Looking down at the floor mat, I find Mom’s shoes missing. If Mom isn’t home in an hour, I’ll send her a text. Yet I love the quiet. It’s calming and relaxing, just how I like it.
Taking the steps to my room slowly, I suddenly think about him. Of their own accord, my fingers fiddle with the bracelet he made for me.
Sighing out, I push my bedroom door open.
My mouth drops in shock as a gasp leaves my mouth.
What the heck did I just walk into?
Tears stream down my face as I look at my new setup in my room. Where my queen-size bed used to lie is now a king. The tall bookshelf I used to have against the opposite wall is way bigger. I now have a bookshelf that you see on Pinterest. It wraps around and covers the wall beside it. The rows are filled head to toe with books that I didn’t have before. Book carts are filled, and boxes lie on the floor, filled with my “therapy,” as I like to call it. Thousands of dollars’ worth of books are in my room now. New floating shelves are on my walls. Guess what they’re filled with. Books.
Everywhere I look, I get more emotional. The entire romance section of the bookstore is now in my room. I place a hand to my mouth as I let out a cry. Spotting a note on my new bed, I walk over to it. I sit down and immediately sink down into the cloud. Gripping the note in my hand, I try to read through my thick tears.
Hey, rock star.
I know you don’t like surprises, but surprise! I wrote this note before I left for LA. As you can now tell, I’ve transformed your room into one of your dreams. When I first realized that I loved you, I told myself that I wanted to buy you an entire damn library. I knew that would bring a smile to your face since you love books more than me … just joking—I hope. So, I said fuck it, I bought you a shit-ton of shelves because your room is massive and it can fit them, and I stocked them with different books—but of course, only Romance because I know you hate anything but that. I wish I could see the smile on your face—or maybe your frown. But if I know you as well as I think I do, you might be crying.
I then got you a new bed because I know how much you loved my king. I want you to have the best sleep possible when I’m not around.
I never believed in fairy tales before I met you, but if I had to pick our story, I think we would be Beauty and the Beast. The princess saves the beast, right? And from a source I’ve heard, the beast gave the girl a library.
Thank you for being the beauty in my life. Nothing I could buy or tell you will measure up to how I feel about you.
I love you. Maybe call me before you finish half of the books on the shelves?
Xoxo,
Leonidas
Holding the note that’s handwritten in cursive to my chest, I let out a shaky breath. He’s right. Nothing I could say would measure up to how much I love this guy. I will forever cherish this note like my life depends on it. Placing his beautiful words that resemble poetry in my side table, I pick up my computer to FaceTime him. I don’t care if he sees the tears running down my face. I want him to know how loved he is.
The several packed boxes in my room are the reason the bookstore is empty. He bought me the entire library because he knew that was a dream of mine.
He might think he’s the beast, but he’s truly the beauty in my life.
FIFTY-THREE
LEO
“Buckle your seat belts. We’re taking off in a couple minutes,” the flight attendant in our private jet says while walking past me.
Her voice was muffled due to the earbuds in my ears. But I’m pretty damn talented at reading lips.
Snapping my seat belt on, I rest my head against the headrest and close my eyes. If we weren’t going to Greece, I would be pissed. One, I hate plane rides; two, I’m tired as fuck; and three, being stuck in a plane with the team is terrifying for many reasons that I don’t wish to explain. Yet something I’m not proud of is my dislike toward plane rides. The worst parts are the takeoff and landing. I’d rather have my stomach intact than feeling like I left it below, thank you very much.
My foot bounces on the ground nervously as I think about doing my first show in months. The pressure of making it perfect is making my skin itch. Performing in the country where your roots are is important for people like us. We crave to hear their screams louder than they normally are. They crave to be surprised and see something other countries don’t. I want them to enjoy their night and remember it for a lifetime.
I wish the team had a little more faith in us; they need to realize that we know what we’re doing. I’ve been doing this for years now. I was practically raised singing in front of crowds. They need to have faith in us.
When the engine roars and the ground lightly vibrates, my palms sweat, and I wipe them on my sweatpants. My stomach immediately drops when I feel the plane speed off into the air. Squeezing my eyes tightly, I try to keep my breathing steady. Nothing beats having a panic attack on a plane. Mom told me to chew gum before the takeoff. Apparently, it helps with your ears popping. Add that to the list on why I hate plane rides.
A frown turns down my face when one of my earbuds is ripped out. Looking over, I find Elijah glancing at me with a smirk.
“What?” I grit out.
“Let’s play a game.”
Who does this guy think I am?
