VANESSA BELMONT
"My other life," I said. "The one where you broke my heart." I shook my head. "This time, I won't make the mistake of loving you."
"You love me?"
"No. I used to love you. Now I don't." I looked up at him and felt my eyes crowd with tears. "I won't love you, Nathan Jang. You hear me?"
"You're drunk." He touched the tip of my nose. "And you have a sunburn."
"Whatever." I looked at him closely. "Hey! You're wearing different clothes. Why didn't I get different clothes? These are itchy."
"Take a shower. You'll feel better."
"I don't think I can work the knobs," I said honestly. "Or stand up. Or wash myself."
"I can do it for you."
"You can't see me naked. I'm practically married." I showed him my ring. "See? Taken, buddy."
He chuckled. "How about we just take off your clothes and I'll tuck you into bed."
"No peeking?"
"Oh, I'm going to peek. But I'll be good tonight, okay?"
"No."
"It's not a request." Nate unbuttoned my shirt and slid it off my shoulders.
I heard his sharp inhale, and looked up. "What? Do I have a spider on me?"
He slid a finger along the top of my pink lace bra. In a thick voice, he asked, "Do your panties match?"
"Of course they match."
He stood up and then pulled me to my feet. He unzipped my shorts, and they dropped to the floor. Then I fell back onto the bed.
"Pretty in pink," he said.
"I love that movie!"
Nate took off his T-shirt, and holy God, he was ripped. "You look like that under your clothes?"
He pulled me to a sitting position and helped me put on his T-shirt. Then he tucked me under the covers.
"I'm going to take a shower," he said. "A very long, cold shower. Go to sleep."
"You're not the boss of me."
"Tonight, I am." He drew the covers up to my chin. "Rest, Vanessa. Please."
"I'm only doing it because I want to." I closed my eyes, snuggled into the pillow, and promptly passed out.
***|***|***|***|***
We smash into the oak tree.
I hear the crack in my chest, and suddenly I can't breathe. Blood drips down my face, but for some reason, I can't lift my hand to wipe it away.
"Fiona!" Nate opens the driver's side door. Pulls his mistress out of the car.
He takes her and leaves.
He walks away.
I'm alone.
That's how I die.
Alone.
***|***|***|***|***
"Vanessa."
The voice cut through the fog in my mind. I opened my eyes, blinking against the dim light, and saw Nate beside me, his expression distressed.
"Get away from me," I croaked, my throat burning. "I hate you."
He ignored my words. He pressed his palm against my brow, his fingers cool against my fevered skin. "You're burning up."
A wave of nausea rolled through me, sharp and sudden. My stomach twisted, bile rising in my throat. "I think I'm gonna puke."
Before I could even move, Nate was out of bed, his arms sliding under me. He lifted me effortlessly, and carried me to the bathroom. "Why is everything wobbly?" I asked.
"Because you're wobbly."
Nate put me down, but staying on my feet was not an option. The second my knees hit the cold tile, I lurched forward, gripping the toilet as my body convulsed.
Nate didn't flinch. He gathered my hair in one hand, holding it back as I retched, his other hand resting between my shoulder blades, steadying me. The acidic taste burned my tongue, and tears stung my eyes—whether from sickness or humiliation, I wasn't sure.
When I finished emptying my stomach, I slumped back, trembling. My skin was clammy, my clothes sticking to me with cold sweat. Nate reached for a folded bath towel from the shelf and draped it over my shoulders. His touch was caring. What was this? I thought foggily. Tenderness?
"I'm taking you to the hospital, Neenie."
"That seems extreme," I said. "I just need some Tylenol and rest."
He took a hand towel and wiped my mouth. "You don't get a vote."
"Stop being nice. It's confusing. At least I know how to act with mean Nate."
"Mean Nate?" He helped me to my feet. "We'll unpack that later. Right now, getting you to a doctor is the priority."
"Ugh. My head is pounding like someone is hammering wood."
"Someone is," said Nate. "They're knocking on the door."
"Make them stop."
Nate left the bathroom. A few seconds later, I heard him exclaim, "What are you doing here?"
"I offered to help Mrs. King with the twins. They're down for night, and I thought I would come see you."
See him naked, I thought crossly. I punched at the air, and then sank down to my knees again. I felt like passing out.
"Go back and rest," I heard Nate say. "Vanessa doesn't feel well."
"Vanessa is ... with you?" She went silent for a moment. "Why are you two together?"
"Why is that your business? I told you to go home."
"Let me help take care of Vanessa," Fiona chirped, her voice filled with fake cheerfulness.
"Don't you dare," I yelled. Dizziness assailed me and I put my head in my hands. "I'd rather be eaten by scorpions!"
***|***|***|***|***
I don't remember passing out, but when I woke up, I was in a hospital room. I had an IV in my arm, and a fiancé asleep in the chair next to the bed. His eyes fluttered open. When he saw me awake, he sat up and grabbed my hand.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I don't know," I said. "Am I?"
"I'll get the doctor." He got to his feet, offered me a tired smile, and then left the room.
A couple minutes later, the door opened and guess who walked in?
If you said fucking Fiona, you win the prize. (Okay, I lied. There is no prize, but at least you have the satisfaction of being correct.)
"Why are you here?" I asked, though I didn't really care.
"To see Nate, of course." She wore a white lace dress and had her hair braided. She'd created this whole I'm-so-innocent style. Diamonds dripped from her ears. She saw me looking at the earrings and she touched one. "Nate bought them for me."
"Yay for you."
Her lips thinned and icy blue eyes narrowed. "Wait until you see the necklace he paid millions of dollars for. Rubies and diamonds."