Hot First Love - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

His smile faded, as if he saw right through me.

“Amy, there’s a poem that perfectly describes you right now.”

A poem?

“What poem?” I asked.

“Though years may pass, all joyous scenes are but a hollow show. Though a thousand styles of beauty may unfold, with whom can I share them?“”

I understood. He was saying I hadn’t moved on from Josh. Even if someone better came along, I wouldn’t see it, and I wouldn’t be able to share my feelings with anyone else.

Seeing my expression darken, he explained, “You’re not exactly subtle. And it’s not like I’m trying to snoop, but you’re always on your phone. I can’t help but see some of the messages. I pretty much know what’s going on.

And,” he added, his brow furrowing, “I’m pretty sure we are being followed.” Then, out of the blue, he said, “There’s a poem for Josh too.” He quoted, “Sober up, I’ll sit beneath the flowers. Drunk, I’ll sleep beneath them too.‘

Even though he’s technically my rival, I have to admit, the guy’s persistent. I didn’t understand what he was getting at. He smiled gently. “What I’m saying is, follow your heart. When you do that, everything else falls into place.”

I looked down. “It’s not that simple.” I paused. “But thank you, Sam. I’m sure you’ll find someone wonderful.”

He chuckled. “Friend–zoning me already?” As we talked, the sky darkened and the streetlights came on. My mom had made a feast and invited Sam to join us. She poured him a drink. “Dr. Evans, thank you again for everything.”

Just as we raised our glasses, the doorbell rang. I set down my drink. “I’ll get it.”

I opened the door to find Josh, his white shirt rumpled beneath a dark trench coat, looking like he’d just stepped off a plane. He glanced at the dining table, then pulled me outside. I let him lead me to a quiet spot in the courtyard. He took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders. “Are you cold?”

I shook my head.

He pulled out his phone and showed me a pre- recorded video. It was his mother. “Amy, hi. I owe you an apology. I don’t hate you. In fact, I always liked you. As a mother, I had to do what I thought was best for my son’s future.

You know Josh. He’s…intense when it comes to love. He couldn’t see past you. I figured once you had kids of your own, you’d understand a mother’s heart and forgive me.” She paused. “Also, Josh hasn’t forgotten you. He even bought an apartment in the building across from yours.”

She smiled warmly. “You’re both adults now. I don’t object to your relationship. I hope you two will be happy together.”

After the video ended, Josh handed me two debit cards. “This one has fifty thousand dollars. My mom wanted you to have it. Buy something nice for yourself.” He then handed me the other card. “This one has all my savings. Everything I earn from now on is yours too. I won’t keep a cent for myself.”

He looked up at me, his hand tightening around mine. “When I saw those pictures of you and Sam going home together in the group chat…I almost lost it. I booked a flight immediately.”

He explained, “I’ve been dealing with my mom and sorting things out with the company. I know everything now, about what happened back then.” He looked at me earnestly. “I’m sorry, Amy. I’ll never let anything like that happen again.”

He gently pulled me into a hug, his warm breath against my ear. “Don’t leave me. Please.” He told me he’d tried to forget me, but every time he made that vow, he’d fail. He just couldn’t. It was too hard.

I gently pushed him away, my curiosity piqued. “You bought an apartment across from me? When?”

He pulled me closer and started walking. “The fall after we broke up. I made my first big score with the gaming company and thought…maybe it could be our place.” He looked down at me. “So…are you going to take me back?”

I pretended to be indifferent. “We’ll see.”

When we arrived at his apartment, I froze, staring in disbelief at the…green. Everything was green. Tears sprang to my eyes. Back in high school, we’d been walking past a newly built apartment building when I’d commented that I wanted my future home to be decorated entirely in green.

Josh had asked, “Why green?”

I’d replied, “I love summer. The way the sunlight filters through the leaves. It’s beautiful. I want to capture summer, to live in it.”

It had been a silly, offhand comment, but he’d remembered. I quickly turned away and wiped my tears, muttering, “It’s hideous.”

He whispered, “It’s beautiful. You just forgot.”

I sniffled and walked into the bedroom. I instinctively reached for the nightstand drawer, but Josh blocked me.

“There’s…nothing to see in there,” he stammered nervously.

That was suspicious. Was there a picture of another woman hidden inside? I knew it! He was too handsome to have been single for seven years!

I stood up straight and pulled his ear. “Move it, Miller.”

He leaned his head on my shoulder, pleading, “Please, Amy, don’t.”

I narrowed my eyes. “One…”

“Two…”

“Josh, I’m warning you, when I get to four, we’re done.”

“Three…”

Before I could say “four,” he stepped aside, his shoulders slumped in defeat. I opened the drawer. Inside was a stack of train tickets. I checked the dates. They were all dated August 10th, my birthday.

Next to the tickets were order confirmations from the tickets. I checked the dates. They were all dated August 10th, my birthday. Next to the tickets were order confirmations from the bakery across from our high school my favorite bakery.

So, he was the one who’d been sending me those cakes every year. Tears streamed down my face. Josh gently wiped them away with his calloused thumb. “Don’t cry. You’ll get puffy.” He made a silly face to make me laugh, then gently stroked my hair. “This is the last time. I won’t make you cry again.”

A year later, I wore a white dress, and Josh wore a suit. From high school uniforms to wedding attire, it was still the boy who’d made my heart race in the hallway. As he slipped the ring on my finger, the lights highlighted his back, reminding me of the boy who’d turned around in the sunlight and called me, “Hey, classmate.”

It was perfect.

THE END