“Thanks for the support, buddy.” I clip him around the back of his head.
“Look, you’re my best mate. If I don’t say it, no one will.”
I inhale heavily, waiting for his blow.
“You’ve got to get your head out of your ass.” He turns to face me, my eyes tracing his. “She’s a good girl, look how you regretted breaking up with Anaïs. Do you really want to feel like that again?”
His words sit with me for a moment. Problem is, my feelings for Anaïs were minuscule compared to how I feel about Athena. That’s my struggle. I have never felt like this; it’s scary and confusing and in my state of frenzy, I push away. I know that.
But I can’t seem to stay away from her, even if I wanted to. I’m drawn to her. Like a gravitational pull that I have no control over.
My apartment feels empty. Her smell lingers and I find myself chasing it just to get my fix.
Fuck.
“I know you don’t like hearing it, but she’s been the making of you. You have this new shiny reputation; do you want to screw it up again?” he asks me.
I drag my eyes down to the bag that I am holding. I have made it my mission to collect these silly snow globes for her because she deserves them. She shouldn’t be buying them herself. My chest tightens.
“Plus, not to mention how well you’ve been doing since she has been around. Maybe she’s your lucky charm.”
His words hit a nerve, and I narrow my gaze on him, trying to understand what the hell is
going on.
“You’ve fallen for her, mate, no point fighting it.” He shrugs, a lopsided smile on his stupid face and my eyes follow him as he walks towards the queue.
I hate that he’s right.
A few people recognise Kai and reluctantly, I follow. I don’t want her seeing him and thinking that I didn’t show for her. The chatter grows, people turning to ask for autographs and photos, but I shut them down.
“Sorry, I’m not Royce the F1 driver today.” I give a wide smile. “I’m Royce, boyfriend of Opal Bloom.” I give them a wink, watching the way their expressions soften, almost swooning at my words. After reading it in her books, now I kind of get it.
“Good man,” Kai mutters, clapping me on the shoulder as he pushes me forward towards the door.
It doesn’t take me long to spot her, and for a moment, I stand in the open doorway and watch her. She’s in her element, smiling and chatting to the readers. A small team is behind her consisting of Rue, Nora, Anaïs and I am assuming Edel. They’re packing and passing Athena new books to sign, whilst making sure everyone gets ample time with the lady of the hour.
There is a glisten in her eyes that I haven’t seen before. She looks happy and I know this is what she was meant to do. All that self-doubt and worry she speaks off, but I see none of that when I am looking at her now.
Fuck, she’s pretty.
Her eyes catch mine from across the room, her lips parting then closing, then her cheeks turn pink. Winking, she smiles back and I know I am done for.
How the fuck am I meant to stay away from her? One night and I had a panic attack at the thought of being alone. And the issue was not even being alone. It was being withouther. The girl who has made me doubt every other relationship I have had. Sure, Anaïs was my only serious one, but even with her I didn’t feel like this.
Nora waves me over, giving me a‘what the fuck are you doing’look and I smirk, strolling across the room. The chatter falls quiet.
“Hey you.” My voice is a soft croon.
She looks surprised to see me, like she wasn’t sure if I would come or not. “Hey,” she whispers, her beautiful ambers locked on mine.
“Will you sign my book?” A boyish grin teases my lips, and I watch as she gives me a tooth-baring grin, her dimples pressed into her cheeks.
Slipping it out of the bag, I delicately place it on the table then lower the bag to my feet. I can hear the light chatter. the sounds of photos being taken, but I don’t care. I am too lost in the moment with her. The noise simply slips away, the people fade into the background, and it’s just me and her again.
She opens the cover and signs the front page, slowly sliding it across to me.
“Thank you.” Picking it up, I hold onto it.
