(Blake's POV)
My head slowly turned to Tara, who was so engaged in each photo. Where did she find the album? I closed my eyes and heaved a sigh before walking towards her. I was sure Samantha did not include it in her gift to Tara.
“Kitten, let’s put food in your tummy first,” I said, trying to take it away from her, but she groaned. Her eyebrows creased, and she squinted her eyes on me. I raised both my hands to say I would not dare get it. Instead, she took the plate and placed it beside the photo album.
“You’re so handsome,” She said, trailing my picture with her index finger. A few seconds passed without any word from her made my heart worry. “How old were you in this picture?” She finally asked.
I glanced at it. “Twenty-one,” I focused on my food. I was not ready to talk about the past or... the future. What matters to me now is her,
(Blake's POV)“Tell me, what’s this Disney thing? I really don’t understand,” I asked Tara, remembering what Stella said and the lists of movies she wanted to watch she had written in her notebook. I sat across her.Her lips pressed, then moving from side to side. When she stopped twitching her lips, she squinted her eyes at me. “Blake, can we eat first. I’m really hungry,” Without waiting for me, she stood and climbed down the saloon.I followed her down, forgetting to ask her if she wanted to go back to the island. She had her head inside the refrigerator, peeking and taking the one she had been looking at this morning. It was a small box of chocolate cakes.“You’re not hungry,” I smirked. “You’re just craving for it,” I said, chuckling and peeking at what’s inside the fridge.“Sorry, I had a thing for cakes
(Blake's POV)I am 29 years old, and my painful memories were nothing compared to Tara’s. As a child, I tantrum over things my parents couldn’t give me, always thinking how unfair they were. But since I was an only child, I always got what I wanted. I cried over unsuccessful relationships in the past, promising not to fall in love again, but then I always found my heart recuperating from a silly pain and finding myself a new one. I got mad at the businesses I failed, but I would always be successful at them in the end with my persistence.But Tara... my poor Tara...I tried to open my mouth to speak, to comfort her at least, but how could I when I have never lost anyone in that way. The only thing I could do was hold her in my arms, making her feel I was here. I kept kissing her hair as she cried endlessly, and it pained me to think I could do nothing to ease it away.After a while, I he
(Blake's POV)“Somebody’s glowing!” Samantha chimed when Tara excused herself from us. Her eyes followed Tara walking towards the hall of the adjoining room. I was startled when she tugged me to the sofa. We both fell on the seat and surprised me with a punch on my upper arm.“Tell me, Blake...” She has her dagger eyes on me. “You didn’t do anything stupid on that boat with her,” She asked in a low voice, her teeth gritting.“What do you mean?” My eyes squinted, confusing me. I could not follow her.“Did you see Tara? She was like Rapunzel singing the healing song. She’s glowing, idiot!” She whispered, and then she shut her one eye and smacked me again in my arm.“What? She looked alright to me,” I was already getting impatient with her.“I should have put condoms in your bag,” She sniffled.
(Tara's POV) I am a star, but when Matthew gave me limited choices between Sirius and supernova, I chose the latter. Stella and I would always joke about her as Sirius A and I, being the weakest in the family, so I was the white dwarf star, Sirius B. Whenever papa heard about it, he would always remind us that we were unnamed stars in the sky because we were still on earth, but he bets we will be the brightest in the sky at night. Blake was not happy with my answer, and I sighed at the thought that he would surely ask me about it later. No one would choose a dying star, but I have my reasons. Right now, I was a star exploded many times but in the most beautiful way. I have so much energy with me, brighter than any other stars, glowing with too much love from him. I answered Stella’s call while I was walking back to my bedroom. “Hi, S!” I greeted as I pushed the half-open door, then locked the doorknob.
(Tara's POV)Breakfast has never been as emotional and exciting as this, as I watched Blake, Matthew, and Eric argue like children over a single slice of lemon pie left on the plate. They reminded me of us as we fought over the remaining piece of something on the table, whether a pie or pastry. Victor and Clarice would sneer at me as papa would always take it and give it to me. They would complain how unfair he was to others, but Mama would just laugh and would tell I was the kindest, so I deserved it as a treat.Samantha rolled her eyes, saying she was already full, and Sean seemed not fond of the lemon pie. Even Nana Shea waved her hand as a sign of retreat, telling us she was full as well. My eyes squinted over the pie and the three guys in front of me.“Fine!” Blake said, deciding for the three of them. “Whoever gets the pie first...” He made himself ready, same with Matthew and Eric.
(Tara's POV)When I opened my eyes, I was startled when I realized my head was resting on his lap. Blake was staring at my face, his eyes looked at me adoringly, hoping it was not my imagination while he brushed my hair with his fingers.Did I just fall asleep? I guess I did. I could hear Sean purring and mumbling as he ran around the aisle.“How was your sleep?” He asked, kissing my forehead.“Like a log,” Surprisingly, I slept so deep, with no nightmares, and I was still on the couch. I did not even feel Blake resting my head on his lap.“I’m glad to hear that.” He smiled, still stroking my hair. “Where are they?” I asked and tilted my head to look for Matthew and Eric. Right now, I could only see Samantha clearing up the things she prepared a while ago.“They left already,” He said, helping m
(Blake's POV)I closed my office door to ensure that even if Samantha would scream or curse, Tara and Sean would not hear us from the outside. While in the car, I told her that Tara would spend the two days with me in the penthouse, and she did not need to go to the office for two days. She got to read my message in the parking lot, and she has been giving me looks that say we needed to talk.“What are you talking about?” Samantha snapped at me as soon as the door was closed. She did not bother sitting down. We were just standing by the doorway when she threw me the question.“I already told you, Sam. Tara will stay here until we leave for China,” I repeated, touching my nape with one hand while my other hand was clenched into a fist. I always hated it when she questioned my decision, and this was the first time she disagreed with me. Usually, she and Sean would not go up here when I brou
(Blake's POV)I left Tara exploring the room, and I went to the home bar and hoped to drown myself in liquor tonight, but as I was about to reach the bottle of whiskey, I changed my mind. I don’t want to have another trouble with her tonight.What is happening to me?I scratched my forehead and went to the kitchen. Instead of drinking, I checked on the food she could eat just if she got hungry. I went to my office to pass the time and divert my attention and energy with papers I needed to review. I sat down on my swivel chair, and the sealed brown envelope caught my attention. The familiar logo embedded in the envelope and the tape used to seal it told me it was from Matthew. Printed on top of it where the word - ConfidentialWhat else is there to know when she told me everything? I placed it back to the top of piles of folders and took the next folder. I opened my computer and studied the details i