by M. C. Vann
I was too late. He left already. He didn’t wait.
My disappointment grew again. These expectations that I kept having was slowly taking its toll on me. I suddenly felt weak. This was too much. I couldn’t keep doing this to myself. I was only hurting myself by holding such expectations. With my head down, I departed from the fountain. The few steps I took were filled heavy with regret.
Then I heard footsteps coming toward me and I stopped. As I looked up, there stood Henry, smiling at me — the face that I longed for and most certainly missed seeing.
I smiled back, knowing he hadn’t left yet and that he waited for me.
No, I thought to myself. After all the things he put me through, why was I smiling at him? A sudden anger overcame me and I quickly turned to run away in the opposite direction.
“Ally!” Henry called out, but I didn’t stop. “Ally!”
He caught up to me in no time and snatched my left arm. He easily spun me around to face him, but I averted my eyes. “What’s going on, Ally? Why did you run away from me?”
“Because I have to. I shouldn’t be here,” I replied, trying to yank my arm from his grasp. “I shouldn’t have come tonight.”
“Then why did you come? There must be a reason why you chose to come here.” His fingers still grasped onto my arms and I finally allowed myself to look up at him.
“I… I…” I lost my words as I stared into those silvery emerald eyes. “I don’t … I don’t know.”
“You’re honestly telling me you don’t know why you came.” He sounded irritated and for a moment there, I was scared to see this side of him come out.
“I…”
“If you don’t want to say it, then I’ll tell you why you came. You wanted to see me,” he stated it so smugly and confidently, my jaw dropped open.
“I wanted to see you?” I scoffed bitterly. “Don’t you think too highly of yourself.”
“It’s true, isn’t it?”
I shook my head, trying to conceal my feelings.
“You know it is, Ally. You wanted to see me and I wanted to see you.”
“Okay, fine! I wanted to see you,” I admitted out loud. “I thought of you every moment of every day and I don’t know why, but I keep wanting to see you. But why do you want to see me when you are with someone else, how could you do this to me? No! How could you do this to her?”
“Someone else? Who are you talking about?”
“Don’t lie to me.” I shook his hands off of me. “I saw you with your girlfriend last Friday when I delivered some flowers to your hotel.”
“Girlfriend? I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“But—but I saw you with her.”
I could see him going trying to remember, thinking back to that day. “I think you saw me with Eleanor. She’s only a good old friend of mine.”
“I don’t believe you.” Crossing my arms, I turned quickly on my heel as I realized that my eyes were beginning to get teary. Why was I crying? This was nothing to cry over.
“Are you jealous?” Henry jokingly whispered in my ear as he bent down to my shoulder. He always knew how to talk me into a corner.
“No, I am not jealous. Why would I be? There’s no reason to be jealous of you.” Maybe except the fact that you’re rich and extremely good-looking, but other than that …
“Come on, Ally. I know you like me,” he bluntly blurted out. How could he just say those words with so much confidence?
“No, I don’t. You can’t read my mind,” I snapped back.
“I know how I make you feel,” he said, looking right into my eyes. “I see the way you tense up when I’m around you like you’re all nervous. I see the way you look at me. I see the way your eyes light up when you see me smile. You’re happy when you’re with me, aren’t you?”
Henry gently took my right hand in both of his, opening up my palm to lay it flat near his chest and I remained silent. “Ally,” he whispered my name so softly, so seductively. “I want to let you know that, I too, like you. Very much.”
He said it again for the second time. The words I feared to hear, but yet wanted to, so badly.
“Why me? Why me of all the women you can have?”
“I don’t know either. All I know is that it must be you.” He leaned in and pressed a soft, yet firm kiss on my forehead. My heart drummed in my chest as I closed my eyes. “Isn’t that enough for now?”
I stood there, motionless. I was so confused with the feelings stirring in me. I didn’t know how to respond.
“Let’s go for a walk,” he suggested casually as he raised a hand for me to take. I lifted my left hand and placed it in his without much hesitance. With a gentle smirk, Henry tenderly intertwined our fingers together, leading us back to the fountain.
Maybe Alexis was right.
Maybe Henry was my prince.
Could it be?
CHAPTER NINE
This seemed surreal. It felt like a fantasy that only happened in books and movies. My right hand pinched my thigh just to make sure it wasn’t a dream.
No, it was definitely reality.
The moonlight glistened brightly on Lake Michigan, creating the perfect romantic atmosphere. There was nothing more I could ask for.
We had walked on this same trail a couple weeks ago and I remembered the first time his hand wrapped around mine — how foreign it was. Now, as we walk hand in hand, it seemed like we have done this countless times before. His hand tightened on mine as he turned to walk backward, his front facing me. He watched me with a suspicious smirk and I began to feel a little self-conscious.
“What?” I raised my brows. “Is there something on my face?”
He lightly shook his head as he continued looking at me with those charming emerald eyes.
“Then why are you looking at me like that?”
Henry shrugged nonchalantly as he pressed his lips together as to conceal a secret.
“What is it?” I asked.
“I have a question for you,” he answered shyly.
“Yes?”
“When did you start to like me?”
I widened my eyes in slight astonishment and smiled. “Why do you want to know?”
“I’m curious,” he replied with a crooked smile. “When?”
“Okay, let me think.” As I replayed our encounters through my mind, one moment stood out. “When you helped me take Alexis and Eason to their soccer tournament. How you were with them that day. That’s when I think.”
Henry let go of my hand and stopped walking, and I did the same.
“You think?” he teased. “Why that moment?”
I replayed that day in my head, thinking back to how Henry was with my niece and nephew. How he was supportive and encouraging, especially toward Alexis. How he cheered her on with a genuine smile and instilled a confidence even her parents could never do. I wanted someone with those qualities — someone who can make the biggest difference by doing the smallest things. Henry, no doubt, was that someone.
“Because it was the first time I saw you so happy,” I confidently said. He looked into my eyes with a surprised expression. Was he moved by my words? “My turn now. When did you start to like me?”
“The banquet,” he replied with no hesitance. It seemed as if he had prepared an answer for a long time now. “I realized then I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side other than you. And when you left me, it only reinforced how much I want you.”
My breath hitched in my throat as I considered Henry’s radical words — how much he wanted me.
“I’m sorry about that,” I said, ignoring the last part. “There was a lot of things going on in my head that night.”
“I should be the one to apologize. I should have known how uncomfortable you would have been in such an environment. But the past is the past. Let’s forget about it and start afresh, hmm?”
I nodded my head in agreement.
We gazed into each oth
er’s eyes for a short moment before Henry slowly pulled me into his chest. One of his hands pressed gently on my hair while the other wounded around my shoulders. I snaked my hands around his waist and clasped my fingers together at his back, gently tightening my arms around him. He was warm in contrast to the cool winds, and his scent was intoxicating as ever. I sighed happily as I closed my eyes and leaned into his chest.
I arrived at the conclusion that I wasn’t going to push Henry away anymore. I couldn’t resist him — no matter how hard I tried. I couldn’t stop thinking about him no matter what I did. As of now, I only wished that this moment would last forever.
Henry dropped me off an hour later at my apartment. I didn’t want the night to be over, but I knew this was the first goodbye I actually wanted to give him. Knowing that we’d meet again soon, I was satisfied with anything. I waved bye to Henry as he drove off.
I walked into a quiet and dark apartment. Lily and Adam were both asleep and I was a little relieved. Even though I didn’t have anyone to share this good news with, it didn’t bother me. I was probably one of the happiest girls in the world right now. Nothing could bring me down.
As I washed up and slipped into bed, my text tone rang through the room.
It was from Henry. I beamed at myself.
Are you asleep yet? Henry texted.
Going to bed now. Did you make it home safely? I texted back.
A few seconds later. I did. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be texting you.
I laughed in my head — smart aleck. Glad to hear from you. Now go to sleep.
I’m unable to, Henry texted. He wasn’t able to? Was something wrong?
Why? I sent.
I sat on the edge of my bed as I waited for his reply. I glanced at my phone every second here and there, but still nothing from him.
Maybe he fell asleep.
Maybe he was doing something else while texting me.
Ding ding. The text tone rang and I jumped, almost dropping it onto the floor.
Still thinking of you.
My heart fluttered. The littlest things he did impressed me. Henry, what are you doing to me?
Me too, I texted him.
I set my phone aside and was about to go to sleep until my eyes stopped on the flower arrangement on top of my dresser. I grabbed my phone again and padded over to the arrangement, admiring how beautiful the tulips were.
I forgot to thank you for the flowers. They’re my favorite. How did you know? I texted.
Nancy informed me. I’m glad you like them. I’ll leave you alone now. Sweet dreams.
You as well, Henry.
I smelled one of the purple tulips. It wasn’t as sweet as Henry, but oddly, it reminded me of him.
I arrived to work the next morning at ten for my shift. I set my belongings in the back and fixed my apron while walking out to the front. As I was about to tie the strings into a bow behind me, another set of hands took the strings from my fingers. I turned around to see Nancy and smiled.
“Thank you, Nancy,” I said as she finished.
“Did you guys have fun last night?” she asked with a curious smile. She knew more than I thought she did.
“Yeah. It was a good time,” I said, blushing. I walked to the registers to look at the orders for the day.
“I need specifics, dear,” she pressed on and I chuckled at her.
“Nothing really happened. We only talked and held hands for a bit,” I replied, acting nonchalant. But on the inside, it was like the Fourth of July fireworks going off in celebration.
“Held hands?! Oh, Ally, I’m so happy for you.” She grabbed me into a tight hug and I was caught off a bit. “I always knew Henry had the likes for you, Ally, dear.”
I laughed as I gently pulled away. “Okay, okay. Don’t get too excited. You never know what could happen. He might turn out to be a serial killer or something,” I joked, but from the look, Nancy was giving me, she didn’t find it amusing. “He’s not. I’m was only kidding, Nancy.”
“I know,” she sighed. “I just want you to be happy for once, Ally. You’ve been through so much in your life already. Your mother, father, brother … I just want to see you smile all the time.”
She watched me with pitiful eyes, and I hated it when she did that. I threw my hands around her and rocked her tiny body side to side, reassuring her to not worry. “I am happy, Nancy. I really am. And when I see you, I’m beyond ecstatic.”
When I walked out at the end of my shift at eight that evening, Henry was already waiting for me outside, the back of his hips leaning gracefully against his BMW. The feeling of seeing his face and that crooked smile of his was indescribable.
“What are you doing here?” I asked Henry with a suspicious grin as I approached him.
“What do you think?” He waved an arm out to his expensive car. I tilted my head to one side playfully and pretended to play coy. “I wanted to see you, alright. Did you have plans tonight?”
“No, not right now.”
He leaned forward, opened the passenger door and motioned for me to get inside. “Now you do.”
“Where are we going?” I asked as we both clicked on our seat belts.
“You’ll see.”
Henry drove toward downtown Chicago, and I waited patiently in my seat, wondering where he was taking me. Half an hour later, we stopped in front of the John Hancock building. A valet attendant opened my door and offered me his hand as I exited the car. I have never been treated like this before, so I tried to act as naturally as I could. Henry walked around the car, took my left hand and led me inside the building.
I gazed up at the golden ceilings. “What is this place?”
Henry only smiled at me, his covert ways always alluring. He pressed the number ninety-five when we entered the elevator.
“What’s at the ninety-fifth floor?” I asked.
“So eager, Ally. Trust me, you’ll love it.”
“I’m just not used to being surprised so much.”
“Believe me, there are going to be a lot more surprises in store for you.”
Henry’s grin appeared on his face and my lips pressed together in a smile. I loved seeing him smile.
We held hands throughout the entire elevator ride and I realized this was the first time we were alone in such an enclosed space. My heart began racing, and my legs were beginning to feel like noodles. My palms started to become sweaty and I could feel my cheeks radiating with a not-so-subtle mind. So much tension filled the air and I could hardly take it. When the doors finally slid opened, I slowly let out a breath and felt my pulse return.
We strolled further down the hall to a restaurant called Signature Room at the 95th.
As the waiter guided us to a table further ahead, my eyes darted toward the windows, and a faint gasp fell from my lips. I couldn’t take my eyes off of the gorgeous scenery of the skyscrapers and Lake Michigan below. I never knew Chicago could look so beautiful from this view. I wished I had brought my camera, but then again, I wasn’t sure that kind of etiquette would be appropriate in a high-end place like this. Would it be an inconvenience for Henry to be seen with a crazy lady with a camera?
“Do you like it?” Henry’s voice sounded behind my ear.
“Yes, it’s amazing. I love it,” I said as Henry pulled out a seat for me.
When the waiter walked away with our orders, I took another look at the shimmering city below. I felt a warm, soft hand touch mine and I turned my head to look at Henry’s hand delicately on top of mine.
“How was your day?” he asked, his thumb running along the knuckles of my hand.
“It—It was good,” I stuttered, trying to focus on his question. “There were a lot of orders. This time of the year is especially busy since there are so many events going on like birthdays, graduation parties, and you know… other special occasions.”
I meant to say engagements and weddings, but I think it would be too much.
I
chuckled nervously. “Sorry, that was terribly boring.”
“What? No, of course not,” he softly assured me. “I really wanted to know. It sounds fascinating. Honestly.”
I nodded, trusting his answer. “How was yours?”
“It went well. Typical business day — conference calls, meetings, and reports,” he said with a smile.
“Sounds fun,” I joked. It earned me a small laugh from him.
“I do wish it was more enjoyable. But just knowing I’ll see you after everything made the day go by a lot quicker.”
I was flattered to know Henry had me on his mind throughout the day because only God knows how much he lingered on mine.
Even when I tried to act unaffected, I knew I had already lost. My face gave it all away, and I could feel my cheeks burning again. This time, it wasn’t from the proximity. Henry knew how much power and influence he held over me with every little word uttered from his lips.
It felt like we were there for hours. We talked about a lot of things — things in which I’d try to memorize. His favorite color — red. His all-time favorite movie as a child — Jumanji. How much he hated to lose. Although my questions were a little childish and every time I asked him a silly question, I knew it was worth it to see him wear that precious smile.
—————
“Thank you for tonight,” I said to him as we arrived at my place.
“No, thank you for coming with me,” he said. I couldn’t help, but smile. “You give the best interviews.”
“Call me if you’d like another one,” I played along.
“I certainly will.”
“I’ll see you later.”
As I reached for the car door, Henry grabbed my hand and I gasped slightly at the unexpected contact. Gradually, I turned to face him and his green eyes stared into mine for a long, torturous moment. I didn’t know how to react as I wasn’t expecting this kind of moment to happen so soon. He slowly leaned forward as he eyed my lips and it hit me that this very moment might just be my first kiss.