27
Xavier
Mr. Harrington sits across from me. He’s not what I imagined Lina’s father looking like. He’s tall and in decent shape for his age. His dark hair is speckled with gray streaks. I have to admit; Lina looks a bit like him.
“Drink?” He asks handing me a glass of champagne. I take it and watch as he grabs himself one as well. I’m not sure what’s going through his mind right now, I can’t read him. He’s intimidating, that's for sure. I remember Lina knowing how to work a gun. She said her father taught her when she was younger. And by the looks of him, he looks like he owns a whole arsenal.
“I don’t know how you and Lina know each other.” He says as he looks off. His demeanor tells me he knows we aren’t just old friends. I clear my throat before I take a sip of my drink.
“But what I do know is—” He says before chugging his drink back then putting the empty flute back down on the table.
“I prayed every day for my baby girl to come back home. Every night she was gone I would hold her mother as she wept, then after she had fallen asleep I would cry myself to sleep.” He clears his throat as he tries to hold back the inevitable emotion that comes to the surface.
“When the cops called us the night she was found—I thought I was dreaming.” He says softly staring off into the distance. The party goes quiet as I look over at him. Everyone is still dancing, but I stare at Mr. Harrington attentively.
“After she was home, she kept telling us that she was fine. But at night, it was a different story.” He exhales again.
“After she would fall asleep, I would sneak into her room and watch her sleep from the chair in the corner with my gun glued to my hip, just in case anyone ever came back. The first few weeks she would have these horrible nightmares, she’d scream and cry. Hearing her painful cries just broke me.” He says looking at the table.
“Her and I were always close, she was my little girl. I was always her protector and that night she was taken I failed.” His eyes look up into mine.
“Now I don’t know how you two really know each other—but what I do know is when she was having those nightmares, it wasn’t my name she was calling for—it was yours.” His eyes hold mine as I stare back at him through blurred vision.
“Now maybe I’ll never know how you two really know each other and maybe it’s best if I don’t, but I just want to thank you.” He swallows hard.
“What are you thanking me for, Mr. Harrington?” I try to blink rapidly to rid the tears that are about to fall down my face.
“For keeping her safe, even if it was—only in her dreams. Hell, I don’t know what I’m talking about.” He shoots me a quick glance before he stands from the chair. Lina comes into view seconds later. She walks hastily towards us with a beaming smile.
“Sorry that took so long,” She says as I now stand. She looks between the two of us unsure.
“Are you guys okay?” She asks and her father smirks.
“Of course we are okay.” Mr. Harrington pulls her in for a hug and kisses her forehead. “I see your mom over there waving for me. I’ll see you two later,” he says, dipping his head towards me. He walks off and Lina steps towards me. I stare down at her. Peace comes over my entire body. Happiness pumps its way through my veins as I look deep into her eyes. I love her. I have for a while now, I just didn’t want to accept it I guess. Maybe I was afraid to accept it. Afraid of the worst possible outcome instead of being hopeful and excited about what could potentially happen.
“Dance with me?” I ask taking her hand in mine. Our eyes hold as she gives my hand a gentle squeeze. A slow song plays on the dance floor as the two of us make our way through the crowd. Everyone eyes us as we walk hand-in-hand.
I feel her head rest on my chest as we both sway back and forth to the slow tune. I hold her close, afraid to let go. Jess and Logan smile our way. I get a glance at Mrs. Harrington as she has her hand over her heart.
Mr. Harrington’s confession from earlier makes me hold Lina tighter. She called out for me in her dreams. Even subconsciously she was thinking about me.
Her head lifts from my chest and I see her brown eyes stare up at me. “I missed you—” she pauses, shaking her head, “so much.” I watch her eyes glisten then I kiss her forehead, her eyes slowly closing shut.
“I think I missed you a hell of a lot more,” I say as we continue swaying back and forth. I feel numerous eyes on us as we continue to dance, but there’s one heated stare that makes me feel uneasy. Declan’s eyes stay on Lina and me as the same girl that whisked him away earlier talks his ear off. I can tell he doesn’t give a rip about what she’s saying. I know that annoying blank stare-off because I used to give it to girls all the time. Girls I wasn’t interested in.
Each time I glance over to him, he looks away. I wonder if he and Lina got together since she’s been back. I wonder if she told him she wasn’t a virgin anymore. My heart-rate begins to quicken as a hint of jealousy begins to grow in my gut. The song fades as the DJ takes the microphone, “Everyone outside to send off the bride and groom!”
I watch as the herd of guests makes their way through the double-doors. Lina has a death-grip on my hand as we follow everyone. Logan and Jess make their way in-between the crowd as everyone blows bubbles and flower petals at them. Lina waves to her brother as he and Jess make their way into a limo. We all watch as they drive off, on their way to start a new chapter.
“Let’s get out of here,” Lina says, taking my hand again. Seconds later her mother stops us, “Where are you going, Lina?” She smiles between the two of us.
“We were going to go sightseeing for a little while.” She says quickly.
“Sightsee? It’s almost midnight?” Her mother’s brows furrowed.
“There are some neat bars that overlook the Seine, I was hoping to spend as much time with your daughter as I possibly could before she heads back to the States,” I say which completely catches her mother off guard. I’m not sure what’s come over me, but it’s true. I want—no I need to spend as much time with Lina as I can.
“I’ll keep her safe, you and Mr. Harrington have my word.” I smile down at her mother. She returns a smile back and then nods her head. I watch as Lina kisses her goodbye and then the two of us walk towards the streets.
“Okay, who are you and what have you done with Xavier Almasi?” She teases as she walks beside me. “What do you mean?” I laugh and she shakes her head. “You want to spend as much time with me before I go back to the States?” She smiles up at me and I stop walking.
The two of us stand alone on an almost empty street. A few people pass by us casually talking to each other. I stare down at her as I swipe the strand of hair that’s in her face. “Of course, I want to spend all the time I can with you. I’m not letting you get away again, Lina.” I say and she laughs stepping forward. She cups my face. I’ve missed her magical touch. The touch that makes me feel invincible. The touch that forces me to think everything is going to be alright. I place my hand over hers. “Well, I’m not going anywhere.” She says before I feel her lips against mine. We kiss slowly and deeply as we stand in the streets of Paris. There’s no place I’d rather be; no mouth I’d rather explore. I feel her hands around my neck. It’s at this precise moment that I think about work—oddly enough because I know something is going to have to change. There’s absolutely no way in hell I will be able to let her go again.
No way in hell.
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Xavier
We laughed for hours as we walked around the streets of Paris arm-in-arm. The Eiffel Tower becomes larger as we approach her hotel. “Want to—” She tries to say, but before I can let her finish that sentence I pull her in close, so our faces are inches apart. “As much as I would love to come up to your room and as much as I would love to slowly unbutton each of these,” I pause, running my fingers over the bridesmaid dress that has a million tiny buttons running down the back. “I can’t. I don’t want your parents thinking low of me.” I say and her face falls. “However if you have no plans I will pick you up bright and early. I know Farrah will love to see you.” I trail my fingers down her cheeks as she begins to smile.
“Okay. Bright and early.” She says pulling me in for another kiss. I run my fingers through her loose wavy hair as she completely devours me. I don’t think either of us wants to be the first ones to pull back for air, I think we could do this forever. The hotel door swings open, startling the both of us. Seconds later I lock eyes with Declan.
“Couldn’t find you after the wedding, just wanted to make sure you were okay.” He says as he stands there holding the door open.
“She’s okay. Right, Lina?” I say now holding the door open for her. “Here, let me walk you to your room,” I say, ushering her inside. “You don’t have to, I can manage.” She says looking over at Declan.
“I promised your mother I’d keep you safe. So until I see you in your room and hear that hotel door lock—” I say and she interrupts me.
“Okay.” She smirks at me then glances over at Declan who is just standing there awkwardly. What she ever saw in him is beyond me. He looks like the typical frat boy, showing off daddy’s money. He’s tall and lanky, almost bones. His skin is pale and his sandy-blonde hair blows in the night breeze. What's hilarious is he acts like he’s all that. I could snap him in two if I had to.
“Goodnight Declan,” I say as we both walk past him. I watch as he walks outside and then disappears around the corner. I’m not sure where he’s going this late, but I hate that he’s not occupying my mind. I feel uneasy again as Lina and I make our way into the elevators.
“Don’t like him,” I say as the elevator doors shut. Lina instantly scoffs then throws my arm over her neck. “I kind of like seeing you jealous.” She says as she stands on her tippy-toes. I feel her lips gently peck my nose. I wish I could tell her it’s more than that, the uneasy feeling that fills my gut when he’s around—I can’t quite put my finger on it.
The elevator doors ding open and she takes my hand leading me out into the empty hallway. We walk down the quiet hallway until we eventually get to her door. “I’ll see you bright and early.” I kiss her lips again. “Goodnight, Xavier.” She says before unlocking her door.
“Oh—and no, to answer the question that I know is inevitably fumbling around in your head.” Her eyes hold mine. “Declan checked on me shortly after I came home and that was it.” She says. How the hell she knew that was pestering me all night is beyond me. I take a step towards her and take her face in my hands again. She parts her lips as my tongue slides between them exploring her beautifully perfect mouth.
“Goodnight.” She laughs as she pulls away. The door closes behind her and my shoulders instantly relax as I hear the lock behind me.