by Daya Daniels
“For what, Archer? He couldn’t come himself?!” I shouted. “Today is my birthday!”
The two of us were in the middle of a shopping mall, closely resembling a squabbling couple. Each time I walked, Archer walked faster, occasionally grappling with my arm every few feet to force me to listen to him.
“Please, Evie. Could you stop and just listen for a minute?” Archer breathed out.
I stopped and gave him a hard stare.
“He didn’t come, Evie, because he can’t. You know that. He just asked me to check on you.”
“What would you like to know, Archer? Am I happy? No! Am I lonely? Yes! Do I miss him? Yes! Every fucking day. There you have it!”
Archer gave me a sorrowful look and sighed.
“Is he coming back, Archer?” I asked, hearing my own voice crack.
A woman pushing a toddler in a stroller rushed by us, shooting a strange glare over her shoulder and walking ahead. I was certain the spectacle of me making a scene in public looked more than just bizarre and dramatic. To make matters worse, now I was crying.
“I don’t know,” Archer said softly.
“You don’t know! Well why the fuck are you here then, Archer? Why are you following me?”
A security guard took notice of my raised voice and began moving towards us.
“I told you why I was here, Evie,” he said calmly, shoving his hands into his pockets. Then he grabbed me, pulling me into a side corridor, while I sobbed into my hands.
“I’m really sorry, Evie, that it has to be like this, but believe me, Luke he-he…”
“He what?”
He didn’t finish his sentence.
“Since he’s not coming back, Archer, tell him I’m dead,” I said stomping off.
I headed for the exit, wiping my tears that seemed to be endless. Every few feet ahead in this place, colorful ornaments hung outside of the shops and pretty strings of bright twinkling lights. A Santa Claus collected money for the less fortunate at the end of the walkway and decorated Christmas trees lined the place. The reminder that it was almost Christmas, only made me cry a little more.
When I hit the parking lot, I jumped into my car. Archer lazily leaned against the front entrance of the building watching me, pulling a cigarette and a lighter from his pocket. It was lit before I even started the engine.
I loved this car.
When I thought about who had given it to me, I only felt more unsettled. I was certain I looked like a crazy person, laughing and crying simultaneously, sitting in my car alone but I couldn’t help it. I rested my head on the steering wheel and listened to “Look After You” by The Fray, blasting through the stereo speakers. Turning the volume up, I pulled out onto I-15.
Evie
When I made it to my apartment on the twenty-ninth floor, Steven was standing outside my door, holding his phone in hand. His hair was damp from a recent shower and the light beard that he seemed to be growing was now gone. I raked over his clothes, noticing that he was only wearing sweats, a hoodie, and sneakers.
“Evie,” he said rushing towards me with a contrite look on his face, taking the two bouquets of flowers that I’d collected from the security desk before coming up here out of my hold and resting them on the floor.
Steven pulled me against his chest. Are you okay?”
“No,” I said softly.
He unlocked the door. Once we were inside he rushed around the kitchen offering to make me some tea. I plopped down at the center island on a stool, watching how familiar he was now in my space. Steven placed a steaming cup of mint tea in front of me. I stirred the spoon a few times, watching the Coriolis effect take over the liquid in the mug.
“I sent you some messages and I called a few times. There was no answer. I started to get worried, so I came over.”
I gave him a small smile but still didn’t speak.
“Evie,” he whispered, approaching.
He ran his fingers through my hair, pulling me into his chest.
“How was school?” he asked.
“It was good. I have a lot of assignments to complete.”
I took a deep breath, reveling in the feeling of his fingers moving through my hair.
“You’re doing too much, Evie.”
I scoffed into the soft fabric of Steven’s hoodie. “Is that coming from the man who once told me I lacked ambition?”
Steven sighed. “I’m sorry, Evie. I didn’t mean that. I was different then, always chasing stuff. Recognition, prestige, money, a fancy apartment—all the things that don’t matter.
“Then I realized the one thing that did matter, I threw it away.”
He took another breath.
“What was it about her, Steven, and don’t tell me it was nothing because, obviously, it was enough to make you want to leave me for her,” I said.
He looked away from me for a moment with a pained expression. “It was the money, Evie, and her hunger for more out of life. It did something to me but otherwise nothing and I mean that. After a while, I realized that no matter how much I achieved or how much money I made or promotions I earned, it was never good enough. It would never be good enough.”
“Porsche was very pretty,” I complimented.
“All of it was fake, Evie.
“Yeah, all of it. Her short thin hair was full of long extensions. She was hideous without makeup so she wore it all the time…even to bed. Porsche had the ugliest hands underneath the acrylic nails she always wore and her feet were worse. Her boobs were fake too. All fake,” he snapped.
“She certainly fooled me.”
“Fooled me too.” He chuckled.
After the uncomfortable silence, he spoke again. “Evie, you’re naturally beautiful, not needing a stitch of makeup. I used to love looking at you in the morning.”
He slipped his finger under my chin to look at him. “The one thing that should have mattered to me, Evie, was you.”
I gazed into Steven’s blue eyes and I knew he was telling the truth.
“But I don’t think you’re in love with me anymore,” he whispered as his eyes went glassy.
I remained silent, dropping my head.
“I deserve that but I hate to see you hurting. I don’t know what is happening with you or what is going on, but I know you’re hurting, Evie. I want to make it better but you won’t let me.”
I wiped the wetness from my cheeks.
“Maybe I can’t make it better?” He smirked, shaking his head. “It seems that only he can but I will keep trying.
“Happy Birthday, Evie,” he said softly, placing a small box in my hand. “Please don’t open it yet. Wait until I leave.”
I stood straight, away from the kitchen counter and ran my hands through my hair.
“I’m going to head out, Evie, but if you need anything, please call me,” he said firmly, letting his fingers graze my cheek.
“Okay,” I breathed out, feeling exhausted.
When the door shut, I went straight to bed.
Luke
“What did she say?” I asked Archer, while he paced the room.
“She’s okay,” he said calmly, bobbing his head. “Evie was just a little angry. She has quite a temper.”
I gave Archer a hard look when I realized he was concealing the rest of the story.
“She wants to know why you haven’t contacted her...at least.”
“I don’t want to put her hopes up and have her waiting around for me when I’m never coming back, Archer.”
Archer nodded. “Makes sense, but you have to understand how it looks to a woman that’s in love with you, Luke—not so good.”
I poured two glasses of AnCnoc Cutter highland single malt scotch whisky. I downed the first glass and shoved the other towards Archer.
“Does Drago know you have this?” Archer asked, smirking into the dark liquid.
“No,” I scoffed.
“You just keep breaking all the rules, man,” Archer joked, raising his voice.
&nb
sp; “And I’m paying for them,” I said drily. “And the ex-boyfriend?”
Archer sighed. “He has a big place on one of the top floors of the Palms Place. Steven Edward McCallister—thirty years old, born and raised in Rachel.
“Did you know he’s been dating Evie since they were teenagers?”
“No,” I said firmly.
“He dumped her for some rich, hot chick and moved to New York a year and a half ago.”
Fuck.
“They have quite a long history, man. It might be hard to break,” he said giving me a sympathetic look. “Steven graduated from NYU six years ago, with a master’s degree in architectural design. Now he is an architect or some shit, working for some big firm out of New York that relocated him back here.
“He’s a good-looking chap,” he said.
“Not helping, man.”
“Sorry,” he said throwing his hands up in the air. “Steven runs five miles every morning at four, before the sun comes up. He goes to work, putting in pretty long days and then he goes home.
“He calls Evie every night when he gets home, then he watches CNN until he falls asleep. Then he gets up the next day and does it all over again.
“Steven also doesn’t appear to be seeing any other women.”
“Wow,” I said swirling the ice cubes around in my empty glass.
“Evie’s been spending some time with him but it doesn’t look like they’re seeing each other or anything. They seem like they’re friends but I’m sure the chump wants more.”
He eyed me suspiciously. “Do you want me to take him out?”
“No, no, nothing like that,” I snickered.
“I’m sure you’ve considered it,” he said.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Evie would be upset about that.”
“How long will it take for Drago to hear back from the Council?”
“I don’t know.”
“You should push harder, Luke. You are deputy commander of this ship. Your reputation speaks for itself. You have been on millions of missions. So what if one partially failed! They didn’t give you enough time.
“You should push harder or you could always just break the rules again. Luke, you have already, what would be any different the next time around?”
“Not being able to return,” I snapped. “I could fucking die if I can’t come back, Archer.”
“Yeah, fuck, that’s right.”
He continued to pace the room while taking long sips of his drink. “This is some strong shit, man. I hope you don’t drink it often.”
“Not really, but as of lately, it’s been my night cap.”
“This has been helpful to me you know, all this,” he said amused while extending an arm around the room. “To see what you and Evie had and now you’re kind of separated. It’s been like a lesson to me.”
“What do you mean?”
“It all shows me what not to do…when it comes to Eden.” He chuckled.
“Fuck you,” I mumbled underneath my breath.
“If you want her, Luke, I think you need to speed things up.”
He hesitated to speak. “I spotted Steven shopping in Tiffany last week.”
I hurled my rock glass across the room. It slammed against the wall with incredible force, before it shattered into pieces.
Evie
I spent the morning pacing the kitchen, debating if I should open the box that Steven gave to me. I sipped my coffee, glaring at it. There was a note written on thick fancy paper that was rolled up attached to it and tied in white ribbon. I plopped down in one of the stools at the center island, unrolled the note and began to read it.
“Dear Evie,
I’ve spent so much time being an ass. I know I truly don’t deserve you. I regret all the months, the days, the hours, and the minutes that I’ve lost when I could have been spending my life with you.
I’ve loved you since I was fifteen years old and I’ve never stopped loving you, despite what has happened between us. I was hoping we could start over. I want and I need the chance to live up to all the promises I made to you, when we were us. When I told you that I wanted you, I meant it.
Please give me a chance to prove to you that I am the man that you helped to make me.
I love you so, so much.
Happy Birthday,
Stevie xoxo.”
I opened the box that had a smaller box inside. When I removed the top, I nearly fell out on the floor. Inside was a two-carat, round brilliant solitaire ring, set in platinum. I sat stunned, looking the ring over.
Ariana showed up an hour later, demanding that I explain the most recent deposit that was placed in her bank account. I knew eventually I would have to tell her the truth.
“You’ve been where?” she asked again in complete disbelief. Her wide brown eyes flashed at me as she said the words.
“The Sigma Arcturus galaxy,” I repeated.
She slow blinked. “Are you sure, Evie?”
I nodded again slowly. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you but it’s the truth.”
Her eyes focused on the top of the white granite center island, while she listened to me continue to speak. I prayed she didn’t think I was insane.
“And Luke gave you all this?” She scanned the room. “And the car?”
I nodded again.
“This is crazy, Evie.”
I nodded again.
“And that’s why he’s not here?”
“He can’t leave. I’m not sure he will even ever return.”
She stood and grabbed a glass, pouring some water into it. She took a long gulp, drinking all of the contents at once and placed the glass back down on the counter.
“You can’t tell anyone, Ariana.”
“Who would believe me, Evie?!”
“That is why I didn’t tell you.”
“Okay, so let’s say that this is all real. What if he doesn’t come back, Evie?”
I stared at my hands. “It’s a possibility.”
“I mean Steven seems like he’s all over you right now. I don’t know how you’ve managed not to fuck him again after all this time.”
I bit my lip.
“Almost?” she asked squinting her eyes.
I pressed my tips of my index finger and my thumb together. “A little.”
“Is there anything else I need to know, Evie?” She folded her arms across her chest.
I pushed the Tiffany box towards Ariana with a finger. She eyed me strangely and then looked at the box again.
“What is this?”
“Open it.” I nudged my chin in the direction of the box.
She removed the top slowly, peering inside of it. “What the fuck is this?” she asked, almost ready to explode. “Who is this from, Evie? Luke?”
I shook my head from side to side but remained silent.
“Steven!” she yelled.
I nodded.
“What the fuck, Evie?! Are you serious? Oh my God! What did you say?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t said anything yet,” I whined. “The Evie five years ago would have gone berserk over Steven proposing, but now things are just different. It’s only made me more confused.”
She slanted her head to look at me. “Well I have to give it to Steven this time. I didn’t expect this, Evie.” She chuckled. “He really is serious. I’m not sure I can hate the man anymore.”
“There’s one more thing you should know, Ariana.”
“What?” she asked with a suspicious look on her face. “There’s more?”
I quickly nodded before I spoke, taking a deep breath. “Ya umneye.”
“What?”
“I’m smarter,” I whispered. “I just said that in Russian.”
“You’ve always been smart, Evie. I don’t understand what you are saying.”
“No, you don’t understand, Ariana. I’m saying I’m smarter, like way smarter.
“I learn faster, process information now at a miraculous speed and my memory is impecca
ble. I speak at least fifteen different languages that I learned in less than a month. I haven’t told anyone.”
She gave me a blank look.
“My professors have placed me on an advanced student’s list. I should have my MSc in less than a year now. They have recommended I take another degree program simultaneously to use up my time. I decided on atmospheric science,” I said giggling.
She smiled. “Evie, this is crazy!” she screamed doing circles in the same spot.
“I know but it’s true.”
“Do you have to give all of this stuff back?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Well.” She walked towards me. “Make the best of it.
“What are you going to do about Steven?” she asked gripping my shoulders, giving me a light shake.
“I don’t know,” I whispered.
“Please consider the money a pre-wedding gift.” I gave her a hug. “I don’t want it back, Ariana.”
“This is crazy. I’m not sure I can believe any of this.”
I only laughed.
“Where is the champagne, Evie?!” she shouted.
Luke
“Viktor Krushkev was found dead in Lebanon,” Commander Drago drawled as I walked towards him, where he stood near the window. “He was assassinated by MI-5.”
Commander Drago laughed. “He was just a pawn. A fool out to make some money but he was being used by the Americans.
“The nuke is still in the Sayan Mountains.”
“Good.”
“When humans decide to stop making these nuclear weapons, the entire galaxy will be a much safer place.” Drago sighed. “We fix this problem and then another pops up and then another. It’s never ending.”
I chuckled under my breath and then looked up to meet Commander Drago’s eyes.
“You don’t look so good, Luke.”
“I’m fine.” I stood at attention. “Archer said you wanted me on deck.”
Commander Drago approached me slowly and then looked me over. “Your eyes...” he said in a deep voice. “They look empty and you stink of liquor, Luke.”
I sighed. “Sir, I—”
He held a large palm up, halting me from speaking. “I knew this would happen but you won’t let it, Luke.”
I remained silent while he spoke.