Page 51 of David's Love

Okay. All right.

I’ll go look for her.

I pick up my empty glass from the balustrade, walk inside, and place it on a table.

Cutting my way through groups of guests, I remember I hadn’t had the chance to talk to Thea.

I glance around, not knowing if she’s still here. She must be upstairs with Rain and the kids.

Sliding behind more people, I reach the stairs.

I hope I’m not getting in trouble for going upstairs. I’m sure Chloe looked for a bathroom on the first floor, yet something tells me to head that way.

Upstairs.

I try the doors of a couple of bathrooms.

She’s not here. No one is here. So I turn around to go downstairs. I don’t want to get caught wandering around the house with no good reason.

I reach the head of the stairs when I hear a voice and go back. Walking down the corridor, I listen.

That sounded like Chloe’s voice. A few steps later, I reach an open door and peer inside.

It’s a home office, I think. Or maybe a reading room like the one Thea has in her house.

Shelves of books crawl up the walls, and an antique desk sits in the middle with a couple of chairs, a loveseat, and a couch.

Rain and Chloe have their backs turned to the entrance when my steps meet a soft rug.

Despite not hearing me enter the room, they don’t get startled as I near them.

They both acknowledge me but don’t stop their conversation.

My eyes move over the stack of books in front of us and settle on a book that looks eerily similar to the one David has gifted me.

Eventually, Chloe looks at me.

“Rain has shown me her book collection,” she says, and I nod while Rain drones on about books different than the one inspired by David Moore.

Despite all that, she picks up a book that is exactly like the special edition I'm familiar with.

Her words get lost in the crevices of my mind while my eyes hover over that book.

The hardcovers are as beautiful as I remember, and knowing what I know now about her writings makes me blush.

And then, my eyes trace something else, and before long, my heart comes to a full stop, and I can’t breathe.

The blood drains from my body as I stare at that book, unable to think coherently.

Rain and Chloe seem removed from my universe as I struggle to come to terms with what I’m seeing.

I don’t know how much time passes.

All I know is that at some point, Rain excuses herself and leaves the room while Chloe turns to me.

Her eyes grow quickly worried.

“Are you sick?” she asks, sliding her hand to my forearm.

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