Van squealed.
"Gosh keep it down will you?" Rella tried to shush her.
This was not at all what Van had expected to hear but she wasn't surprised either. She had always had a feeling that something like this would happen eventually. Stefan Diamond was a good looking man and Rella was attractive too and they're both red blooded male and female so…
"Wow." was all Van could manage. And then she was demanding to know how it happened… everything. When Rella finished telling her the whole story Van leaned back in her chair.
"If that ain't the most romantic story I've heard in a while." It was heart melting and toe curling but a more serious question would be does Stefan know the whole truth yet? The sullen expression on Rella's face told her what she needed to know.
"It happened so fast. I was gonna tell him, I was prepared I even had a whole essay memorized but then just as I was about to tell him he told me he was in love with me. What was I supposed to do then?"
Van took her friend's hand wishing there was something she could do to help.
"Oh Rella I'm so sorry you have to go through this."
"This isn't how I envisioned my happy ever after you know."
"I know. Damn that evil twin of yours I swear to God when I get my hands on her she's gonna wish she'd never been born."
"For once I have to agree that my mom has a point, I do not owe Cindy a thing." Rella said. " She's the one who lied to me and begged me to take her place then she took off without so much as an explanation only God knows where she is right now. "
" I am inclined to agree with your mom too you do not owe Cindy a thing but Stefan though…"
Rella groaned.
" He deserves to know the truth. The longer you keep him in the dark the harder the blow is going to be. "
" Don't you think I know that? God I'm such an idiot and a coward. I love him so much Van and I don't want to lose him."
Van squeezed her hand. "I know." She said. If anyone understood that feeling of being helplessly in love it was Van. For weeks she'd spent her days pining over Jake, being hopelessly in love with him no matter how many times he was mean to her. She'd given him a chance when he'd asked for it even though she knew that she'd all but given him the power to make or break her and yet one thing is for sure, if Jake feels anything like she does then she equally have the power to make or break him.
"Whatever you decide just know that I'm with you every step of the way."
Rella glanced at Stefan where he stood with Jake and he looked carefree some of that tension on his shoulders was gone but not entirely.
"I'll tell him the truth when I'm ready and when I know that he's equally ready to hear it. However, I don't think this is the right time."
" What do you mean by that? "
" We met a friend of his a few days ago and she mentioned someone named Jenny. I asked Stefan about it and he told me she was just an ex girlfriend but he's been acting strange ever since and get this… last night I received a cryptic note offering me the truth if I was interested."
" What? Do you still have the note? "
Rella fished out a folded piece of paper from her purse and gave it to Van.
"I have the answers you seek."
Van read it out loud. " There's no name of a sender. Have you told Stefan about it?"
"No I figured I'd just ignore it. He'd tell me when he's ready."
" What is that?"
Rella all but froze in her seat at the sound of Stefan's voice and the sight of him towering over them suddenly.
When did he get here?
Rella threw a panicked glance at Van who was still holding the mysterious note.
"Nothing, just a list of things I would like to do while I'm here. It's not often one gets to have a vacation in such a stunning island." Van said squeezing the paper in her hand.
"Can I see it, so I can try my best to help you achieve it?" Jake joined in.
"You'll have to earn that privilege first. " Van said slyly.
" You cruel woman."
" Speaking of things to do, I have booked us for lunch at a traditional restaurant I hear the native food is to die for." Stefan said.
And just like that the note was forgotten.