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Five days had passed since I last spoke to Remy. She called me again, later that same day, to let me know that there were a few changes with the plan and the wedding date, so she'd send me the full itinerary in a couple of days. I was still waiting on that. She also told me to buy a dress for the engagement cocktail party, but as for the wedding dress, she said that we would all be going to one of the most famous and expensive boutiques in Marbella because she hasn't bought her wedding dress yet.

We all know this is the right thing for Remy but it's scaring me to see her rush into this and go forward so blindly. It scares me but it makes me adore her relationship with Aspen so much more. They're so sure of each other, and they're not letting anything get in the way of that.

My phone rang and I took a step away from my closet and grabbed my phone from my bed. "Yes, Megan?" I asked.

"Where are you going today?" Megan had officially gone full psycho-mode. She calls me every morning to ask where I'm going and what my plans are for the day, just to make sure I'm leaving the apartment. Sure, Megan was my manager and she's the one responsible to help keep my career on the line, so she's doing her job. But it's always a bit annoying when she gets like this.

I mean, she made me move to New York City, for God's sake. I was born and raised in San Francisco, that's just where our family has always been. For college, I went to San Diego.

Like I was supposed to, I stuck to the plan.

I went to the University of California in San Diego, graduated in English Literature with a degree in Writing, and then settled there. I had my life going with my own apartment, my group of college friends. I wrote Tainted Hearts during my last year of college and it was published right before my graduation. I never expected it to blow up and gain recognition and success the way it did but I am incredibly grateful for it. I had months of enjoyment and relaxation after that.

And then Megan started talking about what was next for my career. And then I shut down. All creativity left my brain, all inspiration was dried up, all my motivation vanished and I was in a slump. Still am. Up until four months ago when Megan decided I needed a change. Apparently, I'd been on the west coast for too long and should see a city with a little more hustle. So, we decided on New York.

Megan helped me move all my things, I paid for everything on my own, not that she should have, and now here I was. Except four months had gone by and I was still in a slump!

"I don't know yet. I'm thinking of making it out of the apartment and just seeing where the day takes me. But I do have to go shopping."

"Oh, for your sister's engagement party?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. Have fun. But remember, if you see anything that catches your eye, just—"

"Write or type it down. I know, Megan. Bye," I sang.

"Bye," she huffed, hanging up.

I looked back at my closet, looking for something to wear. It was pretty warm out, so I grabbed a red sundress, one I hadn't worn in a while. Two thin straps held it up, it stopped about mid-thigh and had little white daisies printed all over it. "That'll do," I sighed to myself, glancing at my screen when it lit up with a message. It was a typed-up itinerary that Remy had sent me. I opened it up, sitting on the edge of the bed and reading it thoroughly.

Day 1 - 5th of May: Land at the hotel. Explore the hotel. Dinner at the hotel at eight. = Hotel day.

Day 2 - Old town Marbella for brunch and walk to Alameda Park from there to watch the sunset. Dinner at hotel at eight.

Day 3 - Beach day until six pm. Engagement cocktail party at the hotel banquet hall starting at eight pm.

Day 4 - Visit the Puerto Banús boutique after breakfast for wedding dress shopping and have lunch nearby. (ladies only) Meet the gentleman and go for a long drive around Marbella. Dinner at local restaurants near the hotel at eight.

Day 5 - Chill day. Hike to the famous La Concha to watch the sunset. Dinner - at the hotel for our elders and a clubbing night out for us.

Day 6 - MY FUCKING WEDDING AND RECEPTION PARTY!

I stopped, laughing softly at the all-caps statement before continuing.

Day 7 - Fly back home.

All right, so the trip had been finalized for seven days. I would leave from New York in five days from today and meet them in Marbella. I still had to buy a cocktail dress for the engagement party, decide on my clothes, and pack. But today, I had to roam a bit longer around New York City before buying that dress. I left my dress on the bed and went into the bathroom, turning the shower on.

While the water heated up, I took off my pajamas from the night before and tossed them in the hamper. I stepped into the shower, letting the hot water soak my hair as it ran down my body. I finished washing up and then wrapped a towel around myself, shivering a bit as I stepped out of the shower. I grabbed a hairbrush, kept the towel wrapped around me, and detangled my hair before applying some hair serums and then leaving it to air dry the rest of the way. I put on some lotion before finally wiping the mirror from all the fog and taking a sigh, looking at my reflection.

My hands had become cold by now but my face still felt flaming hot, so I put my hands to my cheeks and then to my neck, my eyes getting caught on the pendant around my neck. I blinked, tracing it with a finger without realizing. I snapped out of my thoughts and reached around to the clasp to take it off but as I grabbed the hook, I couldn't bring myself to take it off.

I sighed in frustration, dropping my hands to the counter and lowering my head. "Whatever, it's whatever, it's just a necklace," I told myself, lifting my head and glancing at the necklace one more time in the mirror.

"Close your eyes," he demanded, pushing me onto my bed, face first.

I whined, covering my eyes with my palms. "Why? What is your problem, Adam?"

"You're the problem, Ruby."

I ignored him and crossed my legs under me, remaining seated on his bed. When I heard no movement, I thought he had left me. I thought I could take a peek.

"Don't you dare peek. Hold on, I'm looking for it," he scolded.

"Looking for what?"

"Your birthday gift," he mumbled while I heard shuffling.

"My birthday was last week," I snickered. "Twelfth July, you idiot."

"I know your birthday, Emmy. The gift just came in late."

"Is it something you ordered?"

"No. It's something they didn't have in stock so I had to wait on it."

"You could have gotten me something else."

"You're sixteen now. Sixteen is a big number."

"You turned sixteen in January. I didn't get you anything grand."

"Stop talking, I can't find it."

"Oh, are my words burying it deeper into your closet?" I mocked. I felt a pillow whack the back of my head. "Ah!" I groaned.

"I found it."

"Can I look now?"

"Hmm."

I pulled my hands away and turned to where he stood in front of me. He held out a little red bag, dangling it in front of me like candy. I reached for it but he yanked it back, watching me in amusement. "I'm going home, Adam. I was writing."

"It's Saturday, you fucking nerd. And it's summer break. You can write every day, so do it tomorrow. Here." He dropped the bag in my palms and then sat beside me, yanking on my ponytail once. I winced, glaring at him and digging my nails into the back of his neck for revenge. "Ah, ah, ah," he yelled, thrashing and throwing my arm off. "Bitch."

"Asshole."

"Open the gift."

"Okay." I dug into the bag, pulling out a red box. I froze, blinking numerous times, and then flipped the bag over. "Cartier? Cartier?! Are you crazy?! Did you make your parents spend so much money on—"

"I bought it."

I turned to him, eyes wide. "Hmm?"

"I bought it. I saved up all the pay I got from working with you at that bookstore."

"Are you being paid more than me?" My eyes narrowed.

He stared at me in disbelief. "Give it back to me if you don't want it. I'll give it to someone else."

I pulled it out of his reach. "No, it's mine. What is it though?"

"Open it! How many times are you going to make me say it?"

I ignored him and set the bag beside me, slowly opening the box. I took in a small breath, staring at the pendant. "Adam..." This wasn't just his bookstore summer salary. This was out of his own savings too.

"Shh," he hissed, "no sappy, sappy, mushy-gushy bullshit. Put it on."

I closed the box, turning my body to his. "Are you crazy? This must have been so expensive. Why the hell would you waste so much money on this?"

"It's not a waste. It's your birthday. You made such a big deal about it in front of Remy. 'It's my sweet sixteen, I want a big party, I want this, I want that' so..." He shrugged nonchalantly. "I bought it for you. And it makes sense too. I call you Ruby all the time. Do you even know why I call you Ruby?" he chuckled.

"No," I mumbled.

"You forgot?"

"What?"

"That day I met you at playschool, you were dressed in red. Head to toe. A red hat, a red dress, red socks, red shoes. On top of that, red hair and flaming red cheeks under the sun."

"You said I looked like a tomato. Not a ruby," I accused.

"Yeah. But you said rubies are red too and they're prettier than tomatoes. 'I'm like a ruby, not a potato,'' remember?"

I thought back to it. "No?"

He rolled his eyes.

"Plus, that's not the first time we met. It was the second."

"Oh, yeah. Right. Anyway. Put it on."

"Adam, I can't take this. It's expensive!"

He snatched the box from me. He pulled it open and took the necklace out, focusing on the clasp as he opened it. "Turn around."

"Adam."

"Now, Emilia."

"But I—"

He huffed in frustration. "I'll give it to someone else, I swear. I'll give it to the next girl that asks me out."

My eyes widened. "Why?!"

"Because you won't take it. Turn around."

I clicked my tongue and turned around, holding my hair up. He put it on with a bit of struggle and then hummed. I dropped my hair and glanced down at the pendant.

"Like it?" he asked, tucking the box back into the bag, placing it on his nightstand.

"Love it!" I squealed, leaning forward to hug him. He caught my arms before I did but I threw his hands off and hugged him anyway. He let out a soft grunt, falling back on his bed with a huff, resting his hands on my waist. I pulled back to look at him, knowing well that I was lying on top of him, my face barely inches from his. "Do you want to get ice cream? My treat."

"You better get me ice cream for life after that gift."

I nodded, sitting upright. "Let's go."

"Let's go," he sighed, standing up.

I came back into the bathroom now dressed with my hair still wet. I opened the drawer, trying not to look at the necklace as I took out a hairdryer.

I wanted to take it off the day we had that fight. But I couldn't bring myself to.

I still can't.

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