Page 88 of The Prospect

He told me at the start of today he’d make up for everything and boy, did he manage to do just that and more.

So much more.

“Have you had a good day, pretty girl?” Hart brushes some hair away from my face as he flashes me a smile. It’s sincere, genuine and as I agreeably smile back at him, I don’t know why mine feels sort of the opposite.

I’m happy when I’m with him, I am, it’s just… I never feel fully present. It’s like my mind is always drawn elsewhere, away from him and toward someone else.

I know it’s wrong of me to feel this way, especially when he’s gone so above and beyond in making me feel special, but the truth is, Hart and I are like a puzzle.

Like over these past few weeks, we’ve been piecing each other together and now, as we approach the finish line, somehow, someway, something just isn’t quite right.

It’s as if I’m trying to be his missing piece, but I don’t fit the shape—the mold, the pre-existing design or maybe, just maybe, it’s the other way around. Perhaps, Christopher Hart isn’t the piece for me?

I hate that I’m having this thought as he unknowingly smiles down at me. Hart’s perfect. Fuck, he’s everything I’ve ever wanted and more, but sometimes in life, you don’t always want perfection.

Perfection never gives you room to grow, evolve or change. Love does not equal perfection because love isn’t perfect. It’s complicated and messy, and boy, aren’t those two perfectly suited words to describe the situation I'm in right now…

“What do you say we get out of here?” Hart proposes, gesturing toward the front door. “You know…go back to my place?” he offers with a smirk.

I try to rationalize the look on his lips as nothing more than just a friendly gesture, but I’m not that naive. It’s apparent what he’s trying to say.

It’s my birthday. We’re boyfriend and girlfriend. I mean, you tell me and Christ, let’s not forget about step five: seal the deal.

Is this plan even still going on?

“You don’t want to hang around a little bit longer?” I don’t know why that’s the first thing I suggest. This party is dead. No one is around. What on Earth would compel me to stay?

“I mean…we could,” Hart says with a shrug. “But don’t you think some privacy would do us good?” His hand runs along the strap of my dress before those baby blue eyes do what they always do and lure me in. “Hm, Hazel?”

“I, uh…” I speak as his lips lure in daringly close to mine. “Just…let me say goodbye to Green first.” I pull back. “It’s just…I haven’t talked to him properly all night long, and I, um…” Peer across at the frame that rests along the side of the room. “Need to thank him for everything.”

Hart’s agreeable to my request as he rises to his feet. “Take all the time you need, love.” He helps me up, planting a kiss on my forehead thereafter. “I’ll be waiting for you in the car.”

I nod faintly, watching as Hart exits the room and steps outside of the house, stuck dazing at the empty space until I hear the footsteps make their way through the back door.

“Emily.” I’m guided toward Green’s mum, who balances an assortment of garbage in her hands. “I’m so sorry,” I apologize. “Please, let me help you clean up.”

“It’s your birthday, Hazel. I don’t mind in the slightest.”

“No, no, no.” I attempt to take some plates from her grasp. “Let me help. I insist.”

“And I insist right back.” She steps backward, so I’m out of reach. “Besides, it’s not your job to help me clean up, Hazel. It was supposed to be Daniels’, yet he’s nowhere to be found.”

“Nowhere to be found?” I’m troubled by the remark. “What do you mean?” I can’t help but ask. “Isn’t he outside with Amira?”

“Not that I know of,” Emily reveals. “Amira left. A while ago actually…by herself.”

“What?” My head snaps back at the revelation. “But Green…where…where did he go then?”

The look on Emily’s face is telling, so much so that I start to wonder why I even asked that question to begin with.

“I think you know where he is, Hazel.” She winces with a smile. “I know you do...”

TWENTY-SIX

G R E E N

I couldn’t helpbut laugh when Wilks told me he fumbled the bag with Chelsie and spent the following morning deep-diving the internet in search of his idiocy.

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