Step-By-Step(65)

Ramona visibly winced, but she wasn't about to be deterred. She was planning on laying it out on the line tonight, once and for all. "I saw the look in your eyes last night Darrien. I'm in love with you and I know you love me back. That's what really matters, we can figure out the rest when the time is right."

She saw his expression soften and breathed a sigh of relief when he placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her close to him. Wrapping her arms around his waist she buried her face in his neck and savoured the deep, spicy scent of his cologne. "I do love you Ramona."

Ramona smiled and gripped on tighter to him. She was overwhelmed with relief to finally hear him admit it.

"As my sister. I love you as my sister, Ramona. That's all."

Ramona froze against him. She felt as though her heart was being ripped from her chest by his words. Deep down she suspected the motive for what he was saying, but the anger took over again. How could he be willing to jeopardize them being together just because of his fear of their parents? Why couldn't he be as willing to fight for them to be together as she was? With tears welling up in her eyes, she pulled away from him and sniffed.

"Fuck you Darrien," she spat, pulling fully from his embrace and rushing over to her car.

Darrien hesitated before attempting to chase after her. At the last moment he lunged after her and grabbed her wrist as she slid into the car. "Wait, Ramona!"

Yanking her arm from his grasp, she glared up at him through tear filled eyes. "If you want something badly enough Darrien, then you fight for it." With that she slammed the door on him, started the engine and tore out of the parking lot. Darrien stood, emotionally torn, watching the taillights of her vehicle disappear into the night.





Chapter 4





It had been close to a month since the incident in the parking lot and Darrien had never been so miserable in his life. He’d avoided Ramona as much as possible, which wasn't all that hard considering she wanted nothing to do with him. The few dinners he was forced to attend at his parents’ house found him and Ramona at each other’s throats worse than they'd ever been before. He'd welcomed the two weeks he'd had to spend in Seoul, South Korea on business.

Now that he was back in California, he was attending a party in which he had no real interest in, but was attending anyhow simply to keep his mind off Ramona. He'd decided to attend because when he wasn't busy he would just think of her and that pained expression on her face when she'd pulled away from him and told him to go fuck himself.

He'd lied to her about how he felt. He had thought it was in the best interests of everyone concerned that he had, but he was now beginning to think he'd been wrong. Very wrong.

I have to make this right. She was right. Darrien pulled his mobile phone from his jacket pocket when he heard the faint sound of laugher, not just any laughter, but her laughter coming from one of the other rooms.

If that wasn't a sign he was supposed to make amends with her and make things right, then he didn't know what was. Setting his beer down on the coffee table he stood and headed in the direction of the laughter. Leaving the living room, he heard her a second time and the sound came from the direction of the kitchen. He hurriedly made his way to her, but stopped dead in his tracks upon entering the room and stared.

He watched as some tall blonde man, who had his back to Darrien, leaned in and kissed Ramona. Not just a short, sweet kiss, but a long passionate kiss that had Darrien's blood boiling. Seeing Ramona with Tiffany was one thing. He knew what that little stunt had been about, but this, this was different.

He was positive she didn't know he was there. He'd just arrived moments before hearing her, so this guy who had his tongue rammed down Ramona's throat - his Ramona - would be someone she actually wanted to be with.

If you want something badly enough Darrien, then you fight for it. Ramona's words rang loudly in his head. "To hell with it, it's for the best anyhow," he muttered under his breath turning away and walking back the way he had come.

Darrien hadn't made it ten feet before he stopped once more. Who said that other joker was the best thing for her? Why shouldn't she have gone to someone else; he'd made it quite clear the night in the parking lot that whatever it was that they’d had was over. While his conscience and good reason screamed for him to keep moving, to leave the party and never look back, he couldn't.

No. He wanted and needed her. Maybe she might not want him back. Maybe she'd call him an asshole and tell him to go fuck himself again, but at least it would be her decision this time - not his.

With his mind made up, he marched into the kitchen and headed straight for Ramona and her 'friend'. He tapped on the man's shoulder, pulling him away from Ramona - his Ramona. "Excuse me, I'd like to speak to my sister privately."