Page 61 of Healed

“You’re impossible!” I said, slapping his chest.

He grabbed my hands and rolled me again.

Somehow we ended with me on my back and Vienna lying next to me, looking down at me.

“Hi,” he murmured.

“Hi back,” I said, not feeling half as drunk as I had a second ago.

Vienna simply smiled, staring at me, looking happier than I could remember.

And then my head was lifting up, my weight balancing on my elbows as I moved my upper body closer to him.

Vienna didn’t move, letting me make all the decisions. I closed my eyes and pursed my lips, wanting to kiss him, wanting to reestablish that connection.

Only the second my eyes closed, I no longer saw Vienna—the man I wanted to kiss with a desperation I had never felt before.

Instead, I saw my mother. Cold and alone, and dead.

And I was about to kiss the man responsible for it.

It was almost like a bucket of cold water had been poured over me. Instead of kissing his lips, I placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. And Vienna didn’t say a word. He simply nodded, got to his feet and held his hand out to me, helping me stand up as well.

“Goodnight-eth, princess,” he whispered, opening my door and pushing me inside.

“Goodnight, fair knight,” I whispered back, earning myself a wide grin from him.

“It’s been a pleasure,” he said, tipping a pretend hat at me.

And suddenly I was eleven again.

“We mustn’t do this again sometime,” I said, finishing our age-long traditional goodbye.

And then he was closing the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts, and a hell of a lot of confused feelings to unpack.

But sleep didn’t come easily that night.

I was filled with regret for pulling away from Vienna. Then came the shame for regretting it.

I couldn’t help it, though.

It was Vienna.

My Vienna.

And every time I closed my eyes, I found myself drifting backwards, lost in the memories. They weren’t of Nico or even my mother.

My thoughts drifted to him. To an easier time. To another night.

One where we had been happy and in love. Blissfully drunk, and laughing with him had seemed like the easiest thing in the world.

One where he reminded me exactly why I had chosen him for my own.

Where everything had been so effortless.

Chapter 17

Gabriella