Page 33 of Awestruck at Dusk
I turned around to face him, and he pulled his cell phone out of the back pocket of his jeans. He clicked on his phone and lifted it to his ear, looking at me.
“Cooper…Hi, could you bring over my car, please…Great…I’ll meet you downstairs in ten…Thanks,man.”
He ended the call and placed his phone back into his pocket.
“Last chance. Are you coming?” he asked. I wished I could allow myself to do so. “It’ll be the most fun you ever had in your life. I promise you that.”
I believed him. And he was right. A part of me was dying to break loose. To jump in that car and have William drive me as far away as possible just to feel the thrill of it. It was a matter of time before my mind started begging me to do something like that.
“If it were a ’65 Mustang Convertible. I’d say yes,” I challenged him.
“In what color do you see this car?” he asked, amused, smiling …beautiful.
“Red, of course.”
“I’ll let you know when I get my hands on one.” He winked at me, turned around, and walked away. “I can’t promise to take long enough for you to sort that stubborn mind of yours! So hurry up with that!”
“I was kidding!” I yelled to his back with a laugh.
He grabbed the door handle and turned around with a smirk to shout, “No, you were not!”
Yeah, I wasn’t.
Single Child
I LINGERED A WHILElonger on the rooftop, alone, enjoying the stillness of it. No Zara and Nathan arguing, no William tempting me to escape my security with him … no drama. Just me and my thoughts. As if they weren’t like a turbulent storm at sea. But I was used to it—the structured chaos inside my head.
My phone buzzed in my pocket as I picked up the multiple cigarette stubs we left on the floor and disposed of them on the rooftop’s trash bin. I took my phone out to see who it was.
Lily:Joel talked to Nathan. He told me about that boring dinner you guys have tonight. Could we at least see each other tomorrow? I’ll bring cake and some of those almond croissants you love. Just a cozy celebration at your place.
Me:I know, sorry! His boss asked him to go, so it’s kind of a big deal. I like your plan for tomorrow. I’ll text you in the morning, ok?
Lily:Sounds good! Have fun tonight.
A loudvroomflooded the air from below. I leaned against the railing and looked down.
Black Porsche.
A smile appeared on my face. I welcomed it.
William sped off with a screech of his tires, and I thanked Odin I hadn’t participated in William’s crazy plan. I’m sure I’d be screaming by now. Probably laughing too, wanting to cry a little as I begged him to slow down, but enjoying the thrill. He’d be ignoring me, as always, and doing whatever the hell he wanted to do. And I’d be secretly enjoying it.
I couldn’t help but laugh as I imagined a bunch of made-up scenarios in my mind.
William’s a wild soul, and I guess that’s why I was so drawn to him, because Icravedthat for myself. To hell with safe. Give me an untamed and unadulterated path.
But he vanished from my view in seconds. And with him, the cloud of dreams and the adrenaline that rushed through my veins out of pure speculation. Speculation about what that ride with him would’ve looked like. Where he’d planned on taking me, how long it would have taken for my security to realize I was gone—to catch up with us.
A cold gust of wind slapped me in the face.
Wake up.
Suddenly, the day got too chilly, so I sauntered to my apartment, dragging my thoughts back with me and a mild headache that kept throbbing on my temples from the wine I drank last night.
Taking ibuprofen in the morning would’ve been a great idea, but no. That’s how I rolled. Always thinking I was strong enough to deal with shit on my own. Sometimes you just need to take the damn pill.
I took my time with every stride, giving Zara and Nathan as much time as I could give them. I knew they needed to sort a few things out, and I’d rather not be present when they did. It was too uncomfortable to witness. And there wasn’t much I could do to help.
