Chapter 26
26
Opal
I brush my fingertips over the lid of the vintage pill box that William gave me. It’s been years since anyone has added to my collection. When I first discovered my love for the decorative little treasures, my mom would keep an eye out for any when she went to estate sales with her friends. Each time she’d hand one to me, I’d marvel at how unique it was, but I can’t say any of them match the beauty of the one William chose for me.
That might have everything to do with the fact that I like him, but regardless, I’m in awe of the utter perfection of the intricate design hand-painted so precisely on the box.
I tuck it carefully back in my jacket pocket and step inside Wolf Candy. William is the reason I’m here. He bought me the pill box to thank me for giving him the special edition of Turquoise Crown, so I’ll keep this gift exchange going. Since he mentioned his neighbor paid him in chocolate and soda when he was a kid, I thought it would bring a smile to his face to pick up some for him today.
I glance around the candy store and spot a wall reserved for chocolate bars. Wolf Candy has a solid reputation in New York City for being the place to be if you’re looking for decadent chocolate. They offer a pure milk chocolate bar that will make your toes curl because it’s that creamy and good, but they also have an array of bars with added tasty treasures, including nuts, dried fruits, and sweet candies.
“Can I help you?” The owner, Nikita Wolf, approaches me from the right. She recognizes me as soon as I turn to face her. “Opal!”
“It’s good to see you, Nikita.”
Her smile reaches her blue eyes as she glances past me. “Is Hildy with you?”
I expected the question since my aunt is the reason I know Nikita in the first place. Aunt Hildy brought me here on a sunny summer afternoon a few years ago for cold lemonade and a sampling of Wolf Candy’s chocolate offerings.
I left with a bag filled with chocolate courtesy of my aunt, and the bonus was that I made a new friend in Nikita. Technically, we’re not close friends since we only talk when I pop in to see her.
“Not today,” I tell her.
“She was in last week.” She smiles, raking a hand through her long black hair. “She told me all about Turquoise Crown. You’re opening a bar, Opal! I’m so excited for you.”
I can see her words are coming from a place of genuine happiness for me. “Thank you.”
“Hildy gave me the scoop on when you officially open, the address of the bar, all of the essential details.” She laughs. “I’ll send a candy bouquet over a few days after you open because you’ll need the sugar rush. I remember when I launched this place. I didn’t sleep for weeks. Sugar and coffee were the only things that kept me going.”
“Thank you in advance.” I reach to tap her hand. “You’re the best.”
“I’ll be sure to stop by, although I’m the worst at board games.” She rolls her eyes. “Having three very competitive brothers meant I never got much of a shot at playing the games we had at home.”
“You’ll need to ease into it then. Maybe a round of checkers with me?”
She nods slowly. “That I can do.”
I steal a glance at the assortment of chocolate bars again.
“What are you craving?” She plucks a wayward candy sprinkle from the front of her black T-shirt. “I’d personally recommend the mint chip one, and I just came up with a potato chip chocolate bar. I have a sample in the back if you’re interested.”
I am, but I’m a goner if I take one bite of chocolate. I’ve been known to eat an entire full-size bar in one sitting, so I need to avoid even a taste since I’m determined to eat healthy for at least the remainder of the day. That’s why I just finished a large garden salad with lemon and mustard vinaigrette for lunch before heading here. I knew if I filled up on greens and colorful vegetables, I’d be too stuffed for anything else.
“I’m actually looking for a gift,” I tell her, not mentioning it’s for a man because Nikita will push me for more details.
We’re both single and have shared plenty of stories about our dating fails.
“A chocolate gift,” she concludes since that’s where my gaze is stuck again. “We have baskets with a few bars and other treats, or there’s always the gift bags filled with mystery bars if the recipient is a little more adventurous.”
I don’t know enough about William to label him as adventurous or not, so I take a second to consider the right approach. I smile when an idea pops into my head. “I think I know exactly what the recipient will like.”
“What he will like?” she questions with a wink.
Laughing, I shake my head. “No comment, Nikita. No comment from me.”
* * *
I grab my phone off of the bar at Turquoise Crown and scan it quickly since it just beeped, indicating an incoming text message.
I smile when I read the message from my dad reminding me to respond to him since he sent me a picture last night of his haircut.
The picture itself is priceless, so I saved it in the image folder on my phone as soon as I first laid eyes on it. My dad can’t take a decent selfie to save his life. Each picture he’s ever sent me of himself is at an awkward angle that catches the tip of his nose, one of his eyes, and some of his hair.
The selfie he sent last night is no different, but in this one, it’s clear that he’s graying a bit more than the last haircut image he sent me a few months ago.
Before I forget, I tap out a reply telling him I love the cut and him.
His response is instant. Instead of a simple message telling me he loves me too, he sends me a series of heart emojis.
My parents moved to Connecticut after they retired to be closer to my mom’s sister. I miss them, but they come to Manhattan at least once a month to see me. Sometimes, my mom hangs back to tend to her gardening, but my dad never misses our monthly dinners.
Smiling, I set my phone down and get back to wishing William would reach out. I want to give him the gift I picked up for him at Wolf Candy, but beyond that, I just want to see him.
A loud rap at the bar’s door sends me in that direction. It has to be Chuck. I stumbled on two board games on an auction site I had to have, so I ordered them immediately. I’ve crammed as many games as I can on the metal shelves that line the walls of this bar. My biggest fear is that someone will walk in excited to play a particular game only to realize I don’t have it.
I hope I have enough variety now that it won’t be an issue.
I unlock the door and swing it open, expecting to find my favorite deliveryman waiting for me with a box in his arms, but that’s not who it is.
William Knight, looking like sin in a bespoke navy blue suit, rakes me from head to toe before he motions for me to step back. I do so without question because there’s nothing I want more than to spend time alone with him.
He doesn’t say a word as he takes a step forward to mirror each step I take back. When he’s far enough into the bar, he kicks the door shut with his shoe before he stalks quickly toward me without warning.
Frozen in place, I feel like I’m drifting into the best dream of my life as he cups my face with his hands, skims his tongue over his bottom lip, and seals his mouth over mine for a kiss I’ll never forget.