I swallow thickly, finding it hard to speak. “It’s funny,” I say, clearing my throat. “When I look at her, I see so much of you and Gabriel.” I drag my finger across Ana’s beaming face. “She has your strength, Elijah, and your serious eyes.” I sniffle, staring down at those striking green eyes. They’re so intense. Just like Elijah’s.
“Funny thing is… I see so much of Gabriel too. She gives off that laid-back vibe; you know, just like he does. Like nothing in this world bothers them. They’re both so witty and wild, carefree and charming. I could go on and on. And, just look at her smile, Elijah. There’s so much love lining those happy lips. She’s so full of life… exactly like him… and you.”
I continue outlining Ana’s pretty smile, serious eyes, happy face. Tears push at the back of my eyes, but I fight them back. “There’s nothing of me there, Elijah.Nothing. She’s a perfect combination of you and Gabriel.”
“Alex…” he murmurs, attempting to disrupt my circus of thoughts… but I’m not done yet. I hold up my hand.
“I’m a simple person, Elijah. Always have been. All I ever wanted was a simple life. Meera was the complete opposite. Complicated. Living in a world of mazes—like her drawings, I guess. So many pathways to choose from in her journey through life... but never having a destination; no place to lay down roots. I lost her because I couldn’t follow her, Elijah. Nobody could.”
Finally, I look up, but he remains quiet, allowing me time to find a way out of my frenzied thoughts.
I place their family photo back down on the table and reach for Elijah’s hands. He pulls me to him… kisses my forehead, offering me the same love that he gave to Gabriel when he had to face his own demons… the same love that he’s always given to Ana. It’s a shared love between the three of them—a bond I have no right, nor intention, of breaking.
Even though he draws me in every time I look into those mysterious eyes. The very same ones that swept me off my feet the first night I met him at Bourbon Bar.
He captivated me that night… made me feel something I hadn’t felt in such a long time—special.
And I rode that feeling like a high. Immersed myself in his love.
Hell, I fucking drowned myself in it.
He still makes me feel special.
Still captivates me.
I’m not new to being held captive. Meera used to captivate me too. Between her gifted hands, ability to speak both English and French, rich tones of olive skin, and exotic features, she hadeverythinggoing on. And I fell hard. But if I’m being honest, it was those mismatched green eyes that lured me in. Never had I seen such striking eyes before. You couldn’t help but stare, oscillate back and forth, trying to decide which pattern of green was prettier. And the longer you stared, the more engrossed you became until you were lost.
Her mind was that way too; a close second to her eyes. Intriguing but more complicated. Someone once told me that artists can be that way—complicated. Which is why I never put too much effort into unravelingthe mystery of Meera.I was fine with the complicated version. I liked it. Happened to love it, actually. She aroused me in so many ways.
But never in the way Elijah has—not even close. He sets me ablaze.
I drop my head to his shoulder as I continue to run through my thoughts.
I blame her eyes. As stunning as they were, they’d also been a distraction. I suspect that’s what happened to Gabriel too. Once she locked him in, he couldn’t turn away; he became so captivated by those conflicting shades of green that he stepped right into her weathered world without even blinking. That’s just how it was with Meera. You became blinded by her beauty.
So yeah, I blame her eyes.
But Gabriel was hit with a triple-threat. Beauty aside, and also ignoring the fact that she was an extremely gifted artist, Meera held the winning ticket to his heart—an unwanted pregnancy. He was a goner. Fell hook, line, and sinker. It’s sadto think he stood no chance of escaping her manipulation. With the promise of a baby, she’d sent his mind into a free-for-all, obliterating all common sense. The sad thing is that I honestly believe he cared for her. Thought of her as a friend and truly wanted to help her. Granted, he got a child out of the deal, but that aside, Gabriel is a decent person, and I don’t believe he entered into the friendship with bad intentions. Unfortunately, he got played.
Never even saw it coming—the pivot in her brain, upheaval in their friendship, theblackmail.It was all so well-orchestrated. And it’s also unforgivable. For Christ’s sake, Istillcan’t make sense of it. I’m baffled by her behavior. But it doesn’t matter; in the end, she destroyed a beautiful marriage, a happy family that should have never been separated to begin with. She took advantage of his kindness. But there’s one thing she couldn’t destroy—theirlove. Physically, they may have parted ways, but emotionally, she failed miserably at severing that tight bond they shared. Their love for one another—Ana included—it’s always been unbreakable.
Still is.
And that’s why I can’t allow anything to come between them again—not even myself.
It’s obvious Gabriel is still so deeply in love with Elijah. Jesus, he still hasstarsin his eyes when he looks at him—Ana too.Thatis what makes them shine.
His intention hadn’t been to break his vows, to walk away from his husband and daughter. It had been to protect them; to shield the people he loved from any harm and wrongdoing.
And Elijah?
My god, Elijah.
He’d kept that flame burning all along. Settled for their love to stretch across oceans, holding onto the hope that someday… his family would come back together again.
For fuck’s sake, Gabriel had fallen victim to his so-called friend.
And he played the hand he was dealt the only way he knew how to ensure the safety of his family.
