Page 5

“But, it feels like I do. Sometimes, you see things and meet people that you know belong in your world, even if you’re not sure at what capacity or their role.

“They just fit. You know. Like the piece to your puzzle. You– you feel like a very important piece. One that will help everything else make sense and be easier to place. Does this not feel like that for you?”

I wasn’t in control of my body. My mouth. My eyes. My feet. Nothing. I was a robot, and he was in possession of the system that gave me orders. It told me what to do. What to say. How to move. How to think. When to blink.

“Yes,” I whispered, eyes batting with both trepidation and liberalism. “Yes, it does.”

I swallowed, hoping the thickness of my throat cleared. Knowing that I wasn’t alone was emancipating. For once, I wasn’t bound by my discernment. By what I knew before others. By what I felt before others.

“Then you won’t say no to coffee before breakfast, then. Will you?”

I shook my head. “No.”

I didn’t recognize my voice. I didn’t recognize me.

“Good, because I was keeping your AirPod if you did.”

His laugh was uprooting. It stirred everything inside of me. My stomach knotted. My chest tightened. My nipples pebbled underneath the jacket I wore. My treasured parts thumped against the seat of my buttery-soft, seamless thong.

“My whip?”

I nodded again, unable to verbalize my response. There were too many things happening to me at once.

Hurriedly, I made my way to the passenger side. The door was ajar as I approached. He’d conquered the distance with ease. His legs were longer. His stride was quicker, although he was in no hurry.

From my peripheral, I noticed Koen bent over, grabbing his knees. August stood straight, pointing his index finger in my direction. However, neither of them had the strength to move. Neither of them had the energy to halt my escape.

So long, fellas .

Their walk home would be eventful. Their legs were tired, and their lungs had been pushed to the brink of collapse. It would be a while before they gathered themselves and began their journey.

My body relaxed against the leather. Cool air pushed through the small holes in the seats, decreasing my temperature with each passing second. I removed my AirPod from my ear and placed it in the case where it belonged.

His long arm stretched across the SUV to return the property he’d been using as collateral. I rolled my eyes with a shake of my head while still facing forward.

This man was something else. Something special. Tittering, I slid it inside of the case as well.

A mile and a half down the road and we were still in complete silence. The law abiding citizen at the steering wheel brought the vehicle to a complete stop. His eyes were trained on me, beckoning for my attention. Apprehension swelled my nostrils and split my nerve endings.

“Rome–” he breathed out.

His voice was softer. His tone was lower.

“Yes?” I responded, running my trembling hands up and down my legs.

For the first time in my twenty-four years of living, I was alone with a suitor. One I’d met a hundred times before, in every lifetime, and in almost every dream I’d ever had involving a man other than my father or brother.

“Your phone… Connect it to the Bluetooth. Put on that playlist from the run or whatever you’d like.”

“The one you disapproved of?”

“Yeah. That one,” he sniggered.

“Are you going to admit you grew fond of the tracks now or later?”

He tilted his head to the left and then lifted it immediately. His left shoulder rose and fell simultaneously.

“It grew on me,” he admitted.

My mouth slacked. My eyelids grew heavy with admiration. I prolonged the silence, trying to wrap my head around his sublimity. His faultlessness. His energy. His maturity.

Honk.

Honk .

The blaring horn behind us startled me. Our eyes locked. Silently, I begged him to press forward, allowing the demanding driver to continue down the road. The wheels never turned. He altered gears, parked the SUV, and released his foot from the pedal.

“They can wait until you’re finished or move around.”

I unlocked my cell. As I did so, the image he’d sent appeared on the screen. I hadn’t exited before shutting my screen off. The recollection of the AirDrop reminded me that I still didn’t know the first thing about the man beside me. The most important thing.

“Your name.” I sighed, looking up at him, again. “What’s your name?”

“Sa–”

Honk.

Honk .

Ignoring the horn behind us, he refocused his attention.

“Sa–”

Honk.

Honk .

“One second,” he demanded, swinging the door open and exiting before I was able to suggest turning his hazard lights on or continuing so the people behind us could do the same.

I twisted my body, curving my spine for a better view. Just as he approached the vehicle, the driver pressed the gas, speeding past him while still honking their horn obnoxiously.

Honk.

Honk.

Honk.

Honk.

Honk.

Honk .

His return was accompanied by warmth. His absence piqued my vulnerability. Soundlessly, I rejoiced as his pants slid across the seat and the door closed a mere second after.

“Sac. I’m Sac. Spelled, SAC.”

There it was. The guessing game I’d played since he first appeared in my dreams drew to a close. The wondering suffered a great, long-anticipated termination.

I suppressed the urge to celebrate. My toes dug into the soles of my sneakers, and my lips pressed together to the point of pain.

Relax, Rome .

I stored the new intel in the safest place. Two places. My head and my heart.

“But pro… pronounced Sock .” I stumbled over my words.

My cheeks grew warm. So did the top of my head. My heart patted against my chest. Each beat was loud. Overwhelming .

“Yes.”

I gathered myself. My eyelids sealed for a brief second. I inhaled roughly and then exhaled slowly. Instantly, I felt better.

Connected . I read the word that popped up on the right side of the screen. I swiped my hand down to locate the music player.

“Interesting, Sac.”

“So are you, Ms. Mellow.”

The music began playing, quieting us both. Sac shifted gears and placed his foot on the gas pedal. Within a few seconds, we were moving again.

The beauty of Mount Clarke was astounding. Though I’d been isolated on the most incredible tropical island I’d ever placed my two feet on for nearly three years, there was nothing like home.

St. Catana was a dream, but it wasn’t my dream. It was Teddy’s dream. It was such a joy watching it become his reality.

I could’ve retired on the island as well. It was breathtaking. The way of life was simple. And, there wasn’t an unhealthy cycle of working, sleeping, and eating.

The locals made it a point to enjoy life. It was part of the Catanian culture. A culture that my brother had designed with his wild imagination.

I had aspirations. Chemistry knew it. My mother knew it. My sisters knew it. And, they were impossible to extinguish.

I wasn’t the first to set foot on Clarke’s soil, but neither was I the last. Adapting to our new family dynamic was an act I’d avoided as long as I could.

However, at some point, I grew tired of trying to escape our truth.

It was real. It was raw. And, it was staring me right in the face, no matter how many times I looked away.

Oh, Teddy .

I squeezed my eyelids together, again. Though a strict, ultra firm stature, he’d earned his name by being a source of comfort for us all.

He was our place of peace. Our stability.

His words often cut deep, but they healed the same wounds they caused, and even those they weren’t responsible for.

One look at him and everything was better.

His presence meant the world could stop bleeding and our worries could rest.

Cleo Sol’s voice lulled me to a familiar place. I pushed the lump in my throat down my windpipe and into my stomach. My quivering fingertips rested against my legs.

I love you, baby . Teddy’s voice settled my nerves.

In this lifetime. In every lifetime. I’ll find you– every time. Every time, Rome .

Misty eyes emphasized his sincerity. His honesty.

His pain and mine. Still, I boarded the plane with the heaviest heart and feet.

Seconds felt like lifetimes passing us by.

And, when my butt finally hit the seat, the weight of our reality crushed me.

I came unglued, nearly crying myself into a coma.

“Rome.”

“Rome–”

Sac’s voice nudged me awake. It was so close. So was he. His right hand rested on my knee as he stood between the door and the passenger’s seat.

Slowly, I regained consciousness as my eyes turned to slits while trying to read the numbers on the clock. I had no recollection of the last few minutes of my life. The storm of emotions had passed and the calm put me to sleep.

“Sleeping beauty has risen,” Sac teased.

I couldn’t stop the corners of my lips from curving upward, even if I tried.

“I wasn’t aware I’d fallen asleep.”

Sleep was the furthest from my thoughts as the words left my mouth.

Sac’s warmth brought me solace. The alleviation he provided pushed me off the cliff I’d been toying near the edge of since he entered my world, again, this morning.

Resting in his presence was proof that I was flying and falling simultaneously.

“Those are the best ones. The quick, unexpected naps. Feels like a couple of lifetimes have passed you by once your eyes are finally open.”

Wordlessly, I peered up at Sac, wondering if he understood the magnitude of his statement. The reference was staggering. His long, thick eyelashes shielded his eyes like curtains. But, still, I was able to admire their uniqueness. They matched the hair on his head, eyebrows, lashes, and arms.

My mind quickly traveled to the filthiest places of all. However, I didn’t stray. I wondered. And, I grew curious at the mere thought. The idea of sandy hairs shielding his shaft was intriguing.