Chain of Hearts (BWWM)

Relocation, Relocation.

"Actually, he had to cancel. It's cool, though, I'll see him in a few weeks, anyway. I can't wait for you to meet him!" she exclaimed and I rolled my eyes.

"You always say that, Mon!"

She smiled brightly at me. "Because you do! You two have so much in common and I just know that you two will get along so well." I mimicked her and she threw a sequinned cushion in my direction. "You wait and see, Asia."

"I hardly doubt I will get along with him, but I'm just saying." I laughed.

"Speaking of boyfriends..." I rolled my eyes, knowing exactly where this was going. As well as the rest of my family, Monica constantly pressured me about getting a boyfriend. I'd only known the girl for over 6 months and yet she had already taken on my family's mannerisms. If I wasn't hearing it from India, I was hearing it from Sydney and if I wasn't hearing it from Sydney's wife then I was hearing it from every cousin, aunt and uncle that I knew. It seemed as if my father was the only one who wasn't too fussed with his 26 year old daughter being single. Sure, he wanted to see me happy at one point, but after the whole Ethan situation, he found it hard to trust any other man that tried it with me. Him and I both.

Leaning on the counter, I fixed Monica with a pointed stare. "Monica!"

She raised her hands innocently. "I'm just saying! I can picture you so much better if you had someone that gave you butterflies, always put a smile on your face and made you feel loved." She got a far off look in her eyes and I knew that she was thinking of her beau. I recognised that look. I'd had that look on my face for 3 years straight before infidelity and lies came and smacked it right off. "Sorry." she blushed.

"No need to be sorry! Love is a beautiful thing. It just doesn't like me that much."

She waved me off. "You haven't been looking hard enough. Listen, I've got this friend at work-." she began and I shook my head vehemently. Blind dates never led to anything productive. "Hear me out, Asia! He's a really nice guy, his name is Paul and he has been single for so long, just like you! I really think you two will get along well, I mean he's white and all but I think you two will click." she added and I couldn't help but laugh.

"You tryna say that I don't like white men?" I giggled, unable to hold it in. She sheepishly looked away briefly before looking at me again.

A half shrug was what she gave me. "I just didn't think you would be attracted to them."

"Oh please, honey, I nearly married a white guy." I shook my head and chuckled again. "'Wouldn't be attracted to them."

She gasped. "What?! You were engaged?"

I blinked and placed my glass down. "Why does that seem so hard to believe? I am capable of loving you know!"

Realising that she had hurt my feelings, she back pedaled. "No, no, I don't mean it like that. I just mean... You have this hard exterior and I just can't believe someone was able to knock that down." I raised my eyebrows. "What happened?"

I looked down. "He cheated on me whilst we were engaged and I found out on my wedding day."

"Oh, I'm so sorry."

I shrugged again. "That was ages ago though and I've moved on."

"Do you still talk to him?"

"Nope. I didn't have any intentions of staying in contact with him after I moved, so I didn't." Monica continued to stare at me with her mouth stretched open and I pushed it close. "You're gonna catch flies, honey." She pushed my hand off and grinned at me.

"So will you go out with Paul tomorrow? One date!"

I sighed. "Blind dates do not-."

"I already told him you'd come!" My eyes widened. "Please don't embarass me! Please, please, please!" I tried to look away from her stormy grey eyes but I caved in with another eye roll.

"Fine."

She squealed and got up to hug me tightly. "You will not regret it! He really is a good guy. I can just picture you guys having a blast!" She pulled herself away from me when her phone started ringing. I looked at the screen and saw 'My Number One' and couldn't help but coo at her cheesiness. "Oh, shut up! You'll be doing that soon with Paul's number!" She placed the phone to her ear and skipped to the sofa. "Hey babe!" Where she found the energy in her 24 year old self, I did not know.

I retreated to my room, set on getting ready to go to the gym. I sat down and opened my drawer to look for my hair tie but then my eyes fell upon the shiny piece of metal in the corner. I reached for it and pulled it out, letting out a breath.

The platinum diamond ring sparkled and I fiddled with it for a minute before shaking my head and shoving it into the back of the drawer. I know, I should have thrown it away ages ago, but everytime I tried, I just couldn't bring myself to. I didn't want to.