by Kris Sawyer
Has Rick never missed me in all these day? Do I not matter to him at all? I can’t be the only one in our relationship who fell so deeply in love.
He rubbed his face, wiped off his wet cheeks and retrieved his phone to dial Rick’s number one last time. Determined to never call him again, he thought of leaving a voicemail to end things between them. Once and for all. His whole body shook in anger.
However, he heard a click on the other end and instead of Rick’s recorded message, there was a long, painful silence.
Rick had answered the call. After all these days …
Aidan’s heart raced erratically. His anger had vanished and sudden excitement rushed through his veins. “Rick?” His voice cracked as he spoke. “Rick, is that you?” There was no response. But he could hear someone breathing. “I know, it’s you. Oh, thank God!” He exhaled heavily, not realizing until then that he’d been holding his breath. “Are you alright?” Aidan’s voice turned softer as he asked, “Do you not miss me? Because …” he swallowed a lump in his throat, before continuing, “I miss you so much and I don’t know where you are.”
Rick let out a muffled sob but still refused to say anything. Aidan assumed his words were affecting him. It was true, though. He had no clue where Rick had gone after he’d left. He’d tried all his sources to find the man but to no avail. Aidan had even hired help from a P.I. who came very close to finding him. But he could only trace Jenny who told him that Rick moved out within a month. They’d apparently had a huge fight when Jenny suggested that he should at least talk to Aidan once. But he was too scared, she’d said and Aidan understood.
Ever since then, he’d left numerous voicemails on his phone. Aidan thought he’d switched numbers but Aaron had been in touch with Jenny and she’d told him that Rick would check up on her every now and then through the same number. So, he never gave up.
And Aidan was so glad at that moment.
He stood by the window of his room. It had a great view overlooking the Empire State building. Aidan smiled and said, “I’m in New York right now for an exhibition. My paintings will be displayed here for the first time. Do you remember I was telling you? That they’re considering it?” He paused. “Well, it worked out.”
It got quieter on the other end and he had to check if the call had disconnected. Holding it back to his ear, Aidan chuckled. “I’m not even sure if you’re still there …”
“I’m here.” A soft voice said and Aidan got goosebumps all over his body. He wanted to cry with happiness. He’d never been so happy in his entire life.
His vision blurred as his eyes suddenly welled up with fresh set of tears. “The reason I was calling was … because I just fought with Kim. She thinks I’m dwelling on your memories for too long. Not only her but everyone wants me to move on… to forget you. But how can I? What we’ve shared was too special, Rick. Don’t you think so?” He snorted. “But I guess I wanted a closure. So, I’d called to say that I’ll stop calling you if that’s what you want.”
“Aidan…”
“Yes, Rick?” Aidan asked, his hopes rising. But Rick didn’t say anything else. So, he continued. “Well, I wasn’t prepared for this. I didn’t know you’d actually pick the call. I am glad you did but I was ready to blow my anger out in your voicemail.” He heard Rick chuckle. “Well, yeah, sounds funny when I say it like that. But … I’m not so sure now.”
Aidan stared at his reflection on the window pane and noticed the puffiness under his eyes. He hadn’t slept well in months. After a long moment of quietness, Aidan begged, “Say something, Rick. Your silence is killing me. I’ve no idea what I’m supposed to say here.” Aidan closed his eyes and said after a while, “I can’t believe I’m going to do this but … I’m ending the call now. And I promise …” He swallowed again. “I promise I’ll not call you again. If you think we’re better off without each other, then forget about me. But if you still think we have a chance, tell me right now.” He gave him a minute to reply but he didn’t.
So, with a heavy heart, he disconnected the call. Aidan never wished to give up on them but when Rick himself wouldn’t reciprocate, he decided there was no point in continuing.
Someone banged impatiently at the door and he found a distressed Kim standing ready to snap at him for leaving her alone in the restaurant. But as soon as she saw his face, her anger vanished and a look of concern overshadowed it. “What happened?”
“Rick … I just spoke to him.” He said and broke down in her arms. “It’s over, Kim. It’s all over.”
*****
“Excuse me, Mr. Ross.” A well-dressed lady approached him at the exhibition with a huge grin. “I’m a huge fan of your work.”
Aidan shook her hand graciously and said, “I’m happy to hear that.” She seemed to be in her mid-forties and her expensive pearls gave away her status.
“I checked out some of your new art pieces. Brilliant job, I should say,” she said, animatedly. “Especially the one with the disabled man and his cat. That one took my breath away.”
“Sorry, which one?” He did a double take. Aidan was certain he’d heard it wrong.
“That portrait with a man on his wheelchair and a cat sitting on his lap?” She said with a grin. “I’ve got to say it is one of your best. One can feel the depth of sadness that portrait carries but then there’s that ray of hope shining through the window. I can’t imagine the emotion you must’ve gone through when you made that!”
“Wait, wait.” He stopped her as she gushed about the painting. “That can’t be right. Where did you see that painting?”
“It’s right there.” She pointed behind her as she said, “with your other paintings.”
Aidan hadn’t had a chance to see his displayed set of paintings yet, but the ones that he’d shipped off to New York didn’t contain any of Rick’s portraits. And still somehow when he hurried to the space where his works were lined up, he found each one of them hung there. His gaze stopped at the one the lady was talking about and it took him down memory lane.
He could never get himself to sell any of Rick’s paintings after he’d left. He’d cancelled the event at the art gallery back in LA where they were to be auctioned off originally. Aidan thought of them as the only connection he could have with Rick. He would spend the majority of his evenings in front of those portraits – talking like a mad man. But he didn’t care. He found serenity in doing so.
“Can’t stop looking at it, can you?” Aidan jumped at the voice and found the same lady standing beside him. She smiled and said, “If you’d do me the honor, I’d like to buy this art piece please.”
He shook his head without a second thought, “Look, Mrs. …”
“Bateman. Portia Bateman.”
Aidan nodded. “Mrs. Bateman. I’m sorry. But there’s been a mix-up. These paintings weren’t supposed to be here.” He shook his head again. “These are not for sale. Especially this one. I’m attached to it emotionally and it’s priceless for me. I’m sure you’ll understand, though.” The lady frowned deeply. “Truly sorry, Mrs. Bateman. But please,” he said, pointing his hand toward his other displayed works, “do check out my new set right there. I’m sure you’ll like them.”
She left, with a displeased look on her face and Aidan exhaled with relief. Frantically, he searched for Kim and found her chatting up one of the organizers. He smiled at the man and said, “Hi, can I borrow her for just a minute?” Kim excused herself and they took a few steps away.
“What’s going on?” She asked.
“You’re asking me … what were you thinking? You shipped all of Rick’s paintings here, didn’t you?” He fumed and pointed her accusingly. “I know you did.”
“Yes I did. But that’s because you’ve to move on. It’s for the best. You said it yourself last night.”
“Last night was different. I was vulnerable. But I love Rick and I just don’t think I can move on.”
“Yes, you can.” Kim held him by his arms but he dismissed her touch immed
iately. “Come on, Aidan. You’re acting immaturely.”
“I don’t care.” He countered. “You’re going to ask these people to take those paintings down and ship them back home.”
“I am not doing any such thing. I don’t care if you fire me today but you’ll thank me one … oh. My God!” Aidan watched as her mouth fell open. For a moment, he didn’t understand what had changed. He followed her line of sight behind him and finally saw what had left Kim stunned.
“Rick,” He whispered. Aidan took a step, then another and some more toward the wheelchair that was being pushed in his direction. He went on his knees as soon as he saw his man in front of him and kissed his hands several times. “How …” he asked with tearful eyes.
“I called up Jenny and she brought me here with Aaron’s help.” He sobbed.
He came up to hold his face and kissed him hard on the lips. “God! I’ve missed you so much.” He said, resting his head on Rick’s. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He sobbed and looked him in the eye when he said, “And for what it’s worth, I don’t think we’ll ever be better off without each other.”
THE END
Kris Sawyer is the pseudonym of Sid Love, who has written several books in the M/M Romance genre but with the Alpha’s Warlock series, he intends to introduce a new world of supernatural beings that will intrigue the readers.
Sawyer grew up in one of busiest cities in the world, Mumbai, listening to the excerpts of Indian epics from his father every night. He is a Potter-head and loves a good mystery in the books he reads.
Alpha’s Warlock is Sawyer’s dream project that he’s been working on forever!
Cursed
Resurrected
Also available in Paperback:
Alpha’s Warlock (Book 1 & 2)
Holding on to Hope
Let it Go
Dear Stranger
Detour
