Page 29 of One Last Wish

After my shower, I was about to make myself some breakfast when a knock came at the door. I put my hair up into a bun and then looked through the peephole.What the actual fuck?Darce was standing on the other side of the door with a small bag and two coffee cups in his hands.

Firstly, how the hell did he get into this building? The apartment wastwofloors up and you needed a coded key to get through reception. Secondly, how the hell did he know which apartment I lived in?

I could just hide in here, right? I’m sure Darce would go away. “I can hear your heavy breathing. Open the door, Alora.”Shit!“That is, if you're decent. I only have so much restraint.”

“So, if I tookallmy clothes off and opened the door, you’d leave?” It was probably my sex dream with him last night that was making me so bold.

“I wouldn’t quite put it that way, but this coffee's getting cold.” I opened the door, giving him my bitchbrow. “Phew! You’re dressed,” he teased, taking me in. “Can I come in?” I’d had a sex dream about this man; I was already in trouble. What harm would it do?

“Only because you have coffee, and thatbetterbe food!” I eyed the brown bag suspiciously. “If it’s a murder weapon, you’ll be putting me out of my misery, anyway.”

“Always the ray of sunshine.” Darce took the apartment in as he walked through the door. “This place is nice.”

“Yeah, it works for Evelyn and me.” I couldn’t look at him. All I sawandfelt were his hands on me from my dream last night. “You can sit on the chair,” I muttered, pulling my coat off it.

“I got you some bagels.” Darce passed the bag and one of the coffee cups to me. “I wasn't sure what coffee you liked, so I got you a latte.”

“Thanks,” I frowned. “How did you get into the block?”

“Someone let me in who lives here.” Okay, that kind of made sense.

“How did you know which apartment was mine?” Sitting across from him on the sofa, I opened the bag of bagels.

“I asked your stalker, Theo.”Oh!“I don’t think he wanted to tell me, but when I assured him that I was only going to be yourfriend, he cracked.” We both sat in silence for a moment.

“Darce, why are you here?” The words fell out of my mouth without even thinking.You have this hold over me. I can’t let go.They weren’t Darce’s words, but it didn’t stop me from drowning in him.

“I didn’t like the idea of you spending Thanksgiving alone.”

“But you don’t celebrate it?” This guy was so confusing. “There must be other people you'd rather spend today with?”

“Eat your bagel, Alora. After that, I’ll help you paint the dragon eggs you made for the midnight release event.” Well, today certainly wasn’t turning out how I’d planned.

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IT DIDN’T TAKE LONGwith both of us painting the dragon eggs. I’d shown Darce the technique I was using, and hated to admit it, but he was pretty good with a paintbrush.

The eggs were all laid on a plastic sheet, drying. When I looked at the time, I realised we’d been painting for almost five hours.

“It would seem time really does fly when you're having fun,” Darce commented, getting up to wash the paint off his hands.

“You’re certainly good with your hands,” I stupidly said, realising the hidden meaning. “Thepainting!” I corrected. “I meant the painting. I wouldn’t even know about your hands in regards to anything else.” Oh, God, I was doing one of those awkward ramblings and making it worse. “I’m not saying that you'd be bad with your hands. I’m sure you’re good at finding the right spot.” Thinking about my sex dream right now wasn’t helping!

“You’re really making that statement more awkward than it needs to be.” Darce’s eyes danced with humour. “Are you hungry? I can pop out and get us something? Or if you wanted, we could go out and get food?”

“Actually, I’ve got food here. You’re more than welcome to share it with me. Evelyn went a little over the top.”

“I’d hate to see any food go to waste.”

“I’ll put the oven on. All I need to do is heat it up.” It seemed Darce and I were eating Thanksgiving dinner together.

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THERE WAS STILL FOODleft once we’d both finished. “I’m not sure how Evelyn thought I’d eat all that by myself,” I mused, looking at the leftover buttered rolls and mashed potatoes.

“Maybe she thought you’d have company.”

“Oh, no, Ineverhave company.Ever.”

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