Page 112 of My Lovely Tragedy
His eyes flicker between both arms, then up to my face, right into my eyes.Through me.I stop a swallow mid-way through, holding myself still for his inspection.
Seven, eight, nine…
Come on, darling.
My muscles burn from the strain, and I feel the slow sever of control as it cracks through my extremities, leaking out.
“Fine,” he finally concedes, and I drop my arms to my sides with a silent breath and proceed to finish loading our basket.
“You could grab a blanket, if you would like to be helpful,” I tell him without looking up. He scoffs, and it’s followed by the sharp screech of the barstool’s legs scraping against the floor.
“You’re sassy today,” he says, back turned.
“Perhaps you are rubbing off on me,” I counter as I wrap a damp towel around the wine to keep it chilled, then close the lid.
“If only I could get that lucky. I’m fucking awesome.” He rips the thick quilt off the couch and throws it over his shoulder, atop my coat already wrapped around him.
A smile breaks my grimace as I shake my head with feigned exasperation. “Your ego is unmatched, my darling.”
“Oh, please. Like you don’t fucking like it,” he bites back, wagging his brows.My god, he’s so brilliantly fun.
Oh, how I will miss you.
I grab the basket and make my way to the large, living room window. “So, what you are saying isIam not awesome?” I set it aside as I flip the lock and shove it open, allowing a burst of cool air to tunnel inside. Brooklyn shivers, even though the thickness of my coat. I am only clad in a sweater, as the cold is much more comfortable for me, but I am not surprised Brooklyn is still chilled.
The poor thing would probably freeze to death without ten layers on him at all times. How he didn’t simply wither away the night we met is beyond me.
It must have been the alcohol.
I extend my arm and incline my head with a grin twitching. “After you,” I murmur, glasses sliding down my nose.
“Oh, how chivalrous.” Chains in hand, he steps over the windowsill until both feet dangle a few feet above the ground. His shoulders rise with a breath, and then he vanishes from sight, dropping down onto the muddy earth below.
I reach through with the basket and hand it down to him before slipping through myself. Once my feet thud against the ground, I inhale deeply. Wallowing in pine and upturned dirt. The fresh traces of rain and foreboding and crystal-clear air.
“It’s so nice out here. Peaceful,” Brooklyn says as he walks a foot away and flicks the blanket out, covering a patch of mud, which will most definitely seep through and into our clothes, but that’s an inconvenience for later.
Now is the time to savor.
He plops down unceremoniously, eyes tracking the massive backdrop bestowed. Mountains surrounded by an endless foray of trees. Clouds thick, white, and fluffy as they float across a deep, vibrant blue sky. Birds making their own spot amongst all the beauty with the occasional caw.
The immensity of the universe is too strong to ignore. How small we truly are, yet howdeeplyandimpossiblywe feel. Tangible and earth-shattering. Universe-altering emotions.
And at the core of every single one of mine is Brooklyn Crow in all his terribly wonderful pieces.
“You’re staring.” Brooklyn drags his palm over his thick beard, down to his square chin. He rests his head there, his elbow atop his knee.
“My apologies,” I say, merely for appearances—which bear no weight with Brooklyn. The boy has always seen right through me as if my body were merely a vessel carrying every rotten piece of my core—the very thing he wanted all along.
And now, he has them, all for his consumption. And the sensation of Brooklyn’s jaws working me over, masticating me to the perfect consistency is utterlyeuphoric.
“You’re full of shit. And you’re still staring.” This time, he peeks over his right shoulder at me, half of his face hidden by the bulk of my coat. The sun shines brightly behind him, even on its descent. And the very sight of him leaves me breathless.
“My God, you are beautiful,” I rasp through the blockage in my throat.
Brooklyn’s eyes widen at my unexpected revelation. He blinks a few times, then lifts his head to show me his smile. And it’s far more blinding than all the stars burning in the cosmos.
I truly do not know how it is possible to feel even more for him. How there is still room inside of me, expanding with everything he does. I’m filled to the brim with him.
