Chapter 6
Aracely
Seven years, three months, and two days .
I didn’t want it but the words went through my mind at all hours of the day. It wasn’t just the words that I could recall so easily as if they were just sitting there waiting to hear them, but it was the sound of Bash’s voice when he said them.
The words tore at my heart; they reminded me of the man he had been, the man I thought he would always be. It made me think of all the things that I hoped we could have had and that he might still want them, too.
It had been a week since Bash had come to my apartment. I had hoped he had gotten the hint. I had made it perfectly clear: I didn’t want to see him. I didn’t want to talk to him. I certainly didn’t want to hear how he had missed me for seven years, three months, and two days.
But with all things regarding me and Bash, he had done the exact opposite of what I wanted. He hadn’t left me alone; he certainly hadn’t gotten the hint. Well, he didn’t contact me again, but he certainly made his presence known and that he wasn’t going anywhere. As evident by all the stuff that was currently littered around my living room.
“This is a lot of shit,” Ella said as she stood in the middle of my apartment.
I laughed as Ella wasn’t one to curse but it seemed to be the perfect description of what we were seeing. I had brought home some of the flowers that he had delivered to my work, though after the fifth bouquet, I gave them to random patients and even the occasional co-worker. The chocolates were a huge success in the break room, as were the breakfast burritos he had delivered. I wasn’t sure how he had figured out what type of wine I liked, and I didn’t want to think too hard about how he had, but there had been a case delivered to my apartment a few days ago.
There were still more flowers delivered to my apartment, food that randomly showed up as soon as I got home from my shift, my favorite candies and fruits that were sitting on my kitchen counter. There were even a few articles of clothing. The silk scarves were fashionable and warm and I hated to admit it, but I loved them. They were the perfect coloring for me. There were other random gifts, like books and even theater tickets.
I wanted to send it all back. I wanted to tell him he couldn’t be doing this but I was sure that was half the reason he was doing it. He wanted contact with me, even if it was negative. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. Hence, why Ella was there.
“Do you want some of the flowers? It’s starting to look like a floral shop exploded in here,” I said.
“I can take some of them or see about having them delivered to a few assisted living facilities or other hospitals beside yours,” Ella suggested.
“Yes. Thank you. That was exactly why I called. Take whatever you want. Donate whatever you think you can. I was sure you would know who would be happy to take this off my hands.” I held up a small envelope. “These tickets are in a couple of days so I’m not sure if you can give these away. Maybe you have an employee who has been exceptional recently and you could give them as a thank you?” I asked.
“Dax and I might take them actually. I’ve been wanting to see “He Wore a Hat" again. You don’t want to?”
“It was great seeing it with you and Layla, and while I would like to see it again—”
“You aren’t going to do it with Bash’s tickets,” Ella finished for me. She took the tickets and looked at them. “Should I not take them? I think you could donate them back to the theater. They might give the seats to students or put them in the lottery,” Ella said.
“I don’t care either way. They should be used. If you and Dax would like a date night, go for it. If you can’t, then yes, see about getting them donated or hand them to some random stranger on the street.”
“Do I tell them they are courtesy of Sebastian Anderson?” Ella teased and fanned herself with the envelope.
“Goodness, no. The man is just looking for me to react. I don’t want it to go viral that he gave away some nice tickets for the hottest Broadway play to some people on the street. He would know I had something to do with it.”
“It would show him that you don’t care about him and you don’t want anything from him.”
“If only. He would just see it as me reacting to him. That’s all he’s looking for. He’s butthurt that I didn’t fall down on my knees as soon as I saw him.”
“That would have made for a more interesting evening for both of you,” Ella said and I shook my head at her. “What?” she asked.
“Stop teasing me about him, or making any random comments about us sleeping together.”
Ella put her hand on her heart and feigned being shocked by my comment. “I was saying no such thing. If you had been more receptive to him, you two might have talked and cleared things up.”
“Yeah, that was totally what you were getting at. Also, not going to happen.”
“Why not? It’s obvious that the man is sorry and wants to make amends. He knows that one of your love languages is gifts. And he certainly knows how to give you gifts that would make you happy.” Ella lifted the box of chocolates that were my favorite.
“We knew each other years ago. I have changed, so has he. Obviously, he isn’t the guy I knew growing up. He can’t see that. He’s trying to get something back that was lost long ago and may not have even been there.”
“What do you mean?” Ella moved an e-reader off the couch and sat down.
“We were kids when we got together. A lot has changed in the seven years, three months, and two days since we had seen each other.”
“That is oddly specific,” Ella said.
I hadn’t meant to say the time frame aloud. Now that it was out, I didn’t know how to walk it back. I sat down next to her, moving a pillow out of the way. “It was something that Bash said. It’s about how long it’s been since we last saw each other.”
“He remembered how long it was since he had seen you, down to the day? That’s impressive and really sweet.”
“I thought Layla was the romantic one. You’re supposed to be practical.”
“Come on. Admit it. It’s kind of sweet,” Ella said, looking at me sideways.
“Maybe he just got lucky,” I said.
“Or not, as it didn’t have the desired effect he was looking for.”
“He doesn’t really want me back. He’s annoyed that I’m not paying attention to him. He was always a man who liked to have the thing he couldn’t have. Did you know that he picked up surfing because a doctor told him that he didn’t have the proper body type?”
“Really? I had no idea there was a certain body type.”
“Apparently his chest isn't wide enough or his arms weren’t long enough. I have no idea. That isn’t the point. He took up surfing to show the doctor that he was wrong. He’s doing the same thing with me. I’m just the latest shiny thing that he thinks he wants to have. Just like he gave up surfing soon after he started, he’ll do the same with me.”
“Are you sure? Or are you just saying that to convince yourself that’s what will happen?” Ella asked.
“I know the man as well as he knows me. He thinks he can get me to talk by doing this. It isn’t going to work. Eventually, he’ll get bored, as he did with me years ago, and move on.”
“Ah. So that’s where this animosity is coming from. You keep thinking he’s going to leave you like he did last time. You’re worried you’re going to get hurt again,” Ella said, concerned.
“Do you blame me?”
“Well, no. But he’s trying. You must admit that. I get the impression he isn’t going to let up. He wants something from you, and as you said, he doesn’t like to be proven wrong. From what you’re saying, he’s going to keep doing this until you talk to him.”
“He’ll give up eventually,” I said.
Ella just glared at me.
“Okay, ask me again in a week.”
“Will you have any floor space by then? Will New York have any Fire and Ice roses left?”
I looked at one of the huge gorgeous bouquets of flowers that were in my living room. The balloons that floated above them were sweet, too. He knew I was a sucker for porcupines. I had no idea how he had found not only balloons in their shape but stuffed animals in various sizes, but he had. As I looked around, I had to admit, he had done a good job showering me with gifts.
“There’s one way to find out,” I teased and smiled at Ella.
“Or you could talk to him. Have this out. I can tell you aren’t sleeping and are more stressed.”
There was no point in denying her comment. “I keep wondering what the next thing is going to be and where it’ll show up. He had a singing telegram waiting for me outside my apartment yesterday, can you believe it?”
“What did they sing?” Ella asked.
I sighed. “Our song.”
“Aw, he even remembered that. Yeah, he isn’t going to give up.” Ella reached over and took my hands in hers. “I’m not saying you have to forgive him, or try again. But I do think you need to hear him out. He obviously has things that he wants to say and I would imagine you do too.”
Ella had a point. I had been angry with him for so long. I had kept it in for years. Maybe I needed to talk to him. I could tell him what I really meant and move on.
“Have it out. Yell at him. Tell him all the things you wanted to say but you couldn’t. Tell him to go to hell and you never want to see him again. Tell him that he hurt you and you’re never going to forgive him and to stop trying. Or whatever you need to do. But also, let him have his say, so that, hopefully, you can move on. Both of you.”
“It has been kind of fun getting all the stuff,” I admitted and looked around the room.
“I bet it has. Are you wanting to keep him guessing for a little while longer, or are you going to talk to him?”
“Can I do both?”
Ella laughed. “If anyone could find a way, it would be you.”
I smiled at my friend. She was right about everything. I liked the attention even if I didn’t like who was giving it to me. It was nice to have the attention and the gifts but it had to stop. Bash wasn’t one who gave in and wasn’t going to give up without a fight. If I wanted to resolve this, really resolve this, then I needed to talk to him. I was trying to figure out when I was going to do that but once again, Bash beat me to the chance.