When I returnedto Manhattan three days later, all the memories came flooding back as soon as I stepped through the door. I sighed heavily as I set my bag down. Part of me wished I was coming home to a dog or something, anything other than the empty penthouse.
Terrible idea. You destroy anything you love.
But maybe Lexi was right and I should buy some more furniture.
I wondered if she’d been there while I’d been gone. I closed my eyes and breathed in, wondering if I could taste her, the faint smell of salt, sand, citrus, and sunshine.
Well, I smelled the citrus.
The basket of oranges was sitting on the counter. I unpacked them, wondering if they were rotten. But the fruit was perfectly ripe; the smell of citrus flooded the kitchen.
I picked up the note on top of the oranges, frowning, and flipped it over.
To Grayson, it said in Lexi’s loopy cursive. She’d gone with a sparkly orange pen this time.
I’m sorry. Please enjoy these oranges sent all the way from Dudley Grove from my family’s orchard. Hope this taste of Florida sunshine chases off all the very unpositive, uncharitable vibes from me.
*Heart* Lexi
I picked up an orange and peeled it. The juice ran over my fingers as I pried off a segment and took a bite, and the sweet citrus flavor exploded in my mouth. It was the most amazing thing I’d ever eaten. I didn’t think I would ever be able to eat another orange after that. It was like eating pure sunshine, and it tasted like what I imagined kissing Lexi might taste like.
You can’t think about that.
Except that I could easily.
I could imagine her mouth as plump as the fruit from her home state, how sweet she’d taste as I run my tongue over her lips.
Dangerous territory.
But kissing Lexi didn’t feel dangerous as I closed my eyes and imagined it. It felt like salvation.
I finished off the fruit and washed my hands. The scent still lingered.
I should answer emails, work out, or go into the office, but all I wanted to do was be with her.
I grabbed two oranges then my keys, with only a half-baked excuse formed for what I was going to say when I showed up at her apartment building.
But I didn’t make it that far. I saw Lexi about halfway on the drive to her building, walking in the opposite direction. I circled the block then pulled up beside her and rolled down the window.
“Lexi.”
She ignored me.
“Lexi, get in,” I begged.
She turned her head slightly, pursed her mouth, then kept walking.
“Lexi, I’m sorry,” I called. “Can you please just get in the car?”
“Ooh, no can do. See, my crazy, paranoid, aggressive boss doesn’t let me take rides from strangers.”
“He sounds like a real asshole,” I said, driving slowly to keep pace with her.
“You need to watch the road,” she told me.
I cursed as I almost hit an Amazon delivery truck.
“Lexi, can we please talk?”
