, but you're fragmented in my bones."
* * *
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The sky had melted into shades of soft purples and deep oranges as the sun began its descent. We lingered in the field a little longer, reluctant to leave behind the warmth of our shared laughter and the feeling of freedom that came with it.
Eventually, the first cool breeze of the evening nudged us into action. We packed up the remains of our picnic, folding blankets and gathering the empty containers.
"This was amazing, Jamie." Nikki, balancing the wicker basket in one hand, turned to him with a tired but genuine smile.
"You all were more than willing once food was involved." He joked and we all chuckled as we settled into our car to go back home.
"True, but credit where it's due. We needed this day—no distractions, no worries." Reina chimed in, her blue eyes sparkling under the twilight sky as Jamie drove us back home.
* * *
As we made our way up to the house, the soft crunch of gravel under our shoes mixed with the distant hum of cicadas.
The villa loomed ahead, elegant and timeless, its warm lights glowing like a beacon. The sight of it brought a gentle reminder of reality creeping back in, but for now, I wanted to hold on to the carefree hours we'd just spent.
Inside, the girls peeled off to their respective rooms, muttering about showers and naps. I lingered in the hallway for a moment, watching them with a fond smile before turning toward my own room.
The quiet settled around me as I opened the door and stepped inside my room, the familiar scent of lavender and something floral drifting through the space.
I let out a long sigh, the weight of the day pressing softly against me as I took a quick shower and changed into more comfortable clothes before sinking into the bed, but the silence didn't last long.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand, the sharp vibration cutting through the stillness. I glanced at the screen, my heart giving a small jolt as Harlan's name appeared.
His call was unexpected, and it always managed to bring a mix of emotions—anticipation, curiosity, and a tension that seemed to coil around my chest.
Sliding my finger across the screen, I lifted the phone to my ear.
"Hello?"
There was a brief pause, one that always seemed to come when Harlan called. It was as though he calculated the weight of every word before speaking.
"Butterfly," He said, his voice even but holding a subtle warmth, "It's good to hear your voice. How are you, darling girl? Having fun?"
A small smile tugged at my lips at his concern as I curled up into myself, pulling my fluffy blanket over my body.
