Page 121 of Blue Gold

Panicked, my heart beat fast as the walls started closing in on me. Or at least that was how it felt, with the thick tension spreading between us like poison. So ashamed, I wanted to be buried alive. Only I couldn’t escape this situation, no matter how much I wished otherwise.

“I am sorry,” I said, voice hoarse. “I am so sorry, Claudia, I really am.”

She huffed, her eyes locked with mine. “You think I care for your apology?”

Back in the safety of Daniel’s embrace, it was easy to believe I didn’t care about the consequences. But now, as I stood before the person I’d hurt and who absolutely hated me, it wasn’t that easy. Left with nothing but an apology she didn’t care to hear, I did us both a favor and kept my mouth shut.

“Daniel might have been stupid enough to fall for your act, but you? You’re nothing but a home-wrecking whore who reeks of cigarettes and lies.”

Her words were followed by a roaring silence, leaving me to drown in my own shame. Sick to my stomach, every part of my body shivered to the point I couldn’t utter a word. So, when she finally moved and walked past me, I stayed put, my tears falling to the sounds of her heels clicking on the floor until it slowly died, and I was all alone.

“There you are,” Daniel said as soon as I walked inside our home.

But not even his warm welcome and even warmer smile were enough to put me at ease, not after what had just happened.

Placing my keys on the counter, I looked around, taking in the scenery of this place, memorizing every bit and corner of a reality that would soon be gone.

“Hey.” Daniel’s loving voice reached me a second before he wrapped his arms around my body.

Closing my eyes, I submitted to his hug. A hug, its warmth and love I would never forget, not in a thousand different lives. From the second we met, I’d engraved Daniel Williams into my core, from the rare shade of gray in his eyes, to his scent that brought back memories of forgotten summers, to the sound of his voice, rich and strong like the ocean, to his touch, gentle at times but also so reassuring and protective.

It was probably why I could never erase him from my heart, not even after he broke it. But I guess that was the punishment for loving someone this deeply, more than you ever loved yourself.

“Is everything okay?” he asked, his hands holding me tighter.

I scooched closer, as close as I could, wishing to never be away from him.

“About tomorrow… I don’t think you should come.”

“What? Why?” His voice was a bit out of breath, perhaps from the surprise.

Last week, when I’d asked him to be my plus-one, I was excited about the idea. And when he agreed? It was almost too good to be true.

Almost.

I would tell him about Claudia, just not today. I couldn’t. I didn’t have the strength to handle what would follow. For now, all I wanted was for tomorrow to be over.

Pulling back just a bit, I looked up at his concerned face.

“It will be too risky with all the press and photographers. And besides, I will be too busy to be with you, so maybe it’s for the best.”

He placed one hand on my cheek, and I leaned into the touch.

“Are you sure that is the only reason?”

No.

“Yes.”

“Okay, then.” He pulled me into another hug. “If that’s what you want.”

It isn’t, but what choice do I have?

40

ELLIOT

“We’re up in five!”