Page 125 of Chemistry: The Chemist

“Chemistry, do you know what days without you are like?”

“You’ve mentioned it.”

“So, you should know I am losing my mind right now. Nights with you are good for my body, my heart, my head, and my soul. Nights with you bring me peace, comfort, joy, and ease.”

Ease? Effortlessly, Chemistry had managed to cultivate the life I aspired to have. He’d done so without breaking a sweat. It had been so seamless, I hadn’t realized until this very moment.

“Ease,” I repeated just above a whisper. “How do you do that?”

“Do what, exactly, Choc?”

“Be so damn good to me while simultaneously keeping me distracted so I don’t know what’s happening. And then moments like this bring clarity and I realize what you were up to the entire time. How’d I miss that?”

“Because your life with me is supposed to be so easy you don’t see it. You just feel it a little more and more each day. Eventually, it becomes so normal nothing feels out of the ordinary. By the time you’re having a moment like the one you’re having right now, all the chips have fallen into place, and because you weren’t worried about where they’d land… you actually had the chance to enjoy their journey. Enjoy your journey.”

I rested my back against the window, looking down at the shoes I had on. I was every bit of him, from my head to my toe. He’d bought every piece of clothing I’d worn over the last few weeks, down to my underwear.

“I love you, Chemistry.”

“Then show me. Be ready at seven. If I have to come upstairs and get you, we won’t make it down. I’m going to fuck you right where you’re standing, right where your bed used to be.”

Swiftly, I turned, trying to find him in the sparse crowd of people walking in downtown Clarke. I had no luck.

“Where are you?”

The silence on the line let me know he was no longer with me. He’d ended the call. I placed the phone on my chest. A chuckle escaped me. There was no denying what I felt for Chem. He had quickly become the center of my world. It wasn’t the case or my career that kept me up at night. It was him.

“Then show me,” I mocked him. “Be ready at seven.”

I pranced around the room, filled to the brim and unsure of what I’d pull from my closet to wear tonight or what look I was going for. Then it dawned on me. There were boxes in my kitchen. More than likely, Chemistry had already chosen what I’d be wearing.

6:54 p.m.

I bolted out of the door, nearly crashing into Michael. He stopped just inches short of me. Long-stemmed red roses filled his hand.

“I-I assume those are mine.”

“Yes, yes indeed they are, Ms. Reid.”

“Thank you, Michael.” I reached for the gorgeous arrangement, but he stepped back.

“I’ve been instructed to get these in some water. Move along, now. I hear you have a very special date with a very special gentleman tonight. Tardiness will not be accepted.”

“Thank you so much. There’s a vase under the third cabinet under the sink!” I yelled over my shoulder.

“Enjoy your night.”

I will. Chem would make sure of it.

With my head high and my heels higher, I strutted out of the lobby and right into the arms of the man waiting in black from head to toe. He’d learned fairly quickly that it was always the first choice and fell in line. Now, whenever we were together, we coordinated. It was intentional on his end, I supposed, but looked effortless.

A set of gold teeth gleamed under the light when his lips pulled back and a smile exposed his dimpled cheeks. My heart stopped. Time stood still. Everything around us evaporated. There was just him. There was just me. There was only us.

His hands gripped the butt of my jeans, cupping both cheeks. I stared up at him, completely and utterly obsessed with every inch of him.

The slit that ran down the center of my shirt exposed my skin. Chem’s hand rested against my stomach as his lips convinced me of their lonesomeness. I shed them of their misery, parting them with my tongue so I could explore the familiar warmth.

“Ummmm.”

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