Chapter 9 - Lovers Lost





"Hi, Sexy. How was work today?" Nina has asked Don to come over
earlier as she has been feeling him distancing himself away from her.

"Alright. I'm a little tired though."





"Ah, I know just what to do to make you feel refreshed, baby. Have a
seat," says Nina. She pulls herself closer to Don. "My sister is staying at
Mortimer's tonight. He asked him to marry her so she's probably moving
in with him soon. Anyways, we have the whole house to ourselves."


"Nina," Don pulls himself back.





"What's wrong?"

"I'm getting married in two days."

"So? That never stops you before," Nina resumes.

"So, we can't keep seeing each other anymore, Nina.
It's too risky and it's not fair to Cassandra."





"What? Not fair for Cassandra? You can't be serious. Is this Don Lothario
talking?" Nina raises her voice, surprised. "You've been hooking up with
me – and I'm pretty sure a whole bunch of other girls, too. You're
suddenly gonna go straight edge because you’re getting married?"

"It's not like that. You have to understand…"

"Understand what? That you're a hypocritical jerk?"





"Nina…" Don sighs.

"Look Don, I know you feel like you have to get married to this girl because
you feel responsible for her mother’s disappearance but you don’t love her."

"You don't know that. I do love her. That's the reason I'm marrying Cassandra."

"No. You don't, Don. You want to love her. You're trying. I'll give you credit
for that. But you don't love her." She pauses. "You love someone else."

"And who is that?" Don blurted.





"Me," Nina lowers her voice, exhausted. "You love me, Don."





Don pauses for what seems like an eternity, "Nina, we have to end
this. You know damn well that we can't be together. I thought we
agreed that it's only physical."

"And it is only physical! I don't want to marry you, Don. But you're my best friend.
I don't care if you're gonna spend the rest of your life with her. We can still see each other."





"No, we have to grow up now, Nina. The best thing for everybody
right now is for me to be faithful to Cassandra and for you to move on.
You deserve better than what I can give you." Don suddenly becomes
aware of the time, "Look, Cassandra is gonna be home any minute
now. I have to go. We’ll talk about this later, okay?"





"No. No, we won't. You're right. I deserve better than you," says Nina,
finally pushed to her breaking point. "Just don't come crawling to me
when you realize you’re not getting what you want from her. I'm not
gonna be there for you anymore."





"It's over Don. Get out of my house."





As much as he wanted Nina, he has made a promise to Bella to take care of
Cassandra. Under the vanished socialite's love spell, Don stands perfectly
still as he stares at yet another woman he loves disappear from his life.
All he could do is think to himself, "What have I done?"
________________________________________

Thank you so much for reading!