She shakes her head, eyes flickering with a know-it-all smile. “Still the arrogant boy from high school. Some things never change.”
“I’d love to see the view.”
Krystal sits beside me in the taxi. A small hiccup escaping her lips with a girlish giggle following soon after. Bianca begged me to take her home and as far away from the wedding reception as possible. A fight had broken out after Krystal tried to crack onto one of Bianca’s brothers-in-law. Quite comical actually. Throw in a wrestling ring, mud, and some score cards, and it would have made for some amusing entertainment.
“Look, it’s just the harbour—”
“C’mon, Olly, I don’t bite.” Her eyes glint with laughter. “Besides, I need to work off the impending hangover tomorrow. I’m staying at the hotel across from your place.”
With much reluctance, I agree, just to get her off my back.
The taxi driver pulls to the curb of my building and quickly swiping my credit card, I thank him for his service and guide Krystal out of the car.
Walking into the lobby, I smile at Barry, the concierge, then enter the elevator up to the penthouse.
“Bianca said you were comfortable, but this elevator is something.” Krystal hiccups, again. She latches onto my arm for support. “You’re really pretty, Olly.”
“Pretty?” I snort. “You need coffee. Lots of it.”
“Coffee?” She giggles, leaning her head onto my shoulder. “And you smell nice.”
The door opens wide, and upon stepping out, a shadow distracts me.
The mane of curly copper hair catches my attention.
It can’t be her.
You’ve done this a million times—think you’ve seen her.
I dare not move, I can’t even breathe, I’m frozen to the spot. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, it’s loud and disrupting. The hairs on my arms stand to attention as a militia of chills marches down my spine.
This is just my imagination.
The beating becomes louder and louder, it’s intolerable, my breaths are deeper and deeper by the second. The air around me incredibly thick, almost choking.
“Oliver…”
This isn’t happening, not now. Gabriella’s eyes are boring into me, speckles of hazel though darker than I remember. They’ve already clawed into my skin, a parasite quick at work ready to demolish everything I’ve worked so hard to build over the last eleven months.
I’m unable to respond, shocked to see her gaunt figure. Her cheekbones are more prominent, embedded into her pale face. Dark circles surround her eyes. They shadow the normally exuberant orbs which reflect back every time I look into her beautiful face.
Overall, she appears thinner, her arms are skinny in the sleeveless white blouse she’s wearing. She looks terrible, almost sick.
Is she sick?
Fuck, the panic and wild thoughts consume me.
“What are you doing here?”
“I want to talk to you.” Her expression dulls as her gaze shifts to Krystal. “But you’re busy… I see.”
Krystal stumbles forward, sticking out her hand and introducing herself. “Olly and I were about to grab a nightcap.”
Gabriella fumbles with her purse, bowing her head and unable to maintain eye contact with me. “Listen, this was a mistake. Goodbye, Krystal, enjoy your nightcap.”
She repeatedly presses the elevator button as I quietly suggest Krystal go inside my apartment and wait there.
The anger inside of me swirls like a tornado in waiting, ready to unleash without a thought of the consequence. Seeing her again has resurfaced the memories of the pain and humiliation she’s put me through. It burned so bad through every inch of me, like fire lacing my veins, fast and apathetic to the pain it’s causing. I’m riddled by emotions, the unwanted build-up residing in my stomach waiting to be spat out of my mouth in hurtful words.
“What the hell are you doing here? In case you haven’t noticed, I haven’t wanted to talk to you for the past eleven months, and that hasn’t changed.”
Push her away.
Don’t let her crawl in.
Not now, not ever.
“I understand. I just wanted to apologize—”
“You understand?” I raise my voice, a sinister laugh escaping my lips. “It’s a bit too late for apologies. I think it’s best you should leave. Besides, I’ve got someone here, and she’s waiting.”
It’s the thousand knives stabbing straight into her heart I get some satisfaction from.
Payback for what she did to me.
Revenge should feel so good.
Yet, my desire to watch her crumple by my hurtful actions is suddenly shadowed by remorse.
Lowering her head, her neck almost disappears as she stares directly at the floor. “I… ah… I’m sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t have come here.”
As the elevator opens, she steps in, and before it closes, her eyes glance up directly staring into mine. There is so much weight in her stare. The once vivacious and overbearingly annoying girl I had known looks like a former shadow of herself, standing beneath a dark cloud, empty and hollow.
She had always been quick with her wit, the ability to put me in my place when I overstepped the line with careless words. But now, she’s inhibited, as if her voice is no longer hers, her mind is no longer thinking how it used to.
“Goodbye, Oliver.”
The doors close, and once again, she disappears out of my life.
Fuck.
Inside my apartment, I fling myself onto the sofa with my head between my legs ignoring Krystal’s over-the-top commentary about how fancy my apartment is.
I need answers.
No, you fucking don’t.
I scroll through my phone, then remember I deleted her number. I contemplate calling Chance or Aubrey, but something holds me back.
I will go to breakfast tomorrow and ask the burning questions.
Rein in the curiosity.
Open the vault I desperately buried.
Because one thing is racing through my mind and is refusing to settle.
After all the hurt she’s put me through—I still fucking love her.
Oliver
Both Chance and Aubrey have rambled on for a good hour about life back home, work, and my least favorite subject—Pixy.
“The lil’ bugger has been crashing in your room. I’d say he misses ya,” Chance says, cheerily.
He leans back, resting his arm behind Aubrey. The guy looks happy. Even Aubrey appears more relaxed than usual. Her hair looks like it’s been cut, and unlike the time I spent with her in the house, she appears to be wearing makeup which brightens up her normally tired face.
“Say hello for me,” I snicker behind my glass of orange juice.
Beside me, CJ is quietly coloring in a picture the restaurant has given him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this quiet. He’s also grown so much since I last saw him—taller, lost the baby fat around his face, and looking more and more like Chance.