I trace the crease under his blue jewels with my thumb, reveling in the soft flutter of his eyelids and delicate parting of his lips. “Aoi, my beautiful hydrangea, may I kiss you?”
He answers with a soft nod and the heels of his feet lifting off the ground. Closing the gap between us, I part my lips and-
“Mister Lacroix,” Bill interrupts and Aoi jumps away from me, startled and dazed. “Oh, I apologize for the interruption, but three women have inquired about your guest’s whereabouts.”
“I-I should go,” he stammers, flushed and staring everywhere but at me while scratching the back of his nape.
Bill gapes between us and focuses on me before asking, “Am I fired?”
“Yes,” I deadpan, seriously wishing I could fire him for interrupting this special moment with my Paradise.
But I’m not that petty. Bill is a good man and a competent bouncer. Only a moron would fire him over a mistake.
“I’m kidding, obviously. Only Bellami can fire you.”
Aoi chortles under his breath and before he heads back to his friends he says, “I take it back. I hope I remember it all in the morning.”
I flush bright red, grinning as I nod and watch him walk inside. My knees grow weak, and I hold on to the railing for support before I faceplant into the ground.
“You, sir, are in love.”
“Love may be the most magnificent and terrifying feeling I’ve ever known.”
“My wife would advise you to not let the chance pass to be with that man if it’s what you truly want.” He stuffs his fists in his pockets. “If it’s right, it’s right.”
“My heart is tied to his. I intend to keep it that way for eternity.”
He laughs, perhaps thinking I’m being dramatic, but I have never been more serious about anything else.
I want to spend the rest of my life with Aoi.
28
Aoi
This isn’t going anywhere.
What was I thinking? Writing an autobiography on my pathetic existence is harder than I thought it would be, especially since I’ve forgotten a crucial part of my life.
Three years to be exact.
No one wanted to tell me what happened during those three years that my mind wiped out of my memory. I remember passing out in Jason’s arms when he found me bandaging my arm. I guess I had lost a lot of blood that day. More than expected.
I woke up in a hospital, and best believe I couldn’t remember anything before the razor blade cut into my vein. And when I tried, my head began aching agonizingly, so I stopped.
The girls tried to help me reminisce of the past but it was way too painful, and even they didn’t think my memories mattered more than my well-being.
The only one who never even mentioned that forgotten time is Jason. He preferred focusing on the present. I think he was justextremely disappointed in me and refused to acknowledge that I had tried to take my own life so stupidly.
My head is pounding from the gallons we drank last night. I won’t be getting wasted any time soon, especially not with Sally. That woman has the liver of a sailor.
I don’t even want to get started thinking about the time I spent with Andrew last night, because I fear I’m weaker to his charm than I thought.
Sipping on my cup of coffee, I let the jazz music in my earphones inspire me, but nothing comes. I stare at my computer screen, skimming over the last paragraphs I wrote and pondering about the ideal ending, but everything I come up with sounds mediocre at best.
My phone lights up, capturing my attention. My heart picks up the pace and jumps in my ribcage as I grab the device.
Andrew
