Present

Jason

"So, how 'bout it, man. You're the last golden boy standing, according to the latest gossip on those stupid magazines," Marco said as he wrapped his arms around his wife who just gave birth to their first child, a couple weeks ago. "They're saying you're next in line to lose the title."

I snorted. "Please. I like my life the way it is. Just because you and Massimo shed your title and reputation, doesn't mean I will! I'm happy to be known as the Golden One," I said with a smirk.

Our other best friend, Massimo - who also happens to be Marco's wife Ellie's older brother, is also happily married for a year now, and is a father to 4 year old Lia, and 3 month old twins, Damien and Isabella.

Massimo's story is a little more complicated than Marco's. Mass's
first wife - Lia's biological mom, died of childbirth. Massimo loved his wife, Cassie very much and when he lost her, he was never the same. His daughter Lia saved him from drowning in his pain and grief. We all thought that he was never going to be able to fully move on from what happened and find happiness again. But I guess, destiny has a different plan for him.

Massimo met and fell in love with Ara, when he hired her as a nanny for his daughter. It didn't come easy for the two of them. Mass had a lot of guilt and ghost from the past and he almost lost Ara because of that. But thankfully, they were able to deal with their problems and move on. Now over a year later, they are happily married.

She was his miracle. She brought him back to life and for that, I will always be grateful to her. Massimo is not just my best friend. He's like a brother to me. He deserved all the happiness in the world and I'm glad that he was able to find that again.

"Hey, trust me, there is nothing better than coming home to your wife and kid. I never thought how empty my life was before Ellie, and Alejandro," he said, breaking through my thoughts, while kissing Ellie on her temple.

Envy hit me, and I try to push it aside; but then Zarah's words replayed in my head.

"I feel sorry for you. You're right. You can have any girl you want, but at the end of the day your life is empty. You go home to an empty house and sleep on an empty bed," she said.

I can still see the pain in her eyes when she said those words to me... Who am I kidding? I remember everything about that night.

There is not a day that goes by that I didn't think about the night I broke Zarah's heart. My best friend's sister.

I can never get the look on her face out of my head, when I told her that she was just a way of scratching an itch and that she was just a warm body that was available.

I freaked out when she told me she was a virgin. I mean, I guess I should have known. She was so innocent and sweet. So kind and beautiful. I... I guess, I just wasn't thinking clearly.

She told me she loved me that night and there isn't a doubt in my mind that she meant it. She scared the hell out of me when she said those words and I reacted badly. I said some awful and cruel things to her that I didn't even mean. She made me feel things, I haven't felt before and I didn't like it. She made me feel too much. I wasn't ready to feel those things...

"Jason! Jason, man are you okay?" Marco asked breaking through my thoughts.

I shook my head mentally. "Huh? What?"

"Where did you go just then man?"

"Huh? Nothing... I was just thinking," I said.

"What about?" He asked.

"Just something about the office," I lied.

"Yeah... Sure..." He said in a tone that says he doesn't believe a word I was saying. But I didn't dwell on that. I decided to change the subject.

"I must say, Ellie, you look really good for someone who just gave birth a couple weeks ago," I winked at her.

She laughed. "Thanks..."

"Hey! Wife. Mine." Marco growled possessively.

I laughed. "Oh please, we both know the truth. She wants me," I teased. "She just feels sorry for you."

"She's mine, asshole. She only wants me," he said, puffing his chest. "Go find your own woman, and leave mine alone."

Ellie and I laughed. "Play nice, children," Ellie joked.

I laughed harder.

"Here, why don't you hold him," Ellie offered.

"Sure," I said.

The thought of holding a baby doesn't scare me as much is it did before. My first time holding a baby, was when Lia was a week old. She was so tiny, I was so scared of breaking her. But when I held her, she opened her eyes, and looked directly into mine, I fell in love for the first time. I love that little girl, as I do, the twins, and Alejandro.

"He's quite big for being a new born," I said.

Ellie laughed. "9 pounds 2 ounces."

I winced. "Ouch!"

Ellie laughed. "Ouch is too tame of a word. But it was worth it. What people say about giving birth and how you forget about all the pain you went through once you see your baby for the first time. It's true. When I saw him for the first time, all I felt was overwhelming love for our baby. The pain was forgotten. I couldn't wait to hold him."

I smiled.

"You were amazing. And I'm so proud of you princess," Marco said.

"Thanks honey," she grinned.

I fake coughed. "seriously, guys. Can't you last at least spend one minute without making goggly eyes at each other?

"You're just jealous," Marco smirked.

"Look, whatever. I came here to visit my nephew, not to witness you and your wife undress each other with your eyes."

"Jason! Don't say that in front of the baby!" Ellie scolded and I laughed.

"Seriously? He's a baby. I'm pretty sure he has no idea what I just said."

"It doesn't matter," Ellie glared at me.

"Princess, he's right you know," Marco said.

Ellie turned and glared at her husband and I couldn't help but laugh how Marco instantly cowered and surrendered to his wife in defeat.

"What happened to you man? You're pussy whipped!"

"Jason Bradley Henderson! Don't you dare say that word in front of my son!" Ellie scolded, but the twitch on her mouth told me she also found it amusing how she has Marco wrapped around her little finger.

I laughed. "Anyways, I should probably get going. I have to finish up some things at the office."

"Are you sure you can't stay for dinner?" Ellie asked.

"I'd love too, but I really can't. I just really wanted to see this little guy," I said.

Marco came forward and cradled his son back into his arms.

"Oh, by the way, do me a favour, I got this ticket for the opera, opening tomorrow night. A good friend of mine is the writer of the play. Anyways, I was hoping you can go and watch it for me?" Ellie begged me with her puppy dog eyes.

I groaned. I hate the operas. "Ellie..."

"Please," she pleaded. "I just gave birth and I don't think it's a good idea to leave him so soon. And she's a really good friend of mine, I don't want to hurt her feelings. Please, Jason. Please," she begged

"Okay. Okay. Just don't beg. You look like a dog," I joked.

She beamed and ignored my teasing. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you," she said excitedly and hugged me.

"Hey, no hugging!" Marco bellowed.

"What can I say? I'm irresistible," I smirked. "But how come there's only one ticket? Where's Marco's?" I asked confused.

"Oh... Uhm... I... Well she gave that ticket to me a long time ago before Marco and I got together," she said nervously.

What the hell?

She's hiding something.

They both are.

"Hey, didn't you say you have to go back to the office?" Ellie suddenly said changing the subject.

"Castellanos, you're wife is up to something!" I said.

"Who? Me? Little innocent me?" She faked hurt.

"Yes, you. You're forgetting, Ellie. I know your brother and there's a lot of him in you!" I pointed out.

She pouted and scowled.

I laughed and kissed her cheek. "I better go," I said.

"Don't forget. The opera tomorrow," she said.

"I won't. I'll be there I promise."

"Good, I expect a full review."

I gave Marco a clap on the back and bid my goodbye.

Shit. Why did I agree to this again?

"Cause you've grown to love Ellie like a sister, you dummy," I said to myself.

I shook my head and climbed into my car.

"Where to sir?" My driver David asked.

"Back to the office," I said.

"Sir," he said in acknowledgement.

To be honest, I didn't really have a pressing matter at the office that I needed to attend to. I just wanted to leave because I didn't want them to notice that something was up and bothering me. When Marco asked me if I was okay, I knew he was already suspecting something else was up. But I don't want to go home either, because...

"I feel sorry for you. You're right. You can have any girl you want, but at the end of the day your life is empty. You go home to an empty house and sleep at an empty bed."

Zarah's words rang in my head again. And again. And again.

I shook my head. I love my life the way it is, I thought to myself. But even I have trouble believing my words.

Ellie

"You better be right about this, or my sister is going to hate me!" I told Marco. I can't believe he got me to agree about setting them up.

"Princess, they need to talk. They won't be able to move on if they don't settle things between them," he said.

I nodded. "I just don't want my sister to get hurt," I sighed.

Marco wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head.

"I know princess, but this is good for them. They can't just ignore and avoid each other forever."

I nodded. "I hope you're right."