Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 79670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
The sounds of clicking heels make me snap out of the daydream that is his kiss, as I step away from him and his touch. His hand that was on my face falls to his side. “Gabriella,” he says my name, but I hold up my hand because I don’t need to hear him speak right now.
“Right now, at this minute,” I say, trying to get my breathing under control and think, “I just need a minute.” He just nods at me as he watches me. Internally, I’m telling myself it’s fine. We’ve kissed before. I’m also secretly telling myself that maybe it will always be him. “That was a mistake.” I point where we shared a kiss as I look over his shoulder to make sure no one saw us or is coming this way.
“The only mistake I’ve ever made in my life was to take you and what we had for granted.” He says the words that my heart has secretly wanted to hear.
“Romeo,” I say his name, and I don’t know if I’m pleading with him to kiss me again or pleading with him to leave me alone.
“Gabriella,” he says my name but never moves from the spot in front of me. “This may not have been our first kiss.” He points at the spot where we kissed. “But it’s the first kiss that matters.” Holy. Fucking. Shit. My head screams out and sighs. “I know you think we said everything we needed to say, but we haven’t.”
My head is spinning around and around. “I don’t even,” I start to say, “this is…” I try to come up with the words to say, but everything feels as if it’s jumbled together. It took one touch from him and I’m right back in it.
“Come home with me,” he urges, and I shake my head.
“I need some time,” I say honestly. I need some time to think. I need some time to breathe. I need some time to just think about what the fuck just happened. How did I go from hating him and loathing the sight of him to my stomach fluttering when I look at him? When I saw him on the red carpet, I was shocked and surprised, and then my whole body was like good, he’s here. Like this week didn’t happen. Like he didn’t walk out of my house, leaving me with the memories of what broke us without a second thought. Like this whole week I wasn’t asking myself if he actually left or is he just here. Like this whole week, I didn’t fucking replay everything we’ve done together while secretly yelling at myself.
He closes the gap that is between us. “Hear me say these words, Gabriella.” His hands grip my hips. “I’ll give you this time because you asked for it, and also because my therapist says I need to listen to you.” His therapist, what the hell is that all about? “But know that I’m not going anywhere.” He bends to kiss my lips softly before he turns around and walks away from me.
He looks at me before he walks back out of the doors and into the party. Only when I hear the click of the door behind him do I let go of a sigh. I put my hands on my head, hoping it’ll calm my nerves, but it doesn’t. Looking around, I spot a door that says restroom, so I walk over to it and push open the white door, seeing that it’s a lone bathroom. I close the door and lock it behind me. Making my way over to the sink, I turn on the cold water. I avoid looking at myself in the mirror until I’ve wet my hands and hold them to my cheeks.
My eyes stare at myself, and I can see my cheeks are pink, my eyes seem to be crystal clear. Clearer than they were when I walked in here. I close them, and all I can do is feel his lips on mine. Opening my eyes, my hands go straight to my lips as I touch them. “He cheated on you,” I remind my reflection, “you can’t forget that.” I stare at myself. “Or can you?” I shake my head. “What is to say he won’t do it again?” My head answers without thinking twice, “What if he doesn’t?”
I turn off the water and grab the hand towel to dry my hands. Opening the door and stepping out, I walk back down the corridor and out of the bathroom door. The sound of music fills the room, and I look around, seeing Romeo is right in front of the door. “I was just making sure you were okay,” he says with his hands in his pockets, and I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.