Page 69 of A Forever Love

Before she can fully turn away and look out the window, I gently tug on her hand still in my grip, compelling her to meet my gaze. “I never thought there’d be a day when we’d have secrets between us, mittens.”

“You and me both, King.” The smile on her face is so sad that I’m instantly hit with a feeling like someone is clenching my chest with both hands. I don’t remember ever seeing her this sad, including the days I used to take her to the cemetery on her birthday and the anniversary of her mother’s death. Her pain flows into me like a tangible entity, becoming a part of my own.

“How can I get you to share this with me?”

Merida silences me with a gentle touch, her hand covering my lips, halting any words. As her head finds a comfortable spot on my shoulder, I surrender to the silence around us. If I can’t have her words, I’ll take her touch instead. I encircle her with my arms, and she nestles into my chest, releasing a heavy sigh.

At least some things have stayed the same.

“Mere, we’ve arrived home.” I gently shake her as the car comes to a stop outside our apartment building.

She stirs sleepily, rubbing her eyes and gazing out the window. I step out before opening the door for her.

The moment her feet touch the ground, she lets out a low groan. “Ouch.”

“What’s wrong?”

“These heels are killing me.” She looks down at her notorious footwear, and her forehead knits into a frown.

“Just slip them off.”

“Right here on the sidewalk?” Her gasp is loud in the empty street.

Without gracing her with a reply, I kneel on the pavement and delicately undo the straps of her heels. They dangle from my fingers as I open the door to the building.

Merida strides into the lobby, and the night doorman stands up as soon as he notices us. They exchange a few pleasantries while I wrestle with my memory to remember his name.

“I thought your conversational skills might be in need of a break after enduring the drinking card game,” I comment lazily when we finally step into the elevator.

“The drinking card game was enlightening. It’s the perfect way to reveal someone’s secrets.” She grins at me. Under the bright light of the enclosed elevator car, Merida looks so beautiful, but somehow I can’t get her sad face from earlier out of my mind.

“Don’t keep me hanging, mittens. Spill.”

“Jason likes to grill naked.” Mere wiggles her eyebrows, failing badly at hiding her laugh.

“No!”

“Yes, and Sandra enjoys the view with endless margaritas.”

The elevator comes to a halt, but my feet seem to have a mind of their own, resisting the journey back to my apartment. Perhaps it’s the alcohol that has silenced the rational part of my mind, but I don’t want this night to come to a close.

“You look quite impressive holding my heels, but I suppose I should take them now.” Merida extends her hand.

“I thought I always looked impressive.” I arch an eyebrow, hiding her shoes behind my back.

“So humble, King.”

“Always. What do you say about a glass of wine without a thousand people watching us?”

Her unwavering smile hints that my desperate proposition might be returned positively. “Sure, but if you don’t mind, I’ll switch to water. I already feel lightheaded.”

“How much did you drink?”

“I’m definitely not going to answer that.” Merida unlocks her door and drops her keys onto the metal plate next to the Buddha statue and her bonsai plant. Once again, I’m struck by the décor in her place. Unlike my sleek black-furnished apartment, hers bursts with life.

I slide open her shoe rack as she hangs her purse and shawl on the coat rack.

“I see you have quite the budget for footwear expenses, mittens. How much is Elixir Inc. paying you anyway?” I slide her heels next to a matching pair in yellow and red.

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