*Lumi* "What do you think the guys have planned ?" I ask curiously. I have no mirror to look in and me and Meri have been placed, back to back, so we can't see each other either. She giggles softly. "No idea, but I guess it is something rather big with all this secretivity". "Seriously that book Tom gave you, it is so romantic ... it must have cost him a small fortune". I am so happy to see how much Tom clearly cares for my sister. It was the perfect present for her. "It was ... I can't believe he did that". She sighs happily. "But what about that car ... wow ... Luca is not sparing anything when it comes to his future wife ... that is one sexy ride you'll be getting around in". I smile to myself. "No he doesn't, we really did good, both of us". "So ... are you moving to Texas now". She asks softly, I had known this would come soon. "Or first after the wedding ?" "You know I hate to leave you Meri, but I need to be with Luca. Without him near it's like my heart doesn't beat ri
*Luca*As we arrive at the club where the party is held there are quite a lot of people gathered outside. Fans, photographers and just people stopping to look at what is happening. I am actually quite happy that we hired security.Lumi is looking at her phone, shaking her head. "I can't believe our engagement announcement has gotten almost 1 million likes"."People love you, just like I love you". I look at the picture of her hand with both the rings and the statement. 'I said yes ... again'."Oh wow ... I feel like a celebrity". Lumi says, looking out the window, as the car comes to a stop.I smile at her. "Well you kinda are. People love your segment on 'good morning London', you have more followers than me on instagram ... might be because you look a hell of a lot better in a bikini"."Well I happen to think you look mighty sexy in a bikini". She says, wiggling her eyebrows."You are probably alone there". I chuckle and pull her in to me for a soft kiss, before opening the door and
*Lumi* "Baby wake up ... you need to wake up right now. I need you so badly". It's the morning after the birthday party and I am awakened by Luca's pleading voice somewhere above me. "Seriously Luca ... you didn't have enough last night". I grumble, I mean despite being rather drunk, he had been well ... in a rather amorous mood. This is a new ... low, or is it high ? level of desperation even for him. He grabs my arm, shaking me slightly. "Lumi, it's serious. Meri needs you. Tom ... Tom broke up with her". "WHAT !" I instantly sit up in bed staring at him like he just told me that the moon has fallen down in the backyard. "He did what ? Oh God, she must be crushed. Where is that fucking wanker ? I need to get my hands on him". "He is long gone, baby, he packed a bag and left, him and Nani". He shakes his head. "I tried to stop him, but ... he pushed me away, he actually pushed me away and told me to stay 'the fuck' out of it ... and well Meri needed someone so ...". "You did t
2 weeks later *Meri* We are in Texas, in Luka's house ... Well Luka and Lumi's house. And have been for ten days. This place is truly beautiful, I have no doubt about that, but it is like everything has gone bland lately. Food has lost its taste, the sun holds no warmth and all the colors are ... lifeless and ... Well, bland. I feel like walking around in a bubble that mutes everything except for the pain. Lumi and especially Luka are going to great lengths to try and cheer me up and I really appreciate their efforts, but I just can't pull myself up enough to really react. I have transferred school, so I can finish up my studies. And somehow I manage to go through the motions of the day. To do my assignments. To seem like a normal human being. But the truth is that I am an empty shell. "Hi Meri mouse, don't you look pretty today". Luka sends me one of those dazzling smiles that would make any other woman go weak in the knees. For me it only makes me think of Tom's beautiful smil
*Tom* Why is my sister shaking me ? Why does she sound so desperate ? And why do my head feel like it is filled with wool ? I blink my eyes open. "Calm down Emma ... where is the damn fire ?" "Oh Tom, thank god. I thought you were dead". She hugs me so fiercely that I can hardly breathe. I yawn and stretch. "Why on earth would you think that ? I am just sleeping" "Because you fucking looked dead you ass-hat". She slaps my shoulder. "Because I come here finding Nani with no food or water, your house a stinking mess and you on the couch with whiskey and a bottle of sleeping pills ... what the hell Tom, you missed the gala last night". I rub my eyes, I feel like I am still half asleep. "No what ... no, no … the gala is thursday ... it is what ? Sometime Wednesday, right ?" "Tom l.. it is friday". She stares at me like I have gone crazy. "When did you fall asleep ?" "No, stop making fun of me". I shake my head feeling nauseous. "I couldn't sleep ... that was Tuesday, I tried a cou
*Meri* I hear Lumi curse and jump out the car and I wonder what is happening. Then I see the shadow on the porch and instantly recognize Tom. Shit, Lumi is going to skin him alive. "Luca, we need to stop her". I grab the handle to open the door. "She'll hurt him". "Well, he kind of deserves it". Luca mumbles as he gets out of the car too. The porch light turns on and I see Tom standing there, head hanging and his bag beside him. He looks pale and the beard is on the way back. "You fucking asshole". Tom doesn't even lift his head as she screams at him, or when she starts hitting her fists against his chest. He just stands there taking it. "Stop Lumi, stop it". I grab her arm but she shakes me off. Her voice is shaking with anger. "Do not come here and protect him now ... he is an idiot and he deserves to suffer as much as you have". "Luca for god's sake, do something". I look at him, realizing he is frozen in place, staring at the hurricane Lumi. "Wake up and grab her". Finall
*Tom* I can't keep the smile from my face as we walk inside, Meri walking half a step in front of me, just in case Luca hasn't managed to calm Lumi down. I can't believe she forgave me and I am not sure I deserve it. Honestly Lumi has every right to be pissed at me for what I did. The relief is like a giant rock that has been lifted from my heart and spirit. I never thought I would leave London, and definitely not for Texas, but if that's what it takes to keep Meri in my life, I am happy to do so. "What happened ?" Meri asks shocked, as we walk in on a bloodbath ... or well Luca covered in blood. Luca makes a pained face. "Someone happened to smash my nose with her elbow". "I am so sorry baby, I didn't mean to ... you were not the one I wanted to hit". Lumi is fretting around him, trying to wash off the blood. "No, I was the one you wanted to hit. I am the one who deserves it". I say, feeling sorry that Luca has to suffer to protect me. Lumi snaps around staring me down in a w
4 days later *Meri* "When are you going to forgive him ?" I look at my sister as we get in the car to go into town. Tom is just inside to get my handbag, and he is of course the 'him' I am referring to, Lumi still refuses to talk to him, and it bothers me quite a lot, as I can see it hurts him. She huffs. "Who says I am going to forgive him ? I still don't get that you forgave him that quickly". "I love him, Lumi ... with all of my heart". I smile as I see Tom walk out the house, he already looks much healthier. "And he made a mistake, we all do. You forgave Luca his mistakes". "That was something entirely different". She turns on the engine to Luca's truck. I stop discussing it when the door opens and Tom slides in beside me, giving me a loving smile. "Here you go darling". "Thanks Tom". I lean in, giving him a soft kiss, ignoring my sister glaring at us. Her mood is worse than usual because Luca is currently in LA for some meetings. Tom gently takes my hand, lacing our fin