Page 132 of Last Letters to Ara
“That CHILD is the most amazing person I have ever fucking met. Despite your BEST attempts at ruining anything good in him, he prevailed, making him stronger than you ineveryrespect. You’re just so fucking rotten on the inside, so fargoneas a person, that you can do nothing but try to contaminate everything around you. Well, you FAILED. Theo is GOOD.” Bill’s mask falls, just in the slightest, and I keep going. “And it’s a fuckingmercythat your wife didn’t have to stick around to see what you did to your son, what kind of monster you have become. It’s amercythat she doesn’t know that you can still look yourself in the mirror every fucking day, despite being thereasonsomeone had to SAVE YOUR SON’S LIFE. So, take your deadbeat, abusive, piece of shit drunk self and don’t ever come within a fucking mile of us again.”
I tear my arm out of his grasp, speaking loud enough for those around us to hear now. “And don’t youevermake a pass at me again. I’m not into wrinkly, shriveled-up dicks.”
I hear gasps all around us and don’t bother to stick around to watch Bill struggle to ease the looks of horror on the eavesdropping faces.
“Now,” I say pleasantly, like that didn’t just happen, as I lead Theo to the dance floor. “Let’s give these plastics something else to talk about.”
I don’t marvel at my bravery. Standing up to bullies is the bare goddamn minimum, and I should have started a long time ago.
As I come around to Theo’s front, I have no idea why I brought us to the dance floor of all places. “I should have thought this through. I’ve got nothing to offer besides some below-average twerking.”
Theo doesn’t laugh at my joke the way I hoped, he just stares at me, silent. I find so much turmoil still left in his eyes, but they’re no longer empty and dead. They are full of emotion, shock, maybe even a little regret. I’m busy sorting through it all when he reaches up, cupping my face.
“Ara?”
“Yeah?”
“That was the most badass thing I have ever seen, tied only with you decking that douchebag in the face.” I wave him off, but he grabs my wrist. “Nobodystands up to my father. Even the judges, the politicians, they’re all afraid of him.”
I shrug like it’s no big deal, like I haven’t become an absolutemenaceto society this year.
“Ara, look at me.”
I do, instantly recognizing the emotion in his eyes as the one I’ve always seen but never been able to place. The first time I saw it was the night we TP’d that asshole’s house, and it’s usually tucked away behind others, but right now it’s front and center for me to see.
“I love you, Ara. I’ve loved you from the minute I saw your smile at the airport.” His thumb brushes over my cheek. “I loved you then, and every day I love you more.”
I should tell him how I feel. I should tell him that I feel the same way, that I love him so much it feels like my chest is caving in. But I just can’t get the words out.
Instead, I grab his hand and drag him away.
Present - Ara
BEYOND WORDS, Idesperately search for somewhere private, away from the crowd bedecked in Cartier and Tiffany’s.
A coat closet isn’t an option, there being a literal coat check attendant whom I’m sure would not appreciate our presence. On second thought, maybe he would.Nobodyis wearing a coat in Florida, so it would be the first activity of the night to come his way, but I’m not in the mood to share.
A supply closet isn’t an option either, as those are tucked far away from this ballroom. God forbid one of these people would have to lay their eyes on such things.
All I know is I need to figure out something fast. That disgusting man needs to be purged from our thoughts forever. The spot on my arm where he grabbed me needs to be erased by Theo’s touch. The shadows he cast over us need to be driven away by sparkling light.
Finally.
Up ahead on my left, I see a door which is seamlessly designed to not take away from the beauty of the wall. Made of the same texture and color as the walls, the only thing that gives it away are the tiny cracks and silver handle, which I almost missed.
I glance around, relieved to see that not a single person has noticed us, too busy climbing social ladders or staring at their reflections in the glasses of champagne. Grabbing the cold handle, I push the door open quietly so we can slip in before anyone spots us.
The room we enter is not some sort of service hallway to a kitchen, which I expect. The only thing I can think of to describe it is some sort of…gentlemen’s club? It’s the kind of room you see in movies where the mafia bosses come to smoke cigars.
There are beautiful mahogany leather chairs arranged around a low, wooden table in the middle, perfect for resting drinks while the men play cards. The carpet has beautiful, golden designs all throughout the burgundy color making it look even more expensive.
It’s less modern than everything else I’ve seen throughout this hotel, making it seem frozen in time. Windows paned with gold run the entire length of the far side wall giving a stunning view of the other high rises. There are even desks, lined with decanters of amber liquid I can only imagine is the highest of quality.
The most beautiful part of the room is surely the wall to my left, lined by built-in bookshelves and leather-bound books. I drop his hand, moving to run my fingers across the gilded spines, awestruck.
I turn to Theo, who’s been unusually quiet. Thankfully, he’s no longer just the shell of the man I love, which I expect to see, quiet and caved. Instead, his expression is full of curiosity and trouble.
I smirk. “You’ve been quiet.”
