Page 107 of Vampires of Eden: Oliver

“Me?” I take the package in my hands, bewildered. “I didn’t order anything.” Swiftly, I examine the label. It doesn’t have a return address name—only that it’s from “Canon.” Canon… as in, the camera company? What in the world?

As soon as I’m inside the cottage and have my shoes off, I walk briskly to my bedroom in the hallway just behind the stairs. I love this room. My first favorite element is the colorful quilt that covers the edge of the bed. Daniel knitted it as his first big project. My second favorite element is the beautiful view of the mountain range from the window. Waking up to it every morning makes me smile.

I sit at the desk in the corner and set the box against my knees, peeling at the taped edges until I can yank open the flaps. I’m excited but also very confused as I part the paper inside. There’s a box within the box and—

“Holy shit…”

Carefully, I pull the second box from inside. I’m literally holding a Canon EOS R digital camera. A very expensive and high-quality photographer’s camera. The best I’ve ever had my hands on, anyway. It also includes a 24–105mm lens. God…

Is this some kind of mistake? I set the camera and lens boxes on the desk, then dig around in the packaging it came in. There’s a card. I open it, and the message inside is typewritten.

My Darling Oliver,

Congratulations on your newfound freedom.

Love always,

Aries

“How?” A startling rush of emotions makes my throat close. How does he know where I am? And he… Does he still think about me? Somewhere in between his international travels and glamorous lifestyle, does the memory of us and our brief but passionate romance cross his mind?

I have to say something. Frantically, I look around for my phone. I remember that I left it in the kitchen, so I burst out of the room to retrieve it, literally running past a confused Daniel as I make my return trip.

When I’m back, I softly close my bedroom door and lean against the wood. I stare down at my phone and his contact info.

Should I call him? He doesn’t have this phone number, so he won’t recognize it.

I should text him—but what? He’s probably busy…

Dropping my hands at my sides, I lean my head back and close my eyes, thinking. Why is this so hard?

“Stop it.” I raise my arms, look at my phone and type out a message. Biting my lip, I make sure I spelled my name right before I hit send.

[Hi, Aries. This is Oliver…]

That’s all I’ve got. Maybe I should ask if he has time to talk? Or maybe we could schedule a day and time—

My phone buzzes in my hand. Ringing. I look at the screen and it’s Aries calling. I take a deep breath even though my heart has lodged itself inside my throat. I answer the phone.

“Hi…” I say, closing my eyes and resting my hand on my navel to calm my nature down.

“Hello, darling,” he says sweetly in his creamy, dark-chocolate voice. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missedyou.”

“Why haven’t you reached out to me?”

“I don’t know… because I wasn’t sure if you’d still want to be bothered with me. Things are up in the air and—I’m not anywhere near where you are in life and your achievements and I… I wanted to be better when I talked to you again. More independent, I mean. I’m not good enough yet. I can barely make spaghetti!” My voice is harried as the speech pours out, like word vomit.

There’s a brief pause on the line. “What does spaghetti have to do with anything?”

Chuckling, I lift my palm and rest it against my forehead. “It’s just something I’m dealing with right now.” Saying all of this out loud, I suddenly realize how ridiculous I sound.

“Oliver, you are good enough,right now. There is no ‘yet.’ At our foundation, your nature speaks to me, and mine to you, yes?”

I nod, dropping my hand. “Yes. Of course.”

“That is what matters. The fact that our very souls connect. Everything else is bullshit—conditional and volatile. Do you understand what I’m saying?”