Efflorescence (Sequel)

Efflorescence Nineteen

A/N: 1k reads! Thank you! This story is coming to a close in a chapter or two! Thank you all so much for the love and support you've shown this duo of stories and me. I'm so grateful.

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Before I can really comprehend what I'm doing, I have my bags open on the bed in my apartment. Its a small place, modern and chic, but cold and empty. I didn't bother using my talents to make a home out of it.

Without bothering to sort things out too much, I pack my belongings in a sort of daze, the thought of potentially seeing Alec propelling me in a whirlwind of mindless motion.

Once the bags are packed, I call Lia.

"Magnus! What happened this morning?" She sounds relieved that I called and I sink into the empty bed.

"Luca and I went for coffee. And I realized I need to go home." Her laughter almost sounds relieved, light and warm, vocal sunlight.

"About time! When do you leave?"

"My flight leaves in two hours." Its 9 o'clock at night. I should get in to JFK at around 5 am with the time difference, but that's fine. The sooner the better.

"I won't get to see you before you go," she pouts but the moment doesn't last. "Oh well! You'll come visit! Wait, what about your outlet here?" I curse under my breath. I hadn't been rational. This is too spontaneous.

"I didn't even think about it." I admit. Lia laughs again and I relax at the sound.

"Well, what about me? I can handle it." My brows shoot up in disbelief. Lia wouldn't have to work a day in her life if she didn't want to. Her looks allow her to model on the side, but her money was hereditary. Her father's as wealthy as they come.

"You wouldn't. Would you?" I don't want to believe it at first. That it could be this easy to go home. To fix all these mistakes.

"Of course I would. I have a few friends who would help, I'm sure. But I need something to occupy some time. I get bored, Magnus," she drawls with her sharp accent. I chuckle and relax further. It might work out alright after all.

"I'll leave the keys for the shop in my apartment. I'll put the apartment key on top of the door. God, Lia. I love you," I breathe, laughing. She joins in and I feel okay for a moment.

"No problem. You know what name to put on the paycheques." We hang up soon after sorting the rest out. I trust Lia to handle the line reveal here, and I'll do one in Brooklyn for my new line as well. I'll do it all back home, hopefully with Alec.

The thought that he may not want me back crosses my mind but I suffocate it in as quickly as I can. I don't have time or energy for doubts. Grabbing my things and calling an Uber, I leave, locking the front door and placing the key on top of the ledge.

Once I'm outside in the loud, lively street, I suck in a deep breath, soaking up Milan once more. It's true, I realize. I really do like it here, but it'll never be home. Not without Alec here.

When the Uber pulls up, I nearly throw my bags inside, checking the time and realizing my flight leaves in just over an hour.

"Aeroporto, per favore," I tell the driver who smiles at me and nods, winding through the evening traffic as I try to catch up to my actions.

A part of me feels terrible for what happened with Luca. It wasn't his fault that I'm still in love with someone else. Had I been leading him on? I sure hadn't felt like it. I was sure our relationship was purely business, platonic friends at best. I guess I'll never be sure.

When we arrive at the airport, I nearly have to run through check-in and security. Barely making it to my gate in time, I board the plane and settle into my seat for the next 9 hours, hoping that it'll be worth it in the end.