I had believed we were indeed in love, but one of his close friends laughed and said, "Vespera, do you really think Zevian cares about you? He just sees you as nothing more than a nanny."
He gave me a smug, provocative look and added, "We're having a get-together tonight. Do you dare to come and see for yourself?”
That night, I sat in a booth across from Zevian, hoping to prove he truly loved me. But the truth hit hard.
I couldn’t see his face clearly in the dim light, but I saw a girl in skimpy clothes sitting close to him, holding his hand. Zevian didn’t pull away; instead, he clinked his glass with hers like it was nothing.
Fragments of their conversation reached me now and then. One of Zevian's friends teased, “Zevian, where’s your little shadow tonight?”
Zevian’s low and rough voice answered, “She’s a total drag.”
Those words hit me hard and my heart sank.
I suddenly recalled asking him earlier if I could tag along. He chuckled and said, “I’m just meeting up with some friends for drinks. You’re too beautiful; if you come, they’ll start teasing and I don’t like the way they’d stare at you.”