Page 58 of When Hearts Ignite

The afternoon sunlight bathes them in a spotlight, making Sarah’s orange tresses seem like a warm fire burning in the hearth, with Jack’s inky black hair the coals keeping the fire alight. A soft breeze flutters by, disbursing the sweet scent of wildflowers within this hidden courtyard—one of many in this elaborate building—The Orchid. With the twining dark vines and vibrant hedges behind them, these two look like the definition of soulmates only needing love to sustain them.

“I love you so much, Sarah.” Jack’s murmurs travel across the intimate space.

My heart, the long dead muscle, spasms in an effort to come back alive, as if shocked by the defibrillator paddles of the emergency room. But the spark fizzles, leaving only a charred muscle and a flashing pain.

My eyes dart away and sweep over the rest of the long table where my siblings and their spouses sit, the couples very much in love with each other, smiling at the new lovebirds joining their ranks. A question I asked myself a long time ago resurfaces. Don’t you want what they have?

For the longest time, my answer has been no, I couldn’t care less.

But now, as I tell myself the same thing, a nagging itch forms behind my rib cage, my mind whispering, taunting with glee…you liar. I brush the voice away, not wanting to hear more nonsensical words, not wanting to know what or who caused the change.

My fingers fiddle with the paper chopstick sleeve and start folding it in half, and in half again. Unfold it and start over.

The damn corners won’t line up.

Love is a liability and a game of Russian Roulette.

Yes, my siblings, and now Jack and Sarah, may have hit the jackpot, somehow all magically standing alive after their bout with the revolver. Perhaps their gun didn’t have a bullet in the chamber. But not everyone is so lucky. The odds are grim and not on our side. Just look at my parents’ marriage, two people who shouldn’t be together, but are bound with no means of escape. One person forever pining for the love of the other, the love which has long been given away. A dreadful, hopeless torture until the end of days.

The one and only time I let a woman in my life, allowing her to peek under the first set of locks to my soul, she torched the chamber, then fled and disappeared, leaving me to deal with the ashes.

And it was only friendship, not even love.

It can’t be love.

My chest spasms.

I’m a Kingsley, and Kingsley men don’t let emotions get the best of them.

My hand curls into a fist, crushing the paper sleeve, as my chest hardens, a poor attempt at smothering the flames of pain with sand. I swallow the lump in my throat as I turn back to the new happy couple, who still seem to be oblivious to our presence.

“Jack…” Sarah whispers as Jack’s head dips down, no doubt ready to demonstrate his love in more physical ways.

Even though love is not for me, I’m happy for them, having known both of them for years as Sarah Winstead and Jack Szeto are Emily’s and Adrian’s best friends from high school, respectively, who took the scenic route to get together, even though it was obvious to all of us, except for Sarah that Jack carried a torch for her for a very long time.

I clear my throat, not wanting to witness a make-out session from my two friends. “You know you guys have an audience, right?” I smirk at the shocked expressions on their faces when they whip their heads toward us.

Arching my brow at them, my eyes connect with Jack’s. You sappy piece of shit. How could you have missed us sitting out here all along?

The happy couple blushes and Sarah tugs Jack toward the table.

My siblings all wear beaming smiles on their faces. Emily, her dark hair piled high on her head, is biting her bottom lip, her body bouncing with leashed excitement. Adrian has his arm around the back of her chair, his fingers tracing lazy circles on her shoulder. Jess smiles warmly and her husband, James, the sucker who spent his entire childhood and part of his adulthood in a sad unrequited love relationship with my sister, tilts his lips in a half grin.

Two servers, dressed in the crisp, blue uniforms of Kobayashi, one of the on-site award-winning restaurants at The Orchid, carry trays of an assortment of food, ranging from sashimi, hand and sushi rolls, chirashi bowls, the freshest fish I’ve tasted outside of the seafood markets in Tokyo. Platters of dishes decorate the table, an array of bright colors of pinks, oranges, and whites from the thinly sliced fish to the pops of green from cucumber, avocado, and side salads in sesame dressing.

“What’s this?” Jack asks Sarah. She grins and they take a seat.

“A surprise celebration for your promotion. I know you didn’t want to make a big fuss about it, but you deserve celebrating, Jack. Everyone, except Steven here, flew in yesterday. James and Jess even left the kiddos at home with her parents to come visit.”

Jack is one of the key management members at The Orchid. He was the entertainment manager all guests sought after because he’s infamous for solving problems creatively and seamlessly, which says something about his hustling skills since dealing with stuffy rich people who are used to getting everything their way can’t be an easy job. Because he excels at his job, Ryland and the rest of the Andersons finally promoted him to a role he very much deserves.

“Director of Special Events at The Orchid,” I comment, slapping him hard on his back. “Moving up in the world, my man.” My lips curve into a smile. “Proud of you.”

“All thanks to Adrian for giving me the opportunity in the first place. And…” Jack’s voice turns raspy, as if overcome with emotions. He, like Adrian, grew up poor and had to fight his way up the food chain, so I’m sure this promotion means a lot to him. “Thank you all for coming all the way over here.”

“It’s all you. I only provided an introduction. Even though I wonder what they saw in you, jackass,” Adrian mutters sardonically, but a glint of fondness shines brightly in those crystal blue eyes.

The meal goes without a hitch and all of us take turns making fun of Jack, who is completely besotted with the woman next to him. Now, with hearts in his eyes, he’s saying some sappy shit to Sarah. “You’re always right and I’m always wrong.”

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