Page 54 of Forget Me Not
Syve flipped the envelope in her hands, her name scrawled across the front in blue ink, decorated with little hearts.
“I’ll be there.”
Bastien
Thefollowingtwoweekswent by in a blur. Bas had been texting back and forth with Syve every day, they met up for mid-day runs on their lunch breaks, and when their schedules did not align, they met up after work and frolicked in the woods until the sun set.
Del tagged along for a few of the runs, after which Syve could not stop gushing about how she was right about Del’s horse form. Cyrus had attempted to join for one, only to promptly make a crude remark about Syve’s tattoo while she stripped behind her tree. Bastien, unaware of any tattoos, immediately revoked Cyrus’ invitation.
Syve had been a little disappointed when Bastien informed her they would be running alone since Cyrus had an urgent family matter to tend to. She had been looking forward to seeing a bear up close.
Bastien shuffled into the kitchen early on graduation day, surprising his mother who was slumped at the counter, blotting tears with a tissue.
“Mijo, you need a bell!” Soriah scoffed, cursing in Spanish as she shifted her arm awkwardly in front of her.
“So I’ve been told.” He closed the gap and slung his arms around her. “Why are you up so early, Mama?”
From where his chin rested atop her head, he noticed something sticking out from under the flowy sleeve of her blouse and deftly swiped it before she could stop him. It was a photograph from Dez and his graduation. The twins in their matching cap and gowns and little three-year-old Del held up in the middle, one arm slung around each brother. Bas sighed softly and kissed Soriah on the forehead.
“I should go make sure your sister is awake.” She sniffled, patting Bastien’s hand where it rested on her shoulder, then slipped off the bar stool and out of the kitchen.
Bas hoped, for his sister’s sake, their mother would be able to at least pretend to be happy for her, that they would be able to take a picture together for Del to take with her to college, and that the day would not end in another fight over her leaving.
A few hours later, Bastien had managed to wrangle a very excited Delanira and a very morose Soriah into Cyrus’ Range Rover. He sent off a quick text to Syve letting her know they were on their way to the school, apologizing in advance for his mother’s sour mood in hopes she would not take it personally.
Cy let Bas and Del out in the front of the school, promising to meet them inside with Soriah after finding parking. Hoping Cy could say something to alter his mother’s mood, Bas nodded, closed the door to the car, and led Del into the building where his sister immediately abandoned him in favor of her friends.
“We’re going to head in and get to our seats early!” the teen called over her shoulder as she was swept away among a crowd of her peers. Bastien sighed, one hand slipping into his pocket, the other rubbing at his beard.
“I didn’t think pets were allowed in the building.”
With a dramatic roll of his neck, Bas’ eyes landed on Syve and Aimi walking through the main doors.
Chuckling, he quipped, “Only on Saturdays.”
He spoke to Aimi, but his eyes never left Syve. She was wearing a simple lavender sundress that looked like it was made just for her. It likelywas;she probably made it herself. Thick straps topped with little bows showed off her freckled shoulders, a heart shaped bodice hugged her chest and waist until it met the skirt that flowed down to her knees. While he was cataloging the cute, little white heels she had pairedwith the outfit, she cleared her throat, forcing him to drag his eyes back up to her face.
Syve quirked a brow and grinned, “Bas.”
“Bambi,” he rumbled, shocking himself with the amount of gravel embedded in his words. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“Right.” Aimi clapped. “If you guys are going to eye-fuck each other can you at least tell me where we’re sitting first so I can go?”
Syve swatted at her while Bas willed the heat he felt rising all over his body to cool.
“There isn’t really assigned seating, so it doesn’t matter. If you guys want to go find a spot you can. I’ll come find you when my mom catches up.”
“We’re going to find the best seats, dead center—best view in the house! I don’t care if there’s already someone sitting there either, I’m not afraid to push them out of the way!” She grabbed Syve’s hand and started toward the open door to the auditorium.
“Actually,” Syve said, stopping short and pulling her hand free. “Give me a minute? I’ll catch up with you.”
Aimi glanced between Bas and Syve with a devious smirk, raised her brows up and down, and then with a salute, backed through the doorway and down the hall.
“Everything okay?” he asked her.
“Yeah, I just wanted to give you a heads up that she doesn’t know Cy is going to be here.” She winced. Right on cue, Cyrus walked in, ushering Soriah ahead of him.
“Well don’t you look like a ray of fucking sunshine after a week of rain,” Cyrus praised, flinching when Soriah swatted his arm, calling him a fool and chiding him for cursing in a school.
