by C. E. Wilson
Someone bumps me as I scrub and in a panic, I reach for a knife in the sink and point it at the owner. A younger girl holds up her hands.
“Whoa! Calm down, Pieces,” she says. “Just wanted to say hi.”
I lower the knife a fraction and look at the owner of the voice. Chestnut brown hair and humongous, red eyes. They’re so much like Griff’s but hers are soft where his were cruel. She smiles tiredly. I think she’s used to getting this reaction from me.
“I’m sorry, Maya,” I mutter, lowering the knife back into the sink. “I thought…”
“I know,” she says, trying to be understanding. “You’re not the first person who reacted like that.”
She doesn’t know my story, but she knows I have a past. If there’s one person I want to let my walls down for, it’s Maya. She’s been working here as long as I have and, yet, I don’t know the first thing about her. We both keep to ourselves, but there’s always a calmness when we talk. She sidles up next to me and helps wash the plates.
“You don’t have to do that,” I say to her. “Aren’t you hosting tonight?”
“I’m on break,” she says with a shrug. “I don’t mind.”
“Thanks,” I say awkwardly. I hate how I eccentric I am. I still have a hard time accepting people. For too long I was used to being on a secluded island of my own making, but a few people try to get past the gates. “How… how’s your day going?” I ask, trying to make conversation. I figure it’s the least I can do considering her beautiful hands are getting ruined in the dirty dishwater.
“Probably about as exciting as yours,” she says.
“Heh… yeah,” I say.
We fall silent. I have no idea what I’m supposed to say to her. In a perfect world, we could talk about boys, diets, and clothes, but I can’t risk saying the wrong thing. I’m not supposed to talk about who I am or what I’m doing, to anyone. Clark’s clear about that. I wash in silence, and though Maya doesn’t respond, there’s a pleasant quiet between us. Water sloshing around and plates clacking against silverware.
“I should probably go,” Maya says after a few more minutes. She flicks her hands and the water cleanly deposits back into the sink. “My break’s about over.”
“Thanks… thanks for your help.” I try to smile, but I’m sure it’s horrifying. Ugh… why can’t I just act normal? After two years, I shouldn’t be this creepy, however, Maya’s expression surprises me. Her ruby eyes soften. “W-what?” I ask, immediately trying to go back to looking neutral.
“You have a nice smile,” she says. “You should smile more often.”
I don’t want to blush, but the warmth on my cheeks lets me know that my body has betrayed me once again. Compliments. Any type melts my icy exterior. I try to hide behind my copper hair.
“Th-thanks,” I say, embarrassed, as she turns around to head back up front.
I wonder if she even heard me.
***
Another day.
Another day of earning money on my own. The thought makes me smile.
As I dry my hands on the nearest towel and remove the floral apron, I hear the rumblings of thunder. Of course it would storm on the one day Clark can’t pick me up. I can almost picture his face as he looks out his office window. He’ll worry, but there’s no way he’ll be able to reach me until I’m safe at home.
I clock out for the day, shrugging on my jacket when Maya bursts into the back room with wide eyes and a red face. I reach for the pocketknife in my coat.
“Did someone break in?” I ask as I pull out the knife. “What’s wrong?” I break out into a cold sweat. Someone must have found me. Someone must have tracked me down! I look over my shoulder towards the back entrance near the garbage cans. It may be my only escape. As I turn to run, Maya grabs my arm.
“W-wait!” she cries.
I point the knife at her. “Let go!” I cry. “I’ve got to get out of here!”
“Calm down and listen to me,” she says, holding tight.
“You don’t understand!” I say. “If they’re here for me… is someone here for me?”
“Yes, but it’s only—”
“Then let go!” I shout, wrenching my arm from her grip. Thunder booms overhead and the lights flicker and die.
“Pieces, wait!” Maya cries as she grabs my coat. “You don’t understand. He’s here for you and—”
“Yeah! I bet he is!” I cry, kicking her away from me. I won’t be caught! I won’t go back to that life!
“He said… he said he’s your fiancé!” she cries. I land a heavy kick on her thigh and she reels back, landing on her bottom. She’s staring up with pleading eyes.
“He’s lying! I don’t have a fiancé!” I shout back at her. I can’t believe that after two years, Paulson still managed to track me down. How patient he must have been. How many errors I must have made…
The back door flies open. Out of time. Can’t run, need to hide. A silhouette fills the doorway and I duck between two ovens and ready my knife like a cornered animal. Which I am.
“Grace,” a low voice says from the doorway. “Stop.”
I hardly recognize the voice. It sounds… older, but not old enough to be Paulson. I lean around the corner and try to look at the owner, but his face is hidden in the shadows. I glance over and see Maya trying to get back to her feet and the owner of the deep voice strides in with smooth steps and easily pulls her up. I whimper slightly as the newcomer walks up and knocks on the door of one of the ovens. The lights flicker back to life.
“What are you doing?” the voice asks. “Didn’t you hear what your friend said?”
“She said my fiancé was here. I don’t have a fiancé,” I say, readying my knife.
“Oh, but you do, Grace.”
The owner of the voice steps into view.
It’s someone I’ve waited over two years to see.
“R-Reese,” I whisper. The knife clatters to the floor. My knees buckle and I try to steady myself.
“I’ll go lock up,” Maya says in a low voice, disappearing from the room.
I’m left alone with Reese. He looks older, but it’s him. His hair’s no longer as vibrant but his eyes are the same as I’ve always remembered them. I know it’s him. He looks exhausted.
“R-Reese,” I croak, hardly believing my eyes. “What… what are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“Is that all the hello you’re going to give your long-distance fiancé?” he asks with a tentative smile. He takes a step forward and I take my own step away from him. His hand, reaching for me, freezes in the air and holds its place for a few seconds before falling back to his side. “G-Grace?” he says in a shocked voice.
“What are you doing here?” I ask. “And why are you saying that you’re my fiancé? I’m not engaged to you.”
“Can you please come closer?” he asks. “I can hardly see you. I haven’t seen you in over two years and this is hardly the warm welcome I hoped for.”
I take a hesitant step forward and he reaches for me, no longer trying to be careful with his movements. Within moments, I’m against his chest and he’s crushing my ribs as he hugs me.
“I can’t believe it. You’re here. I’m so happy—” he murmurs into my hair. “You look different, but it’s still you.”
“Tell me what you’re doing here.” I don’t want to get my hopes up and I’m still shocked to see him. More thunder rumbles overhead.
“Isn’t it obvious?” he asks. “I’m here to see you.”
“Why? At the station, I thought… I thought I wouldn’t see you again.”
He squeezes gently. “It almost killed me to say those things to you,” he whispers hoarsely. “But it needed to be done that way. I didn’t want you to get your hopes up. I wanted to set you free in case I couldn’t come back to you. I wanted to go with you, Grace. You have no idea how much I wanted to go. I almost came.” He kisses the top of my head. “I needed to make sure…”
“W-what?” I croak out.
/> “I had to make sure you were safe and that I was safe, too.”
“You assumed I’d wait for you?” I ask from under his chin.
“Did you?” he asks. He starts to pull me away from his chest and I see the hurt in his eyes. “Have you found someone else?” He purses his lips in doubt and I can’t stand the sight.
Of course I wouldn’t find someone else. How would I trust anyone else?
“Grace…” he says in an uncertain voice, “… if there’s… someone else…”
“There’s not,” I say. “Of course there isn’t.” I see the relief in his face and he pulls me closer. I have about a million questions I want to ask him. I’m curious about where he’s been these past two years, but I can’t bring myself to ask. I waited two years in hopes of seeing him. I never forgot him, but I was so sure that he’d forgotten me. “I never stopped thinking about you.”
“And I, you,” he says back. “Oh High and Mighty. I’m sorry about what happened at the station. It needed to be done.”
“I’m sorry, too,” I say over him. “I acted like a brat.”
“It’s fine. With how I had to end things… I don’t blame you.”
“Every day I’ve thought about how I acted that day that I left,” I say. “I wanted to say thank you. I never thanked you for everything you did. Everything you risked for me.”
“I’d do it all over again,” he says.
I wrap my arms around his back and hold him close. I can’t believe he’s here. I can’t believe he’s found me. After all those terrible things I said, I couldn’t fathom that this was all a part of some plan he had, but he always has a plan. He’s always two steps ahead of me and I’m a fool for ever doubting him. I pull away and look up into his dull, but alert purple eyes. He releases me slowly, but his hands remain on my hips.
“What did Maya mean when you said you were my fiancé?” I ask.
He smirks. “Ms. Wynters, I’m surprised to hear you ask,” he says with a chuckle.
“I thought the name was for show—”
“And it was,” he says. “Until now. That is… if you’ll have me. I know it’s been a long time, but I’m prepared to tell you what happened... for an exchange.”
I arch a brow. “An exchange? For what?”
His one hand leaves my hip and takes mine. “For your hand, Ms. Wynters,” he says. “For you to be mine. I’ll never lose you again.”
“You mean it?” I ask, trying not to smile.
Maya’s standing in the doorway.
“We have to close up,” she says. “I’m sorry to interrupt—”
“It’s fine,” Reese says. “I’m asking my fiancé if she’ll marry me.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” I say as a chilled object slides over my third finger. I look down and am shocked to see the silver band. He’s serious. This is happening. The only person I’ve ever even slightly trusted wants to make me his.
“Say yes,” he says, almost commanding. “Say you belong to me.”
“Of course…” I rasp. “I belong to you.”
“And I belong to you, too, Grace.”
I lunge back into his arms. Maya’s probably in shock to see me so emotional, but she turns away and gives us a few more moments of privacy. “And you’ll tell me?” I ask as he wraps his arm around my shoulder and leads us out of the back room. “You’ll tell me what happened to you these past few years?”
“No more secrets,” he says. “I want you to know everything I’ve been up to.” He leans forward and presses his lips against mine to seal his promise and I sigh as our lips meld together.
We still fit together. Just like puzzle pieces.
“No more secrets,” I repeat as he pulls away. The rain is pouring hard, but I hardly pay attention as Reese leads us to his car and helps me inside. As he crosses to the driver’s seat, I can’t believe I’m watching him. He’s here. It’s real.
He takes a seat and starts up the engine. “I’ve already called Clark,” he says. “He knows that you’re with me.”
“And where are we going?” I ask, leaning closer to him before waving myself off. “You know what? Actually I don’t care.”
“Oh?” he asks in a surprised voice. “You sure?”
I nod. I’d never been so sure in my life. And though I’m glad to be free for these past two years, I know now that freedom without Reese isn’t that great of a freedom. I’m happiest with him and after two years, I know what’s been missing from my life.
I wanted the boy with chubby cheeks, chocolate and amethyst eyes.
I needed him and finally I have him.
Table of Contents
Untitled Beauty
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Epilogue
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C.E. Wilson is currently living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband, beautiful daughter, fat beagle and two cats. She loves Supernatural, leggings and shoujo manga. When it rains she feels at peace and loves a sweet cup of coffee with way too much sugar and cream. She loves the fall because of football and all things pumpkin. Her favorite subject to write about is size difference, but she enjoys to try her hand at all things fantastical.
Other titles by C.E. Wilson
Standalone Novels:
This is Me.
The Boy with Words
The Promise
To Nowhere
Coming soon:
Matchsticks and Candy Canes (Christmas 2016)
Cruel and Unusual (Winter 2016)
A Death’s Awakening (2017)
Playing Human (2017)
Circus Folk (2017)
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It sucks to finish a book, doesn’t it? But while this story may be complete, there’s plenty more great stuff out there to read. And you can get that great stuff for free:
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