A sigh leaves my lips as I sit up on my office couch. I can feel the wetness between my thighs. Closing my eyes briefly, I massage my temple before turning to face Camila."Finally, you’re up; we need to leave in the next few minutes. The meeting is at 2 p.m." She stands by the couch as she speaks to me."Give me a few minutes to freshen up. I’ll meet you downstairs." I stand up from the couch and walk to my restroom."Alright, I’ll meet you downstairs." She says, walking to the door.My reflection in the bathroom mirror glares out at me. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had those dreams. Since he kicked me out of his house two weeks ago, it’s been nearly every time I close my eyes. I know why it’s happening, but I don't want to admit it. The worst part is that I haven't heard from or seen him at all. Sometimes the dreams aren't even sexual. They’re just plain, romantic dreams. It annoys the hell out of me. I am not supposed to be having those types of dreams. Yes, I’m attracted
It’s been a few days since that weird moment in the mall between Beau and me. I never got to find out what Beau was doing in the jewelry store that day since I haven’t heard from or seen him since then, and I’m grateful for that. Mainly because I’m not sure how to act around him right now. Before, I always felt angry whenever I saw him, but now I don’t know how to feel. I am still hurt by what he did, but I am not as hurt as I was a few months before he came back into my life. My emotions are all over the place and seeing him would only worsen matters. For one reason, specifically. Beau doesn’t know how to keep his hands to himself, and the fact that my stupid body loves it is not a good thing. But my sex dreams have lessened a little lately, which is good. My shower head and hot water have had some time off these past few days at least, so thumbs up for me.I blow out a breath and try to push Beau out of my mind as I check my reflection using the full-length mirror in my room before
The following morning, I wake up early and head to the salon to meet Camila and Tamara. We’re getting our hair done together.“Lilah, over here,” someone says as soon as I step inside. I look and see Tamara across the room. A hairdresser is already working on her hair.“Hey, how are you?” I bend down to her level and place a kiss on her cheek.“I’m good, you?”“Good, too. Where is Camila? She left the house before me, so she should be here.” I take the seat beside Tamara.“She went to get something from my car.”“Oh, alright,” I say before asking the hairdresser attending to Tamara’s hair to get someone to begin mine. I take one of the complimentary water bottles and have a sip.As I’m drinking, Tamara looks over at me. “How was the party last night? Did you enjoy yourself?” she asks, and I begin to choke. “Tak
“I think you should slow down with the drinks,” Camila says, grabbing the tequila shot before it reaches my mouth.“No!” I say with a little more force than I mean to. After realizing Beau is engaged and crying my eyes out, I decided I needed to drown my sorrows with alcohol in the company of people to help me forget Beau ever existed. So naturally, the girls and I came to the club.“Let her drink, Camila. She needs it,” Tamara says, collecting the shot from Camila and handing it back to me. I down it in one go and bite into a lime immediately after. The liquor burns my throat on the way down, but it’s nothing compared to the pain in my shattered heart.“You know it won’t help her forget about him,” Camila argues.“For now, it will,” Tamara quips back.“Who wants to dance?” I ask, playing with the shot glasses littering the table. “Why are there so many?
Beau smashes his lips against mine the minute we walk into his apartment. I was amazed I didn’t pass out on the way with how drunk I am. And I was even more surprised we managed to make it out of the club without Tamara or Camila seeing us. They weren’t happy when I texted to let them know where I’d gone. But I’ll deal with that tomorrow, all I can think about now is the man who’s kissing me.I kiss him back with the same intensity, filling his mouth with my tongue. Beau lifts me off the ground, and I wrap my legs around his waist. He walks us upstairs to his room without breaking the kiss.“I can’t wait to fucking have you,” Beau says, his lips still against mine as he kicks open his bedroom door.He lays me gently on the bed and releases my lips. I stare at him breathless, missing his touch already. Beau lifts my dress, taking it off my body. He brings his lips to my neck and sucks hard. I arch my back in pleasure, wet
I wake up to feather-light kisses being showered across my neck and shoulders. My back is to Beau. I squeeze my eyes shut, pretending to still be asleep as his arm comes up from behind and snakes around my waist. Hopefully he doesn't see through it. I can’t face him after last night. I don't know what I was thinking asking him to sleep with me. Shame washes over me. How could I sleep with Beau after everything that’s happened and, worse, how could I say those words to him? Beau doesn't deserve to hear me say that. I didn't even know I still felt that way until last night. It just slipped out. I’d convinced myself that what I felt for Beau was purely attraction. But I was clearly lying to myself. I don't even want to imagine how big his ego must be now that he knows I still love him. God! I’m such an idiot.I’m pulled from my thoughts once I notice the absence of Beau's warm lips against my skin. The covers rustle and I think he might be get
I shout Tamara's name for the tenth time tonight to come down, so we can leave for the party. I decided to take Tamara with me as back up. She was also surprised by the way Hannah behaved when she saw me. Neither of us can tell if she’s pretending or not."I am so sorry; I had to change my shoes twice." She says, walking down the stairs."It's fine, let's go." We walk to the car outside, and I drive us to Hannah's house.Stepping out of the car, I walk towards her backyard, my heart beating fast against my chest. I don't know why but I’ve got this eerie feeling in my stomach.We enter the gardens, and the place is packed with people. I look around to try and find Hannah or a face I recognize, but I find none. I’m about to dial her number when I hear her voice call me from behind.I turn around, and my heart immediately twinges. Beau is standing beside her with an arm wrapped around her waist. My heart tightens in my chest, seeing
DELILAH Tamara has disappeared. When we arrived, she went to the bathroom, and I haven’t seen her since. I managed to convince Hannah to let me leave her side a minute ago, and now I need to find Tamara so we can leave. I couldn’t tell Hannah I wanted to leave, because then she would ask why, and I can’t tell her. My heart was aching enough as I walked around with her and heard everyone telling her congratulations. There is no way Hannah doesn't know about Beau and me. She probably invited me to shove it in my face that she is the woman who the whole world will know owns Beau’s heart. Walking inside the main house, I check the rooms one by one looking for Tamara. She’s not picking up her phone, and I’m beginning to get worried. I’m about to turn a room doorknob when the person inside beats me to it. “Delilah,” Beau says, stepping out of the room. I roll my eyes at him and turn to walk away, but Beau halts my steps by grabbing my hand. “Mon
One Year LaterI stare at Beau’s handsome face as he sleeps soundly beside me. Sometimes I still find it hard to believe that we’re finally together. I softly peck his lips before slipping out of bed, making sure to be as quiet as possible so as not to wake him. I pick up my purse and walk to the bathroom with it. Opening my handbag, I take out the object I’ve been hiding from Beau since I bought it yesterday.How wonderful will it be if the result comes back positive?I take the pregnancy test, then set the timer on my phone and wait impatiently in the bathroom. Beau will be so happy if I’m pregnant. We haven’t been trying to have a baby, but I know he’ll be pleased regardless. We’ve spoken about starting a family one day, so I know it’s something we both want.After what feels like an eternity, the timer on my phone goes off. I pick up the test and see two lines. I’m pregnant.“Two lines!” I scream. I can’t believe it. It feels like a dream come true. I know this isn’t the first tim
I walk out of the elevator once it reaches Axel’s floor. After we landed in Chicago, Tamara and I immediately came to Axel’s apartment complex, while Beau went to the hotel with our bags. The plan is to meet him there later. Speaking to Axel couldn’t wait. His mom even texted me to say she’s worried about him.He hasn’t shown up to work the past few days and is shutting everyone out. His mom, my Aunt Caroline, tried talking some sense into him but it didn’t work. She’s hoping Tamara and I will have better luck. So much so that she even met us in the lobby to give us her set of keys to his apartment in case Axel wouldn’t let us in.Just as we’re about reach his door, I stop in my tracks. “Camila?” I say, shocked to see her standing there. She didn’t tell me she was coming.“Hi Lilah, Tamara,” she says, her voice low. She doesn’t look good. There are bags under her eyes, and her nose is red. She’s obviously been crying. If I hadn’t seen her without makeup before, I don’t think I would e
Thirty minutes later, we’re flying to Chicago in Beau’s jet. I had planned to come check on Axel even before Beau and I worked things out, and once I explained to Beau what was going on with Camila and Axel, he agreed that we should go. Axel has refused to answer any of my calls the past three days, and Camila has been worried sick about him.I would be a lot more upset about the situation if I didn’t have Beau’s support. I still can’t believe we’re here together. It’s like a dream. I touch his face to make sure it’s real.“I’m sorry again for everything I did while I was pretending to have lost my memory.” Beau says, placing his hand over mine.“There is nothing to be sorry for. I know you didn’t want to hurt me. I’m sure it must have pained you to do it.” I run my other hand through his soft curls. I’ve missed doing that.“You can’t imagine, my love. My heart was pierced every time I hurt you. I am truly sorry.” He stares into my eyes, and I can tell he means every word.I smile sof
DELILAHI stare at myself in the mirror and blow out my cheeks. Beau’s getting married today. I don’t know what I thought would happen, but I didn’t think it would ever get to this point. Looking at my dress in the mirror, tears fill my eyes as it’s not the dress I had hoped to wear on Beau’s wedding day. It was foolish for me to have agreed to stay when he asked me. I must have been possessed because only a fool would stay and watch the love of their life marry someone else.Using my hands, I fan myself and take deep breaths to calm down. I don’t want to ruin my makeup. Since I already agreed to stay, I might as well see this to the end. I’m picking up my purse to leave when someone knocks on my door. I go to open it, wondering if Tamara changed her mind about meeting me downstairs and needs something before we go. But Tamara isn’t who’s standing in the hall.“Beau?” I say, shocked.“Can I come in?” he asks, smiling.Why is he smiling? And most importantly what the hell is he doing h
I play with my glass as I watch Hannah rub herself against Beau, who doesn’t seem to be enjoying her company very much, but that doesn’t matter. He’s still marrying her. I’m going to have a drinking problem by the time this wedding is over. The rehearsal dinner is tonight, and it’s going horribly for me.Everyone keeps talking about how they’re such a good match for each other. I’m already imagining how awful tomorrow will be. I can’t believe I agreed to stay. What the hell was I thinking?The only reason I decided to come tonight was because I was hoping to get a chance to talk Beau out of getting married, but all I’ve done is drink.I finish my fifth glass of wine and call the server over for a refill. My alcohol tolerance has increased recently, and I don’t want to think about how much drinking I must have been doing lately for that to happen. After my glass is refilled, I go to take a sip, but someone grabs it from my hand.“I think you’ve had enough for tonight,” Beau says, holdi
“Gin and tonic,” I say to the bartender as I take a seat. The dive bar I found close to the airport seems as good a place as any to wait to check in for my flight.I try not to think about Beau as I down my drink but it’s hard. The last time I was out drinking because of him was the night we created our baby. Our poor child, they never got to see the world.I throw back the rest of my drink and ask for another. It wouldn’t be a good idea to get drunk and miss my flight, but one more won’t hurt.While on my second glass, I’m surprised to see Beau walk into the bar. He takes a seat at one of the booths, joining a man I haven’t seen before. What is he doing here? Even if he wanted a late-night drink, there are bars closer to the estate.I’ll have to get closer to them to figure out what’s going on. Taking a seat in the boot opposite theirs, I drop my head and use my hair to cover my face. It’s wrong to eavesdrop, but I can’t help it. Beau shouldn’t be here, and I know if I were to walk o
Blindly, I stare at the ceiling and ponder Jenny’s words. I still can’t believe she threatened to kill my father. I have never felt more hopeless in my life.I can’t bear to watch Beau marry someone else and not do anything to stop it, but I also can’t risk my father’s life. There is no debate, I won’t risk my dad, but the price to keep him safe is a hefty one. I will have to live the rest of my days without Beau. My life is incomplete without him. I don’t even know how I’m going to function.Fresh tears escape my eyes and stain the pillow. I just wish there was a way I could be with Beau without losing my father in the process.My head turns when I hear the door opening. I was too shaken to move after speaking to Jenny, so I’m still in the room where Hannah’s wedding dress is. I wipe my cheeks and sit up to see who’s coming inside.“Yennefer,” I say, surprised. How did she know I was here?“Found you at last.” She smiles and closes the door behind her.“You were looking for me?” I as
The following morning, I sneak onto the Williams’ estate to see Nana. Harvey says her bad days have been outnumbering her good, and she might be gone any day now. That’s why, even though Edward and Jenny will have my ass the moment they see me, I’m risking it. I don’t want to miss what might be my last chance to see her. She means a lot to Beau and has always been nice to me. I don’t even want to think about how he’s faring with her diagnosis, but he might not be struggling that much since he doesn’t have his memories. I hope he gets them back before it’s too late. I can’t imagine how torn he would be if he doesn’t get them back before she’s gone. He’d be devastated.I spent all night thinking of ways I could help Beau recover his memories. I wondered which memory we shared would be most important to him. We’ve made many memories together, but I think the shared loss of our child is the most significant. Unfortunately, I had already told him about that one, and it didn't do the trick.
“What are you reading over there?” Charles asks. It’s been a few hours since we took off. Charles apparently doesn’t care that I’m his sister’s enemy and has been talking to me for most of the flight. I think it’s because he has an interest in me, but I might be wrong.“A romance novel,” I reply, switching off my phone screen and turning to face him.“You’re a romance fan?”“Yes, I am.”“So, you must be waiting for your prince charming to rescue you then?”“No, I’m not.”“But you’re a romance fan?”“Yes.”“I’m confused,” he chuckles.I laugh before speaking. “I love romance novels, but not the typical kind you might be familiar with.”“Hmm, let me guess, you’re into dark romance,” Charles says, smirking.“Yes, I am.” I smile. “How did you know?”“Once you said it’s not the typical type of romance, dark romance was the next thing that came to my head. So, tell me your favorite book and why it’s your favorite.”“I don’t have just one favorite. I love too many.”“What if you had to choos