Page 157 of Blossoms of the Heart
Chapter 32
Tai
* * *
“Phoebe wait.” I ran after her. Following her out into the parking lot where more people were coming in.
It was the crowds that slowed her giving me a chance to catch her and grab her arm.
She was crying so much, and she wouldn’t look at me.
“Tai, please just let me go.”
“No.” I snapped. I didn’t want to let her go. All I wanted was to make her feel better.
God, I knew it was something important that she wanted to tell me but I would never have guessed it was that. I foolishly thought it was something to do with that prick of an ex she had. That fucker, what a way to treat someone. And he was the states attorney.
Glad I got to beat him to a fucking pulp.
“Phoebe.”
John caught up to us and rested a hand on me.
“Tai.” He cried. I looked back to him and he nodded.
I didn’t want to let her go, but it seemed to be one of those situations where it was best.
I released her and watched her run away. Running through the crowd and into the darkness.
“Why did you allow that asshole to come here?” I snapped at John.
Damn, I hadn’t seen John in the same length of time that I hadn’t seen Phoebe and that wasn’t the type of greeting I wanted to give him.
“Son, I didn’t know he was going to be here.”
It wouldn’t be his fault or anyone else’s. I was just so damn mad that the fucker embarrassed Phoebe like that.
“What happened to her?” I asked.
“That’s something you two should talk about. It’s better that way.” John nodded. “Give her some time then go see her.” He suggested.
* * *
I went back to Akito’s.
I suspected Phoebe’s parents and Mitsuke were all here too but I kept myself away from them.
I was in the study, or rather Rukia’s room. This was where she used to play the piano and teach us all sorts of things when we were little.
She’d sing for us. The woman was an angel.
The piano was still here as were the rows of shelves containing children’s books in both Japanese and English. Stories about everything.
This was the room I first met Phoebe in.
My mom brought me in here after we’d arrived for the summer holidays.
Phoebe was on Rukia’s lap. A mere toddler. Smiling away as she sang. I remembered the smile because I thought she looked like a doll. In fact for a while I thought she was.
