’Ava! What are you doing?’ Ava had asked herself the sa question while expressing an equal level of disappointnt in herself. She knew Shelby enough to know that once Shelby had moved on in life, Royston would never enter Shelby’s mind space.
Ava also knew that the only way to get Royston off both of their backs was to arrange this very eting. Ava convinced herself that if there had been another way, then she would have done the sa. She knew Shelby and the children would pass by her set-up that day and had, therefore, texted Royston with those specifics.
If there had been no Ian, Ava knew for a fact that Royston would have succeeded in wooing Shelby in the end, but Ian was just too high up the rankings for Royston to stand a chance, and Ava needed Royston to understand that fact.
So, hearing Shelby’s words, Ava closed her eyes tightly,
’I don’t like myself at this mont either....’ She thought to herself and could not help but let her mind drift back to when they first t Royston years prior. Royston had always remained the gentleman, which was the only reason Ava rooted for him. He was unlike the other n who couldn’t keep their dick in their pants around Shelby.
Ava could see the struggle in the young man as he tried to stay true to his cause because Shelby’s natural charm was no joke. However, Royston knew what he was after at that ti. He was not looking for one-ti gratifications.
Royston could be seen to have genuinely cared for Shelby in all ways. He had been their silent protector to her. It’s too bad that he had not been the ’one’ and had never been able to touch Shelby even once! How could a relationship progress in situations like that? Maybe this was what had touched Ava’s heartstrings for her to agree to the arrangent proposed by Royston.
"I’m sorry-" Ava made a pleading gesture, desperate to make Shelby understand where she was coming from with this.
Royston, on the other hand, trembled with excitent when he received Ava’s text ssage that morning. The day he had longed for was finally there. He had gone through a lot of hoops to make that happen.
’It’ll all be worth it in the end!’ He convinced himself.
He chose an outfit that he felt was just right for the occasion. Royston knew that Shelby would never shun him for his financial state, but he had still bought himself a new pair of jeans and a T-shirt.
It was not a debatable fact that no one ca close to Ian in terms of money and influence, but Royston believed that there was a place for everyone in this life. He took one last look at himself in his mirror and then set off towards the location that Ava had given. However, not before he sent a text to an unknown number. Royston did not check the reply because the person would act as they had agreed anyway.
He got to the place in record ti. Looking at the tall building in front of him, Royston’s steps faltered,
’I can’t compare to him....’ His subconscious mind ward him about Ian, but Royston knew that Shelby had not liked him in the past for his worth or money. Hanging on to the hope, he took a deep breath and steeled himself.
’I am not and will never compare myself to him. That would be too ridiculous. She likes for who I am and nothing else. It’s just-’
Royston paused in his thoughts and peered through the glass that separated him from his crush and love.
’We never had a chance because we could not touch each other. I am sure Shelby was as frustrated about that as I was. I know she did not like this marriage from the start and was only being modest with initially. I must fight for my love. Being timid will get nowhere!’,
Even after all the encouragent, Royston couldn’t muster the courage to step into the Thornston set-up hall. It took him a while, but after seeing Shelby from afar, he smiled, relaxed, and walked in.
He approached the pair and arrived just in ti to hear their final statents.
He scratched his head and then cleared his throat,
"Shelby! What a coincidence!" Shelby turned to look at her crush and wondered what she had liked about him initially. With Ian around, every male species seed too ordinary and not worth her ti. Ian had overshadowed every man around her, and her every waking mont was filled with him with no chance for any other at all.
Royston’s green t-shirt stretched across his chest muscles, revealing more than he may have wanted to. The females around could not stop ogling the man, who now looked like a recent military discharge. However, Shelby did not see any of that.
She glared at Ava and then turned back to Royston. She knew this was no coincidence, and the other two knew this! Shelby decided to play along and find out what Royston wanted.
It was at that ti that she realized that she was not as smitten with him as she was so ti back.
He was a nice young man and that was it. In fact, Shelby could not even rember the ti that she had a crush on him or how that crush felt. It felt like two lifetis ago. Despite this, Shelby knew that Royston had been there for her so ti back, and therefore, she smiled at him.
"Hi Royston! It’s been a while...."
Royston smiled back, and a sigh left him, making him more relaxed. He had not been aware that he had been holding a breath at all. Royston was as nervous as could be.
"Errmmmm...."
Ava started and stood up from her seat.
"I’ll leave the two of you to catch up while I attend to the custors around."
Ava didn’t let Shelby speak a word; she was gone in a flash.
Shelby sighed and then gestured to the seat opposite her on the other side of the circular table, not the one Ava had just vacated by her side. Royston felt alienated but still complied.
Royston nodded and sat down,
"Yes, it’s been a while, Shelby... How- I an, h-ow have you been?"
"Can’t complain."
"I’m glad." He nodded and then sat fidgeting for a while.
"You look a little tired. Try to get so rest alongside what you do, Royston." Shelby said as she noted the fine lines around his eyes. It looked like life was taking its toll on him. Shelby studied him across the table, feeling slightly sorry for him, but she had never really led Royston on.
Once upon a ti, she would have tried to make their relationship work, but with her husband in the picture, she did not even want to do anything. Shelby’s bond with her husband was one that normal humans, including herself, could not understand well. Heck, even the Faes themselves would have a hard ti understanding what that bond is and the extent to which they were connected. She finally broke the silence,
"Ava tells that you wanted to talk?"
Royston lowered his head, flushing at the fact that his lie had been seen through.
"I-"
"Royston, sorry to cut you short. I- I am sorry if I led you on in any way. I thought that I had made it clear when we t a few weeks ago that I was married and happy, so I do not want you to waste your ti on . You are a handso young man with the right future ahead of you. Take a look around..."
Shelby gestured around, and Royston, still trying to mask the pain and preventing himself from wearing his emotions on his sleeve, looked around.
"All these girls want to fawn on you. You will find the one.... But that person is not . I am really sorry...."
Shelby rattled the words out in all seriousness and looked on at him. There were indeed many girls who were throwing looks his way and jealous ones at Shelby.
Royston remained quiet for a bit as if arguing with himself and then said,
"You’re wrong, Shelby.... I did not co here for that."
"I am?"
Shelby widened her eyes, oblivious that Royston’s heart was racing at the lie he had said.
"Then why?"
His phone dinged then, and then, reading the text, Royston brightened.
"I wanted you to et a distant cousin of mine...."
Shelby’s frown got deeper. She had never t any of Royston’s family and had never needed that, even when they liked each other. Why would she need to et his family when they had nothing to do with each other? That did not make sense one bit, and Shelby did not believe it, but she wanted to play along, just to see where that would take them.
"I-"
"Please? Shelby? She really wanted to et you even after I explained that you were already married, I-"
"Fine! Where is this cousin of yours? Is the person here today?"
Royston brightened and smiled widely.
"She just texted that she was around. Can I tell her to co here?"
Shelby nodded and then gestured towards one of Ava’s workers. She made an order for cold tea and another tray of snacks to be brought to their table.
Soon, a pretty-looking girl approached their table, and Royston stood up to et her halfway.
He led the girl back to the table, and Shelby gestured towards the empty seat by her.
Royston made all the introductions, but Shelby noted that Royston did not use nas, so she beca the ’friend’ and the new girl the ’cousin’.
The girl, who looked barely twenty years old, stretched her slender arm to Shelby.
"Nice to et you."
Shelby let out an involuntary shudder as she took the girl’s hand. She only noted the tree-shaped tattoo on the back of her hand.
*********
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