I tap Jasper on the shoulder and nod my head towards my bedroom door. He follows me and I shut the door behind him. I wrap my arms around his shoulders, resting my head on his hard chest. He smells like maple syrup and cologne.
“What’s wrong?” His tone soothes my ears.
“Felix broke up with me,” I say, shock wrapping me up in a cocoon. “Does it hurt like this when you’re first love broke your heart? Because I feel as if I lost a piece of my soul.”
He squeezes me tight and takes several moments before responding. “It does, but the pain didn’t go away for me because I see my first love every day.”
My brain finally catches up to what he just said, and I glance at him, cocking my eyebrow. I pull away from our embrace, putting some distance between us. He stares at me as if he’s about to regret his words. Realization hits me harder than a brick crashing down on my head. And I chew on the end of my hair as nervousness flares in my chest.
“I’ve been in love with you since our sophomore year in college,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. Heat bites me on my neck and my mouth is dry. I don’t know how I feel about this.
“You never said anything,” I finally muster. “You never dropped hints that you wanted me other than when you were drunk, but I thought you were just horny.”
He shrugs and picks at the skin around his pinky nail. Guilt is written on his face as he smiles at me. “What I was saying to you when I was drunk is how I feel all the time. I just couldn’t say it to you while I was sober. I knew you never saw me as anything more than a brother. That’s one of the reasons why I keep having multiple affairs with different people. Sure, I like my open relationship but… if you were to want to be exclusive with me, I would drop Stacey and Anthony for you.” He continues to nip at his pinky nail. “I need to move on with my life. Because loving someone and not having them is like picking at a wound and expecting it to heal.”
His shoulders slump and he frowns. I’ve never seen him so sad. And it makes me feel guilty because Jasper is a good guy and deserves someone who actually loves him the way that he loves me. I wrap my arms around his waist, and I feel his soft lips brush against my forehead. The way a lover does when they are saying goodbye.
“What do we do now?” My words are small as a fairy.
“We stay friends. I’d rather have a piece of you in my life than to have none of you. But I think it’s best that I move out and move in with Anthony and Stacey.”
I nod my head slightly. I don’t agree with his decision and I want him to myself, but that would make me selfish. And I know if I make him stay then I’ll torture him even more because he’ll do it.
“I need to find Felix and kick his ass for breaking your heart.”
I laugh as if it will break up the tension between us. It doesn’t.
“Don’t worry about it. It was bound to happen. Besides, I’ll bounce back, that’s what I always do.”
My words bleed with sadness. That’s what I get for thinking that a god can love a mortal.
“You do. Before you know it, you’ll be with someone else.”
I nod, wishing that it isn’t true. Because all I want is Felix.
Sadie
Three Days Later …
I leave the conference room after signing a contract to be VP, and I’m super excited about it. My pay has tripled. Also, I get a bigger office with a bathroom and a lounge. And I get all the perks of what the CEO gets—free flights on the company’s private airline, every main holiday off, a month’s vacation. Axel hugs me. He looks dashing in his salmon shirt and white shorts.
“You want to go play golf with me and James at the country club?” Axel asks.
“Not tonight. I’m going to the bar with Betty.”
“Don’t get to drunk tonight. You have a big first day in the morning, Vice President,” he says, as we walk towards the elevator. Co-workers stroll past us, nodding their heads. A few days ago, my brother announced me the new vice president and everyone treats me different and speak to me as if they’re walking on eggshells. It doesn’t bother me at all anymore.
I bring my hand to above my right eyebrow and salute him. “Aye aye, Captain.” And I hear someone clear their throat. I turn around and Easton stands there, with his fingers tucked into his skinny jeans.
“What have I done to get the devil to look for me?” I ask. His eyes are dead, soulless, but his frown is wicked.
“Cute. Walk with me, Trust Fund Baby.” And I follow him to the elevators. He taps the down button and the doors hiss as they open and we both step in. He’s quiet and calm and twitches his mouth as if he’s trying to choose his words wisely. “Do you really love Felix?”
His question catches me off guard because Easton doesn’t stick his nose in other folks’ business. I half nod and lean against the silver rail. The sound of Felix’s name sends a jolt through me like lighting. He taps the first-floor button and the door closes.
“He’s been sad about the breakup and I’m quite sick of
