Page 94 of The Billionaire

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I couldn’t shake it. I was so freaked, but this provided the perfect ammunition to move on from him and to turn a blind eye to the countless presents delivered my way from him over the next two weeks.

You’re not getting away from me this easily. Business has pulled me away, but I’m coming back for you.

Dozens of roses were delivered to our apartment. So many flowers that our place looked like a florist shop.

“What are you going to do?” Shelly’s awestruck eyes pleaded with the, “aw forgive him already” look.

“Well, clearly I’m not going to talk to him! He’s a murderer!”

“Kenze, what if you know, it’s not the truth?”

“The truth is, his ex-girlfriend was a major model and actress. I have major issues. I feel like I could never measure up to those women. I can’t take that type of pressure of being compared to perfection.”

His gifts continued to come left and right, some opened, some unopened. The designer bags and shoes, Shelly happily wore around town.

Your gifts will not buy me.

But then one day I received a letter.

Dear McKenzie,

As I’m writing you this, the morning view is breathtaking along the rolling hills. The fog is a beautiful blanket, which brave adventurous birds dive down and dance in the midst and all I wish is that you are here with me. Seeing this. All I wish is that you’d dive into us. Like that.

Sometimes fog, the unknown, is the most beautiful place to be. Just because you can’t see anything, doesn’t mean there isn’t anything happening. From my perspectives from afar where I’m sitting—the low misty clouds kissing the frost covered rolling meadows looks every bit romantic. A lot like the way I see you. I see the romantic potential. You see unknown. Perhaps we can one day come to a merged perspective together. Seeing things from different angels together.

This is my favorite time of year harvesting the wine and wondering what it will taste like in a few years. The only way to know is faith. And good aging. It’s a lot like life, huh? You’ll never know unless you at least move. Make a move.

Yet, most of all, I wish you were here tasting this with me. By the time you’ll receive this, we will have already celebrated our opening night with a gigantic feast. Perhaps if you look us up on Instagram, you’ll see a few pictures. You’ll see me in my element, a part of me you do not know. A part of me I wish you could see. To learn of.

I’m sending you this certified mail due to the subject matter at hand. One can never be too careful especially since what I want to talk to you about—The EEBC club.

I do not know the reasons for you not returning any of my texts or calls. I trust you’ve received my gifts. But all I can think about is maybe a few things. And like I mentioned above, I think I’m seeing “your fog” with a fresh perspective.

I know you and I met in a very unconventional way. But this does not discredit how I feel about you. At all. Yes, we engaged in sex way before we talked heart to heart, but trust me. Before we even spoke conversationally, our souls danced together.

Before you came into my life, life was meaningless. I felt I had seen it all and I became a hard shell. I was living, but not really. I needed excitement to fill the void. But when I saw the list, your name on that list, I was in Spain and dropped my plans. I had to see you. I had to bid for you. I had to win you. 24 hours later I was in California waiting for you. That night we shared together was the 2nd best night of my life.

My patience was treaded thin when I had to wait the months to see you again. Those four months were brutal for me. I thought of you every night before I went to sleep. You, my angel. Because of the club’s rules, I had to respect the brotherhood. I knew we’d see each other again and I also knew you were starting medical school.

But when I finally had you and knew you were the chosen queen for the night, I knew I had to devise a plan. Screw rules. It was time to make my move.

I enjoyed every minute, every second, we shared together in Maui. It’s a time I want to continually relive. That first night with you waking up in my arms, that was the best night of my life. You didn’t have to leave. We were able to spend endless amounts of time. What we shared together. Our picnic by the waterfall. I see these scenes in my mind continuously like a film. And it tortures me wondering if I’ll ever hold you in my arms again.

Life doesn’t wait for people. It happens to those too busy to make definite plans. I don’t want to wait anymore to see what will happen between you and me. I’m a man, I’m from the south too, and I want you to know I am serious about you. So serious, I will do anything.

I will be coming back on the 18th. Please let me see, you, McKenzie. Please, please, please, think about us for a moment. I saw the look in your eyes whenever we’d make love. The way you’d come for me…the way you clung to my eyes. We have a connection that is deeper than just sex. I know you feel it. Don’t let fear stand in your way. What if you and I are the ocean you are meant to swim in. Won’t you leave your comfortable pond? Explore with me? Love with me?

His words clung to my chest cavity like melted gum on a hot summer’s day stuck on a sidewalk. Love with me? Like, make love with me? Pursue love with me? Or was he saying he loved me?

I looked at the boxes of presents strewn about our living space, each tagged with an intricate note of hopeful playful endeavors together.

This dress is for when I take you to the orchestra.

These sunglasses for when we see the Angels play.

This is a surfboard for when we go surfing together in Malibu.

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