Grabbing his hand, I guide him through the crowd to distract him from his incredibly inconvenient question. Aoi’s attention is pulled from me when he catches sight of a huge stack of old books.
“I can’t believe they have ‘The Tenant of Windell Hall’.” He picks up the book and skims through the pages with a smile, glancing at other books while grabbing them, too, and creating a pile in his arms. “I already have a copy at home, but it’s with my uncle and there’s no way I’ll ask him to send it to my hotel. Oh, look! I love ‘Wives and Daughters’. Have you read it?”
“I haven’t yet. What is it about?” I ask and almost melt from the excitement in his voice when he explains its plot.
I nod along as he tells me everything about each book he picks up and my cheeks almost ache from the smile on my face.
God, he’s so adorable when he’s excited. I wish I could see him this happy all the time.
A strand of hair falls over his eye, and I instinctively reach to brush it away, listening attentively, but he stops when he focuses on my gesture. “Keep talking. I love to hear you speak.”
A soft blush coats his cheeks as he chuckles nervously and pulls out his wallet. “I-I’ll go pay for these.”
“Don’t even.”
The elder woman at the stand glances between us and I unlock my phone to pay. Aoi grabs my arm and shakes his head. “No, Andrew. I’ll pay.”
Smiling down at the epitome of beauty he is, I push his hand away. “I invited you. Please, don’t try to pay for anything today or I might get mad.”
“Then let me pay next time.”
Next time. I love it when he says that.
I grin as the elder woman rings me up and puts the books in a bag before handing it to Aoi who politely thanks her. We resume our walk through the busy flea market, enjoying the sun that shines brightly, reminding us that summer is right around the corner.
A strange looking doll grabs Aoi’s attention, and he points at it, a surprised yet delighted gasp slipping past his lips.
“My sister used to have one like this,” he says picking up the doll and turning it over, analyzing its dress and the ribbons in its hair.
Oh. Oh.
“Maia used to be very femininely dressed but she was the biggest brat in history. I loved that about her. Despite acting like she was ‘too old’ for toys, she adored this kind of dolls. Used to force me to play with her when we were kids.” He smiles melancholically and glances at me. “She was one hell of a feisty girl and gutsier than I will ever be.”
I nod and smile at the doll. “She sounds amazing.”
“That’s an understatement.” He chuckles and sets the doll back down in its rightful place. “I wonder whether the dead can see us from wherever they are. Maybe my family has been watching me until now. Or not. Forget it, I’m rambling.”
“I don’t believe in God, but if heaven exists I’m sure they’ve been watching you from above and are very proud of you.”
He rewards me with a smile that I wish I could gobble up and keep in my heart forever. But that smile falters when he glances at his left arm.
“I doubt it.”
I force myself to smile then I kiss his cheek, hoping to distract him from his negative thoughts. Aoi deserves the world and all the joy in existence which I intend to give him.
His cheeks flush, eyes widening. “What was that for?”
“I couldn’t help it. You’re just too damn cute.” I bite my bottom lip as he playfully rolls his eyes and nudges my rib.
“Should we have lunch?”
“What do you want to eat?”
Personally, I want him on a silver platter coated in melted chocolate. Maybe one day.
“Can I choose anything?”
“Whatever you want.”
