Chapter 17 - Saint
Right now, if someonesaid to me there were no second chances in life, I’d laugh in their face and call them fools. Because my second chance just walked out of my classroom, oblivious to her charm or her beauty. An innocent girl who’d unknowingly captured my attention with eyes that glittered with mischief and a seductive lure all in one hue. Blue, the colour that sang to my lust, my soul and my logic like no other.
I stopped listening to Samantha speak, my gaze focused solely on a girl who I didn’t expect to find so quickly. But it looked like fate was playing nice today. After my fuck up at the ritual, it was giving me a chance and I was about to receive it with open arms. Explanations be damned right now.
“Girls, if you’ll excuse me.” I walked away before Samantha uttered another word.
Outside the classroom, I glanced left then right looking for Levana. The name alone was stunning and a uniqueness I hadn’t anticipated. She’d asked me to call her Lee that night. But now I knew the full name, I was glad I’d ignored her request.
Later that afternoon, I stopped over at a store to pick up a few toiletries.
“Hello, Sebastian.” I was at the cologne counter when a familiar voice greeted me yet one I hadn’t heard in ages.
Slowly, I turned. “Dean.” I stared at the man in front of me not sure if I wanted to hug, shake his hand or tell him to fuck off. Just like me, he’d aged, looked taller and bulkier. Unlike me, he smiled.
He held out a hand and I was still hesitant when an unknown force propelled me to accept the gesture. His grip was firm, confident, telling me he’d done well for himself, no longer the nerd who needed protection.
“What brings you to San Francisco,” he asked.
“Work. Family commitments,” my reply sounded staid, boringly polite. He shifted from one foot to the other, his smile turning indecisive, and I decided to cut him some slack. “How’ve you been. Married? Kids?”
“Separated. But blessed with two beautiful girls. You?” Then as if he remembered my history, he held up a hand in apology. “No need to answer that, Sebastian.”
“It’s quite all right. My life is good though. Work keeps me busy, entertained.” I grinned, realizing I was about to have a lot more fun now. It was sad that we were once such good friends that we could talk about practically anything but today, the conversation seemed so awkward between us.
I watched the changing expressions on his face before one settled and I knew what was coming. “Sebastian,” he began, his eyes showing his vulnerability. “I know it’s too late, but I owe you an apology.”
“It’s never too late to say sorry, Dean.” I sighed, picking up the cologne I’d just sniffed and stared at the bottle for a moment. “It’s water under the bridge now. We’ve both moved on, built lives and bound to run in to each other sometime. Seventeen years later, and it finally happened.”
“If my apology is accepted and you feel up to it, maybe you’d like to come over for dinner tomorrow night? Meet the family. Share a drink or two?” His offer was genuine, no fake attempt to be my friend again.
I nodded. “Sure. Text me the address and I’ll let you know if I have anything planned.” Fishing out my wallet, I handed him a card.
“Professor of Archaeology,” he read the card. “Nice. Still chasing skeletons then?”
I laughed at the private joke we’d shared in high school. “Something like that.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then, if you can make it.” He held out his hand.
After a quick shake, I watched him walk away and surprised at myself that I hadn’t reacted with the malice I’d felt, when he tore our friendship to pieces back in high school. Then I remembered he was only partially to blame. I couldn’t help wondering if he’d married Cassandra, the woman that actually came between us.
