FAY
The coffee warmed it's way down my throat as I sat crossed leg on the comfy couch. The temperature in the room was as warm as it had always been. The tick tock sound the clock made, filled my ears and the smell of the hot coffee in my grip, filled the room.
Karen sat in front of me, crossing her legs and smiling. "You look better." She started.
A smile grazed my lips.
I knew I looked better.
"I feel better too." I said with a smile. "My life is back on track and I couldn't ask for anything more."
"I like the sound of that, Fay. how's Elroy."
My smile widened. Just thinking of him filled me with this unexplainable joy. "Elroy is better. Far more better, and fine. Very fine."
"How's the relationship coming up? Would you say it was better than before of far more better... Or do you still think there's something missing?"
I took in a deep breath, the smile refusing to erase from my face. "Oh, Karen you have no idea how perfect everything is now. I don't know when things started falling to place, but- but you were right... He came around eventually and it has been the best thing ever. We talk more, we go on dates, he takes random pictures now and I think he has an obsession with his jawline. He doesn't get mood swings in the morning and he always waits for me to wake up before he leaves... Something about seeing me awake and reminding himself that I was real. Everything's just so great now."
Karen grinned. "I can't tell you how happy I am for you. I knew it would take time, but I knew it would happen. That was exactly why I told you not to give up. I'm glad you're happy."
"Yeah... I am too. And I want to thank you for making me stall. If I had given up, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to be with him, or to feel the way I feel now."
She smiled. "How's the memorial planning coming up?"
"Pretty good. The boys are helping him out with the program since he never attended any before. And everyone seems to be okay."
"Seems?"
"Yeah... I mean, Cade has this thing going on with his uh- the-"
"Mabel?" She helped out.
"Yes, Mabel. You know how he is with his emotions... He's pretty good at masking them so I can't really tell if he's okay with her return and everything."
Karen sighed. "Yeah, it can be hard. He loved her and she dumped him."
"Left him standing in the alter. Do you think he'd ever forgive her for that?" I asked.
Karen relaxed back on her seat. "Honestly Fay, I don't know. Cade's like this box that doesn't have an opening. It's really hard for you to see him... The real him. So we can only hope he finds peace or closure."
"Yeah we can only hope. Damien on the other hand, has this thing going on with his Ex- wife. Amy, who had a daughter with him and I don't think he's willing to let that go. He wants his daughter back at all cost and I know he'd do anything to get her... So I can't really say if he's okay." I said.
"How about Rhea?" Karen asked, genuinely curious.
"I'm pretty sure you'd have heard about the recent scandal. It's all over the news." I said, taking a sip of my coffee.
"Yeah... Rhea can be short tempered at times."
"Yup. Now everyone thinks she hates the poor. Damien's handling that now though, Elroy was equally pissed and he called her earlier today. You don't wanna know how that played out."
Karen chuckled.
Rhea had created a scene at a local restaurant yesterday and somehow got into a heated argument with an employee there. Word said she really did insult the guy. And now, everyone thought the Chesterfields hated the poor.
"I'm pretty sure Damien would figure everything out." Karen smiled.
My phone gave a light vibration, notifying me that I just got a text.
"Excuse me." I said to Karen as I picked up my phone to read the text.
From Elroy.
❤️El❤️:
I'm outside.
Just now.
I knew his texting technique would never improve, but still it always made my heart race.
He had me.
"I'm guessing that's Roy, considering the look on your face." Karen said.
"What look?" I asked, preparing to stand.
"The dreamy look?" Karen grinned.
I chuckled. "Whatever. same time tomorrow?"
"Same time."
I stood up and so did she.
After a brief hug and goodbyes, I made my way outside to the car.
When I got in, I placed my coffee cup in the cup holder, placing my seat belt on, before turning to find him staring at me. "That was fast." He said, starting up the engine.
"Yeah, we have to shop, remember? The memorial's tomorrow and I have somethings to look over before the program and I have to cross-check the guest list again, I also have to check in with the decorators since my Mom didn't bother to-"
He leaned in, cutting me off from my rant session with his lips.
My stomach flipped as my heart went super crazy.
"You talk too much." He said after breaking the kiss.
I smiled. "Forgive me for trying to make tomorrow perfect."
"I took care of everything. Trust me, tomorrow would be beyond perfect." He assured me.
"Oh? So, where are we going?"
He relaxed back on his seat. "Where do you want to go?" He moved the car.
"I don't know? Anywhere you are."
He grinned. "I know just the perfect place."
I raised a brow at him. "Don't you dare take me to Sparks."
"Why? I'm at Sparks... You see my pictures anywhere you look, my ideas and designs are on every hanger. I am Sparks." He said.
I glared at him. "You annoy me sometimes, you know that?"
"I live for that baby." He smiled.
"Just drive, will you?"
"I am driving." He said.
"I know you're driving."
"So why are you asking me to drive, when I'm driving."
I gave him a look of indifference. "How the hell am I supposed to answer that? I just said it for saying sake... I knew you were driving and I said it because- well, you were driving and talking and I said 'just drive' because I wanted you to stop talking."
I could see he was holding his laughter in and I also wanted to laugh too but, I wanted to keep my strong facade.
"You didn't have to explain, you know... I was only teasing you."
"I knew you were teasing me." I said with a know it all look and tone.
"So why did you go all the way to explain it?"
"You know what? Just shut up." I said, turning my gaze to the other side.
He laughed. "My God, it's really easy to get you all riled up, isn't it?"
I tried to hide my smile, but I couldn't.
"Don't worry, I have something special planned out for the both of us."
I allowed my smile to show it's face. "Really?"
"Yup." He popped the 'p' his smile not leaving his face.
_
We pulled up in front of the same house we had been in, before the merge program. It was already dark outside and the neighborhood street lights made the surroundings stand out.
"Okay? I love where this is going." I smiled, getting out of the car.
I was actually wondering what the special thing was, since I'd been here before and I'd seen what is there to see.
Yeah, but that wasn't my thoughts when I stepped into the sitting room. It was dark, highlighted with candle lights and beautiful red roses. The table was set beautifully with rose patterns and the ground was also covered in roses.
Damn it, it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.
I had goosebumps. Yes, my mind was so taken to comprehend the beauty in front of me.
"Penny for your thoughts?" He asked.
I smiled widely at him. "I'm awed. This is really beautiful. When did you have the time?"
"Time?" He came to stand in front of me. "When it comes to you Fay, I'd give up everything. No matter how important that thing is. You're what I put first above everything and everyone I care about. Never ever forget that."
My eyes welled up. "I won't."
He connected our lips together, kissing my senses into oblivion. My heart gave a hard thump and my body grew aware of his breathtaking kisses. He held my waist, pulling me closer to his body.
My heart was so taken. My body was on fire and I wanted more of him. More and more and more.
I broke the kiss, feeling a bit dazed. "I love you El. I love you so much."
"I love you too, Fay. You have no idea how you make me feel. You saved me from myself without even doing anything. You didn't have to say anything. Your presence alone saved me. And I love you for that. I love you for that and so many other things I can't even explain. Promise you wouldn't ever leave."
"Where else would I wanna be?"
He smiled. "There's Jayden Collins."
I chuckled. "He doesn't even come close."
"I'm glad. But I'm being dead serious Fay... Promise."
"I promise. I swear it."
He placed a lingering kiss on my lips. "I love you."
"And I love you too."
I said it, and I meant it. I loved him with everything in me. And I knew he loved me too.
It is funny though. All this started because of the disaster brunch. If Damien hadn't organized this brunch, Elroy wouldn't have seen the need to pretend, and I wouldn't have seen the need to even think of him as something other than a bully.
I didn't just have to put up fake smiles to my boyfriend's grandmother now, he didn't have to pretend to be so smitten by me anymore. And why is that? It was because there was no need to pretend to do something you can't help but do.
The brunch didn't turn out to be a disaster after all. It just helped in putting a shape into our relationship.
And it was not just any shape, but a very very perfect one.