Page 6 of Beautiful Desire

Although I'm happy to be back here in Boston, I can't help feeling conflicted about my hookup with the tattooed Adonis last night. So, really, how I’m feeling today is all down to Gia. If she hadn’t made me go, I never would have spent the night with D and I wouldn’t be feeling the way I do right now.

Who am I kidding? I had the best night of my life last night.

Heading out of the arrivals lounge toward the cab line, I pull my phone out of my purse and call Gia to see how she’s settled in.

“Hi, Gia. How did the big move go? I’m coming over with a celebratory breakfast in the morning,” I tell her happily through the phone.

She isn’t exactly a morning person, but she does like her coffee when she wakes up.

“Yeah, it’s been…busy. Draining, emotional, you know – all the things. I’m currently drinking wine and unpacking the kitchen.”

“I wish I could have been there today.”

“Never mind about that. Tell me about the wedding. How was the reception? Any hot, single guys? Give me all the deets. I’m living vicariously through you. Spill.”

At the mention of the wedding, a chill runs down my spine while a flashback of D’s large, strong frame hovered above me last night comes to the forefront of my brain. The feeling of every kiss he trailed along my neck, how his hands felt as they explored my body.

“Elle? The wedding?” Gia’s voice sounds through the phone, shaking me out of the memory trance I was in.

“Yeah, sorry…it was fine.”

“Fine? Who describes a wedding as fine?”

“Ugh, look, I met a guy, we hooked up, end of story. It was one night, G, and it’s not a big deal. Can we drop it before we even start? I really don’t feel like talking about it.”

Slapping my forehead at everything I just blurted out, I hear the audible gasp from Gia.

“What?Youslept with someone from work?” I hear the shock in her voice.

She knows my rule and how I’m such a stickler for that one in particular.

“Ijustsaid I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I’m at the airport waiting for my cab and I’m exhausted,”I say, telling her the truth.

I really do just want to get back to my own apartment and forget about last night.

“Okayyyyy…?” she replies uneasily.

“I was just calling to make sure you settled in okay.”

My girl has been through a real rough patch the past few months; I couldn’t be prouder of her for how strong she’s been through it all and to be rebuilding her life like she is.

“Yeah, I’m good. I already feel a little lighter not being in that house anymore.”

“Well, good. I’m glad to hear that. You deserve so much better than what that asshole put you through.”

I was never a fan of Gallo, her now-ex-husband. He was an accountant who stupidly thought he could steal money from some of the richest people in the city, except he got caught. After his arrest at their house, Gia couldn’t stand to be surrounded by all the memories there. There was always something just…off to me about him, but G loved him, so I did my best friend duty and told her what I thought and then never brought it up again.

“Okay, well, my cab is pulling up, but I’ll see you in the morning. Try to get some sleep tonight. I know this is big for you, but you’re doing it. Love you, bitch.”

I hear a faint, “Love you, bitch,” as I pull the phone away from my ear and end the call, taking a step up to the cab that’s just arrived.

I give the driver my address and settle in for the ride back to my apartment, unable to get rid of this feeling that’s been following me around all day and the pair of blazing blue eyes still at the forefront of my mind.

I’m thankful the taxi ride back to the apartment is made in silence. After the phone call I had with Gia, it’s made the funk I’ve been in all day even worse. I don’t know what this feeling is, but I don’t like it. I’m trying to convince myself it’s the effects of too much alcohol and not enough sleep and being away from home comforts, but in reality, I know it’s not.

Opening the door to my apartment, I wheel my suitcase in behind me, glad to crawl into my own bed tonight. I flick on the light, illuminating the small hallway. Walking into the open plan living and kitchen area, I look around and see everything just how I left it.

Grabbing a glass of ice water from the kitchen, I ask Alexa to play my Spotify playlist. The low hum of music fills the space, and the sound of “Because of You” by Ne-Yo comes through the speaker as I head to my bedroom to unpack. But my thoughts keep wandering back to D.

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