Chapter 3: Victoria Nelson

She grew to be a beautiful woman. Victoria was stunning as a little girl too, I remember really well, but now, it's as if she has entered a completely new term of pretty.

After a few moments of staring at her beauty, I had to look away so I wouldn't embarrass myself. Or worse. Lydia could have seen me and the next thing happening is her chopping off my balls. And I want my balls where they are right now.

"I'm serious. She's very.. spicy. ", he rolls his eyes.

"Spicy?", I laugh. "You couldn't think of anything better? "

"You know what I meant.", Colton huffs. "I want her to have a nice time with all my heart but I didn't even know she was coming. Plus, I'd like it if all my other guests had a great time without her making them wish they haven't come. That's why I want her away from everyone. I just know she will end up shagging someone in the bathroom or her hotel room. "

"She can't be.. But she was so cute and quiet when we were little, always reading those books of hers. What in the world happened? "

Quietness occurs between us.

"Isn't Lydia the jealous type? ", Colton's eyes meet mines. I shrug.

"I don't think so.. I have no idea. She was never tested in that way. I always kept the line between me and other women."

"Would you want to test her? You know, just in case. If a woman isn't jealous, she's not truly in love. They say love is pure without any ill feelings but if you ask me, love's poison. It consumes you until you no longer have a sense of self. ", my buddy takes a sip of his wine.

"I'm not really sure it's the poison, you know? I've never looked at it from your perspective."

"Well maybe you need to start seeing it that way. Have you ever been truly in love? "

"You mean all the girls that were with me because of the money while having a secret boyfriend?", I let out a brief laugh. "I wouldn't exactly call that a proper relationship, you know."

"Being rich is a curse. But what about Naomi?", he brings her up to my surprise.

My mood immediately lowers the instant he speaks her name. I wish to never recall that girl again. She only brings bad memories. I slowly shake my head affirming it, but that's as far as my persuasion goes.

He shakes his head and gets off the topic."Do you think Lydia loves you?"

"I don't know. She never told me she does. Neither have I shared my feelings with her. She's witty, smart, good in bed and all that but.. ", I hesitate.

"But what?"

"I'm not really sure if she's the right one. ", I say in a low voice, praying that the words haven't traveled to my girlfriend's ears. "I feel like I still haven't opened up to any woman's heart, after all this time."

"I knew Kate and I were a real match after a month or two of relationship. It just felt different with her."

"Different how? "

Colton looks at me with a hint of amusement in his eyes."You don't want me to go on and on about that. It's gonna be pathetic."

"You are right. ", I smile.

"It just clicks when the right one comes, that small switch you don't even know you have in your head."

My eyes wander to the tattooed girl holding a small flower in her hand. She takes her phone out of her purse and types for a few seconds before putting it back in. My gaze falls on her drawn skin and the way tattoos somehow fit her. That red lipstick gives away an impression of power and independence. Her chest and chin is up high, back straight and shoulders in no way slumped. She's mind blowing. She's fire.

The white dress makes her look like an angel though, despite the marks and the blackness she uses as a shield. Maybe she's ashamed of her body and has decided to cover it up with tattoos? I don't know. Why do these theories come to me? I shouldn't be thinking about Victoria Nelson's tattoos. I'm mental. It's been too long since we last saw each other. It's rude to openly stare at her like this.

The girl stands still and notices bright gray eyes of an older lady judging her. I bite my lip, preventing myself from rushing up to the lady and telling her to fuck off. I don't know why I'm suddenly so defensive but people shouldn't judge others based on their looks. Within seconds, I see Victoria raising her hand and shamelessly giving her a middle finger. The old scumbag seems shocked as she turns away and clings to her husband's arm. I immediately begin to laugh and Colton shoots me a glare. Her hand lowers and dark brown eyes meet mines from a few feet away. Breath gets stuck in my throat and I shut my mouth. Seriously Ian. Laughing at an old friend at your best friend's wedding. What a sophisticated move.

Red as love, her plump lips pull up in a small smirk before she slowly approaches me and Colton. Holy shit. No, no.

"Hey, bro. ", she nods towards her cousin.

"I didn't know you'd show.", Colton bitterly says.

Victoria chuckles. "Couldn't miss an opportunity to get a good dessert, yeah?"

They keep an eye contact for a second before my best friend grins widely at her.

"Coming to a wedding to eat the cake and scare away the guests, that's my sis. ", he wraps her in a tight hug and she rolls her eyes and tries pushing him away."Ah, no, no. It's my wedding and I deserve a small hug."

"Small? You're breaking my ribs. ", she remarks but hugs him briefly before pulling away.

Brown eyes meet mines and I give a small smile, trying not to be impolite or stare down her arms.

"Ah. Ian Adams.", she mutters. My eyes widen.

"You remember me? "

"Yes.", Victoria purses her lips. "Preschool, I came to Colton's place and you were there. You were eating nachos and I asked if I could have some. You said yes and I ate everything from the bag, not leaving you a crumb."

My eyes widen as I take it in. She's the little Victoria I chased around the house because of my eaten nachos and she's the little Victoria I played hide and seek with along with Colton almost every single day since we met. Just now it sinks in, now that she stands in my presence.

I'd always remember the look in her eyes.

Victoria used to always bring out different kinds of emotions from me. I admired her very much when we were little. We hung out for long few years before parting ways. She was my one and only childhood crush. And a strong one.

"Oh my God. ", I blink."It's really you?"

Victoria rolls her eyes and crosses her arms on her chest. "What? A girl gets a few tattoos, a new attitude and grows up a little and suddenly you don't recognize her?"

"No, I didn't mean it like that. I.. "

"Typical rich boy. You've grown into a quite forgetful man, Ian. Nice talking to you guys. I'm going to go for the barbecue now.", she nods towards Colton and rushes away. I stand there with my mouth half open.

How couldn't I pull myself together?

"Is she offended? I didn't mean to. ", I turn to my blue eyed friend. He shakes his head.

"She's always offended. Get used to it."

"You rented her a room? ", I look up at the huge hotel we are in front of.

"Yeah. She's my cousin after all. She lives in New York though."

"College? ", I push.

"... Ours. "

"Oh God. Good, we are colleagues now, that's what you're trying to say? NYU? "

"Why are you so surprised? Just let her be. Don't care. Hate to break it to you, but she didn't take the events from a few years ago very well.", he shakes his head. I gulp.

"What events? "

"I am giving you the answer to you question of what happened to her personality. Remember when I told you my aunt died?", I nod at his question. "Well, she was Victoria's mother."

When we were little, I was obsessed with that girl. I clearly remember. I was devastated from her sudden disappearance at age twelve.

I've never confessed my long time crush on her.. I was always fascinated with her for some reason. God, help. It's funny when I look at it from this perspective.

I never knew the reason to her sudden disappearance. I might as well find out.