Page 124 of Crimson Promises
“I don’t know if I should tell you this, but he’s been going around bragging that Aurora agreed to wear his jersey to the game against Bay City. Figures someone from Alpha Phi Alpha would act like that,” Connor scoffed.
“I heard. Aurora won’t be going.” It’s not safe. She could argue with me all she wanted, but that was a non-negotiable. My arms wrapped around the ropes beside me. I clenched them as tight as I could. Picturing my hands wrapping around Riley’s neck.
“Whatever you say, dude. So, Aurora’s acting hot and cold. Have you noticed any patterns or trends regarding when she tends to retreat from you?”
“I never realized our chat would turn into an analytics session.”
“It’s the way the experts do it.”
“Fine.” I floated through the memories of the push and pull Aurora and I’s relationship has taken since I walked through that lecture hall. Highs and lows of the inevitable pull I felt towards her, the looming threat of Michael, and above all else, the desire to make the Originals pay for their crimes against Jos and my mum. The secrets and the lies.
“I can admit there are things I’ve said or done that have pushed her away. And there’s a part of me that recognized that would be the best thing for her, but I can’t deny this connection between the two of us.” I let out a sigh. “Sometimes it feels like my soul has been waiting my entire existence for her.”
“You mean your entire life?”
“Yeah, of course. It’s not like I will live until I’m five hundred.”
“Weirdo. I can’t sit here and say that I know what you’ve been experiencing, but I don’t see what the problem is. You’re obviously into her. She digs you.”
“I wish it were that easy. There’s a bunch of stuff standing in the middle, pushing us apart.”
“What are you, Romeo and Juliet? It’s the twenty-first century, not the Middle Ages. You can both choose each other and say screw it to the other stuff.”
That meant walking away from revenge, never mind my deal with Michael. According to him, Aurora had to remain mortal at all costs.
When she remained human, she’d give up immortality or slowed aging. I hadn’t encountered enoughdimidum's to fully understand what their lifespan looked like. We’d maybe have eighty years together, and during that time, I would look like I’d barely aged to human eyes. It wouldn’t be much of a life. We would have to hide just like we were now. Even though we weren’t a couple, for her, I'd make that sacrifice.
It made more sense for her to live a mortal life without me. The thought of walking away from her left me feeling frigid from head to toe. A feeling I didn’t want to dwell on, but Aurora had her fair share of trauma. She deserved a happy, normal life without demons, Heaven or Hell. Without the devil trying to kidnap her. Without my baggage.
I couldn’t share with Connor the actual reasons that burned our future to the ground before we ever had the chance to start one.
“Thanks for the reminder, man. I’ll take it into consideration.”
“Don’t mention it. The least I can do is help you get your head out of your ass. I’m here to simplify things for you. Not everything has to be a broody life or death scenario. Everything will work itself out.”
Life doesn’t work like that, my friend. Instead, life throws you punch after punch until you are knocked out on the ground bleeding, and even when you muster your strength to stand back up, life will lull you into believing you can win the fight. But lurking around every corner are whiplashes of agony and torment of knowing that you are not destined for love or happiness. Life honed you into a weapon capable only of revenge and focused only on power. The moments of anything outside of that are only that: moments.
“For sure,” I responded. “How’s your love life going?” I didn’t want to talk about Aurora anymore. It was too depressing,
Connor laced his fingers together and cradled his skull into his hands. “The boxing hasn’t gone unnoticed. I’ll leave your imagination to conjure up the rest.” He leaned forward conspiratorially even though we were sitting on opposite sides of the ring. “Picture a rainbow of lingerie painting itself on my floor.”
I chuckled. Connor had this unique ability to use humor to defuse my torrential moods.
Sully sauntered towards us. "You two done hogging the ring with your gossiping?"
Nosy bastard. I smothered a laugh.
"Don't pretend you aren't the biggest gossiper in here," Connor teased before shifting his attention back my way. “So, when are you going to bring your girlfriend by?”
Sully leaned his elbows on the worn red and blue ropes between us, eyes focused on me as mine shot daggers at Connor.
“I…uh, forgot, I’m late for something. Probably a class. See you guys later,” Connor muttered, grabbing his towel and water bottle quicker than I’d ever seen him move in the ring.
“Don’t blame the kid,” Sully grinned.
“Easy for you to say. He’s not spreadingyourbusiness all over town.”
“Connor's just proud to be your friend. If it makes you feel any better, I had to threaten his membership to get any info.”
