With tears in my eyes, I look at my best friends, who are standing in front of me, looking as if they have been taken down from the cross.
My heart aches that from now on, I will not have them at my fingertips. We will be separated by giant kilometers, and meetings will be very rare. The only upside is that, these days, we have instant messaging, so we can talk every day.
But I feel most sorry for Lily, who, cuddled into my leg, is crying, refusing to let me go.
- Honey, I promise that Auntie will come to see you as often as possible. You will always come first in my little heart," I say to her, stroking her hair.
- You lie! - she shouts indignantly, then aims her gaze at Felix. - It's that uncle who is first in your heart now, and that's why you're leaving!
She is a little girl, but she is intelligent.
- And how do I explain myself? - I look at her parents and see that Mike is laughing with me despite his sadness.
- Next time, tell the truth, Selena. Our child guesses everything, we don't need to explain to her to understand the situation.
I crouch in front of Lily and pull her hair back behind her ears.
- Sunshine, you are essential to me and always will be. I have to leave with my uncle to protect him from Baba Yaga.
The girl puts her hands to her mouth, looking at me with big eyes.
- Auntie, I hope you will protect uncle.
I lift my face and look at Eve, who rolls her eyes. Felix walks over to Mike and puts his hand on his shoulder.
- I'm glad to meet you again after so many years. I hope we will still keep in touch," he turns to him.
- Well rather... I never want to lose contact with you again.
I shift my gaze to Lucas, who is standing at the back, looking at his watch with boredom in his eyes.
- We will get back to you when we are there," I add.
I hugged them goodbye and gave Lily a kiss, unable to bear her sad look. Felix grabs my hand, and together we head toward the helicopter, which belongs to Lucas. He lets us through first, then sits down next to us.
My heart is beating restlessly fast. I am frightened, not by the flight itself, but by the fact that I am now starting a new life, in an entirely different city. In a place, I did not have an opportunity to get to know well during my vacation.
Tears well up in my eyes as I spot the first snowflakes outside the window. I see friends nodding goodbye to us, and then Felix grabs my hand and smiles comfortingly at me.
- You can still change your mind, Selena," he says in a whisper, and I feel the glaring gaze Lucas bestows on me.
- I have already made up my mind. I want to be with you, regardless of where you are.
He squeezes my hand and I can see that he is breathing a sigh of relief. Probably he still had concerns that I might change my mind.
But I know what I want. He is the one I need by my side. I would like to be his support, I want to protect him and make him live a normal life despite his illness.
- You will go back to the best specialist in New York. It seems to me that he was the one who handled you best," Lucas speaks up as the helicopter ascends.
I can feel myself getting sick with fear. It's not the same as flying in an airplane.
- Not only him, but living in New York made me happier," Felix replies. - Only then I lacked someone who would become the reason that I could fully enjoy life," he adds, looking at me.
I smile at him, finally being satisfied that everything is going in the right direction.
*
It's only when I enter Lucas' residence located in New York that I feel like a character in a movie, as we are greeted by his people, who are very put-upon men. Among them, I spot his right-hand man Sebastian, whom I saw in Los Angeles not long ago.
No doubt he had to return to New York earlier on the orders of his boss, which is why, after that situation with Eve, I never met him again.
- Boss, everything is prepared. The house is cleaned, and a warm dinner is waiting for you.
I raise an eyebrow, looking at Sebastian. After failing Lucas and receiving punishment from him, it's clear that he's still afraid of him.
A smile appears on his face, however, as the brunet walks past him and places a hand on his shoulder.
- You did a good job.
We follow Lucas, and I am surprised when Felix also stops by Sebastian.
- Don't even look at Selena, I still remember that you liked her in the past," he announces, making my peer look confused.
- I wouldn't dare. We are just old classmates.
I roll my eyes, knowing that he is joking, but Sebastian takes it too seriously, making him embarrassed.
Crossing the threshold of the dining room, we are greeted by the incredible smell of food, prepared by Lucas' personal chef.
Being so rich is a whole other dimension of life.
Sebastian sits down at the table with us, and I'm so hungry I feel like eating everything in front of me.
- Coming back here made me feel better right away. I have too many bad memories associated with Los Angeles," declares Felix.
Lucas nods.
- That's why I wanted to take you back here. After we eat, let's go to the beach together. In the evening, I have to take care of the backlog of work that has built up during my absence in New York.
There is something I have to admit. Although Lucas is frigid and aloof, but, once you get to know him better, you get used to him and understand that this is his personality.
It is hard for him to get close to a new person he meets, to love, but when he cares about someone, he can do anything for that person, and an example of this is Felix. He is his brother, the only family he has left, and you can see that he can do anything for him to protect him.
A few months ago I wouldn't have said this, but now I'm glad that he came into his life again and helped him live a normal life. While I didn't believe in him and made mistakes, so Lucas persevered by his side and fought for him.
Now I understand perfectly why Lucas hated me so much and wanted to exclude me from Felix's life.
Occasionally, the first impression of a person can be very misleading.
*
It's wonderful that Lucas' residence is right on the beach. I never dreamed of such a place even in my dreams, and I still can't believe I'm here, with the love of my life by my side.
Although it's three degrees on the plus side and the cold wind wraps my face, I'm happy. I happily dialed my friends' number, wanting to connect with them for a video call. The first person I spot on the other end is Mike, who is making silly faces at me.
- I'm jealous, my best friend! - he shouts. - You really live by the ocean?
- What, by the ocean? - Eve appears with Lily in her arms. - Luck has finally smiled on you, Selena!
- Not luck, just me," burbles under his breath to Lucas, who is standing near me.
Felix comes closer and hugs me from behind, placing his chin on my shoulder.
- We hope you will visit us soon.
Eve's eyes begin to glow with happiness.
- Really? Not only Mike, but you will invite me too? Felix, you have really changed. You used to hate me so much," says the blonde girl in a sweet voice.
- Now you are quite tolerable," he answers her.
- So? Are you going to get married on the beach? It will be a beautiful celebration!
On camera, I can see that my boyfriend is wrinkling his eyebrows.
- First I have to recover and deserve it. Selena's husband must be a wonderful man, because she is the most wonderful girl under the sun.
I smile broadly at the camera, feeling happy.
- Do you see Mike? Why don't you sweeten me up like that? Am I not the most incredible woman under the sun? - Eve turns to her partner.
- You have too much behind your ears and are growing horns, so I find it difficult to call myself the greatest woman under the sun.
At first, my face pales as I get the impression that Mike knows about Eve's recent sin, but a stone falls from my heart when he starts laughing, and I understand that he was only joking.
- You are the most unbelievable woman under the sun. Second in line, of course, after my unbelievable daughter," he adds, kissing Lily on the forehead.
- Who would have thought that my best friend from high school would call this crazy woman the greatest woman under the sun," Felix says accordingly.
- Uncle, why do you talk so ugly about my mother? - Lily is a defensive child, a small but smart child. - Don't say that, or Baba Yaga will eventually find you!
- What Baba Yaga? - asks Felix in an amused voice, and I blush on my face. - What did you say to her, Selena?
- I had to think of something to make her understand why I'm leaving with you for another city," I say in a whisper, although the truth is in it, and the real Baba Yaga is his mother.
- We will be going out to Mike's parents now, but we will call in the evening and talk? - Eve suggests.
- You bet you will! Until we hear from you. I'm sending kisses! - I smack the camera, then hang up. I look in the direction of Lucas, who is standing at Sebastian's side and silently gazing at the ocean, which is restless.
He looks thoughtful.
My attention is caught by a woman who is walking with a ferocious step towards us. Even though it's damn difficult to walk on the beach, she looks so charismatic that I look at her with awe in my eyes, and only after a moment do I realize that this is a woman I know.
How did she find out about the location we were in?
- Did you tell Hannah where we will live? - I ask Felix.
- No. Why should I tell her? I don't interfere with what happens between her and Lucas.
- Lucas wouldn't tell her in real life, would he?
- There is no chance. He likes to play games with women. He wouldn't just lay out on a platter like that.
I tilt my head and look at Sebastian, who swallows his saliva nervously with interest in his eyes.
I think I know the answer.
- What is this crazy woman doing here? Who told her! - shouts Lucas, as a satisfied Hannah stands in front of him, enjoying the victory.
- Thanks, Sebastian, for being helpful," she turns to a former classmate.
Lucas takes a deep breath, then turns to his right hand.
- Did you do something behind my back again, you damned snot? - He pierces him with his eyes, and Sebastian curls up like a puppy.
- Sorry, I owed Hannah a favor after I implicated her in Felix's escape attempt.
- In that case, pack your things and go live in the ocean, since for me, you are now a dead fish," he announces, then wants to leave, but Hannah does not give up and grabs his hand, looking furious.
- After all, I told you that I will fight for you. Since you seduced me, now you have to take responsibility for it.
- I didn't seduce you, crazy girl, I just kidnapped you for my purposes," he answers her with indignation in his voice. - You are also a dead fish to me, so you can live in the ocean with Sebastian, because I won't let you in the house.
Lucas pulls out of her grasp and returns to the residence, while I approach Hannah and a frightened Sebastian.
- He only pretends to be angry, he will soon get over it. After all, you know that you are his favorite," I turn to my classmate. - And he likes you," I add, looking at Hannah.
- She may have actually caught the boss's eye, but I'm screwed. In fact, I will become a dead fish and end up in the ocean.