Page 98 of Crimson Promises
Aurora’s torn expression at Darlene and Victor’s when talking about the necklace kicked at my gut. I tried. I really did, but I couldn’t magically make it appear as much as I wanted to. However, it didn’t seem out of the realm of possibility for an archangel to figure it out with their special powers and abilities.
I pulled my glamour on to keep myself hidden when I got close to Canmore.Occulare,I whispered. I’ll check if Aurora is still working before I make myself comfortable in the sanctuary of my preferred spire.
Jean was busy in her office, typing away at the computer. Chelsea was still at the front desk, looking immaculately put together. I searched all of Aurora’s usual spots, even the back office where she had once mentioned they were working on a new collection.
In the center of a table was a crimson hard-covered book with gold leafing around the edges. It captured my attention. A crash from the room behind me shook me from a trance. I left the room as quickly as I could. Aurora wasn’t at work anymore.
I knew she couldn’t be trusted to be alone. I should have told Michael to shove his list where the sun doesn’t shine, aka his ass hole.
Again, I focused on the bond that joined the two of us and followed that. It brought me across campus to an Italian bistro. Ivy curled over its exterior door and carried over an arched bay window. Sitting across a red and white checkered tablecloth was Aurora with…the angelfucker.
Typically, I was not a jealous person. After a millennium of walking this earth, I’ve seen and been part of fluid situations, but something about Aurora around Riley turned my entire body inside out. The thought of him touching her made me want to slowly sever off each one of his fingers.
I paced back and forth outside of the restaurant. Did Aurora want me to stay away from her so she could run back to him? He could offer her a real life, part of me whispered, where I couldn’t even offer her a future. I was only a reminder of the lies, pain, and suffering. Maybe she was better off without me.
A couple held the Grecian blue door open, exiting hand in hand. I slipped inside undetected and watched them walk past the patio onto the street. Their fingers were interlaced. While waiting for the light to change, they bowed their heads towards each other. At that moment, a lifetime of secrets, love, and happiness seemed to pass between them. I staggered back a step, the envy feeling like a physical blow.
I shook it off and returned my attention to Aurora. I hid behind a wall to avoid her detection, positioning myself so Riley’s back was to me. The less I had to stare at his face, the safer it was for it to stay intact. Between the two of them sat a steaming plate of calamari fritti.
Aurora turned her face in my direction, her eyes on the wall a few feet behind me. She wore a quizzical expression like she was trying to solve a mathematical equation. Then she took a sip of her water and began coughing. I had to fight the urge to remain where I was standing. She covered her mouth with a napkin. “Excuse me, water must have gone down the wrong way.”
“No problem, babe.”
Babe. When the fuck did he start calling her that?
It’d make me feel so much better if I could fling a plate of spaghetti at his face right now. That would be sure to kill the mood.
She bit the inside of her cheek. Did that mean she liked him calling her that, or was she just as repulsed as I was?
“Sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. The last few days were crazy with wrapping up assignments. And some other complications arose.”
So that’s what I was now, a complication?
“It ended up working out. I’ve been busy with football practice, and we had some away games.”
No wonder the campus seemed better. Avoiding its daily quotient of bros.
“Not going to lie, though,” Riley leaned back in his chair. Comfortable. Cocky. “I’m not used to having to chase after a girl.”
“I never asked you to chase me, Riley.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s part of the reason I’m so intrigued.”
“I’d hope you’d be interested in me for more than that.”
“Of course, I am. You’re smart, independent, and down to earth. Those aren’t qualities you find in a woman every day.”Gotta give it to the guy. He recovers quickly, at least.
Aurora perked up at that. “Do you know what you will do once your undergrad is done?”
“The dream is to play for the NFL. The Seattle Seahawks are my hometown team, playing for them would be checking an item off my bucket list. My parents always taught me to have a backup plan. If the NFL doesn’t work out, I’d like to get a Master of Science in Kinesiology to either pursue a path as an athletic therapist or see if I can work at the coaching level in some state or professional teams. Football is my passion, and I want to keep my life centered around that.”
Aurora’s jaw went slack at that explanation.
Fuck me, Riley. You had the douche angle going so well. Why did you have to go and start sounding intelligent?
I looked up at the smooth ceiling. Various pot lights were accentuating different areas of the restaurant. If Aurora chose to remain mortal, this is what her life would be like. There would be no chance for a fallen angel and a mortal to be together. I’d live years beyond her death, carrying another person to grieve for eternity. We could possibly have a handful of happy years, then what? What would be the point of any of this?
“I think it’s great you are taking the chance to follow your dream. And if it doesn’t work out how you want it to, you’re prepared to pursue another option that keeps you around something you're passionate about.”
