Page 89 of Aftermath
“My gift to you.”
Her fingers fiddled with it until she finally unveiled the gift hidden inside. She pulled out the book, flipping it in her hands. The edges were a shining gold, and the cover was embossed with a floral design. I’d found the special edition in a tiny bookshop in town.
“Little Women?” she asked. “Like the classic?”
“Yes. I know you mainly read romances, but I wanted to share one of my favorite classics with you. One I thought you too may enjoy, based on the books I found on your shelf.”
Her cheeks turned pink at the mention of me browsing through her own collection.
“Thank you,” she answered, struggling to find more words. “I-” She turned it in her hands again and flipped through the pages. Her eyes widened, and my own smile grew.
“You annotated it?” she asked, looking quickly to me.” When did you have time?”
“I did,” I said. “I’ve been adding the notes the past few days when I could. I wanted you to have my own thoughts and comments as you read through as well. ”
I didn’t add the part I’d been avoiding.
In case I was back in Virginia by then.
Her face started to fall reading between the lines. My clever girl, too smart for even my distractions.
“I know you spend time reading every single food label you pick up. Some probably assume you’re just checking the calories or sugar, but I’ve seen the way your eyes read over every ingredient.”
I continued trying to avoid the topic of when I leave all together.
I saw her eyes water a little. She grasped her bouquet of flowers, and I could see her taking in every word I said. Her attention was entirely mine, and I wanted to savor every second of it.
“I also know you don’t keeps eggs in your fridge and avoid the ones in mine because you’re allergic. It’s why you check every single label. Eggs, a staple and key ingredient in most birthday cakes. It took me a little longer to find you today, because after quickly realizing not a single grocery store or bake shop in this little town makes eggless cakes, I decided to give it a try myself. Admittedly, even though baking is a science I am familiar with, I seem to lack that magic touch bakers have.” I laughed and opened the lid of the basket fully.
I pulled out the small plate with the makeshift cover, revealing the small cake I had made. It was crumbly and the frosting was lumpy, but it was chocolate cake and frosting with strawberries on top. Again, her favorite.
“Why?” she asked.
“Because I do know you, Lenny,” I stated. “And I wasn’t going to let you spend another birthday alone. I’m sorry I wasn’t there sooner. I should have found you this morning instead of this.”I nodded to the cake.
“No.” She stopped me, placing a hand on my chest. “It’s perfect.”
“You deserve nothing less,” I said, watching her flip through the book still.
She set it down and reached out for one of the strawberries on top of the cake, taking a bite and giggling in delight.“You didn’t have to do all of this, really. I’m sorry I let my emotions get to me today.”
“Do not ever apologize for feeling,” I quickly said. “That is what makes you so perfect in my eyes. You never once hide what you feel. You care, and that is what matters. You care enough to find justice for victims many forgot about. You care enough to put yourself in danger just to protect this town.”
“I can’t help it. Someone needs to care for them,” she said.
“I am glad I met you, Lenny,” I admitted, and she glanced up from the book.
She sucked in her lower lip trying to hide the growing smile, her cheeks warming.
“You are my aftermath,” I continued. “After every horrible thing we’ve been through, this is the future we deserve. I promise you, we will get justice for the victims, and you will never have to live in fear again.”
Before I could say another word, Len leaned in and crashed her lips into mine, taking me by surprise.
They were light and delicate, gentle. Shock overcame me for only a moment before I returned the kiss just as passionately. Each second that passed I wanted to savor forever. It was everything I imagined, sweet but desperate. There was nothing that could take this moment from me.
Not the thoughts I kept trying to shove away, not Agent Grey and the rest of the FBI, and certainly not the Coastal Killer.
Len’s hands draped over my shoulders and clasped behind my neck as she settled in to the kiss. I pulled back for only a second, our noses practically touching. The warm flecks in the brown of her eyes were even more noticeable up close.
