Part 6 (1/2)

We thanked her and made our way down the hallway, my knees shaky and my stomach full of b.u.t.terflies. Finally we came to a stop at my door.

”Thank you.”

”You're welcome.”

We watched each other, soaking in each other's appearances and smells before he walked past me, his cologne wafting behind him.

”Goodnight.”

”Goodnight,” I replied.

I entered my room and leaned up against the door. It was dark; the only light that illumined the room was the small study lamp on Mila's desk.

Why was I feeling so s.h.i.+tty? My heart and soul wanted to be on cloud nine, but my mind wouldn't let me make the leap from cloud four.

I threw myself onto my bed. I hadn't realized how badly the ceiling needed to be re-painted. I followed cracks with my eyes as they ran a few inches away from the corner, veering off into various directions.

”Ruby?” Mila was sitting up in her bed, wiping her eyes with her hands.

How does someone who has just woken up still look so perfect?

”How was it?”

I groaned instead of talking.

”That bad, eh?”

”You have no idea.”

I rolled over and faced the wall, Mila took the hint. I just wanted to sleep all the bad things about tonight away and relive all the good things in my dreams; the kisses, the talking, and the love. I didn't bother getting changed or showering, sleeping was my priority.

Don't Protect Me.

”Wakey, wakey!” Mila called, pulling me from my dreamless sleep.

A burst of sunlight hit my face; I scrunched my eyes up as tight as I could before pulling a pillow over my face.

”It's breakfast.”

”I'm not going.” My voice was m.u.f.fled through the pillow.

”You don't have to go anywhere. Mr De Luca helped me bring breakfast to you, with my uncle's approval, of course.”

I lifted the pillow slightly, still managing to block the sun. The smell of toast and vegemite made my stomach growl with hunger, but the fruit was the most appealing.

”I thought we could have a private breakfast and you could tell me all about last night.”

My mind fell on to the events that unfolded last night. Eli and I kissed twice. The first was pa.s.sionate and hungry, the second was kind and loving.

”I love Eli,” I blurted absentmindedly.

I didn't look her in the face when I said it, but I wonder how low her mouth dropped. Slowly I forced my gaze to her face. Her mouth had formed a perfect 'O' shape.

”You look like you've never heard of a G.o.ddess falling in love with a guardian angel before.” I chuckled.

”I, just, uh ... I didn't see this coming.” She nervously popped a piece of watermelon into her mouth, buying herself some time to think about what to say next. ”You decided this last night whilst on a date with Hunter?”

”No, I've felt this way for a while ... last night just confirmed it.”

”What happened?” She pa.s.sed me the bowl of watermelon and sat down on the floor beside my bed.

I wasn't going to go into detail, but then I thought about Mila and how she opened up to me. If she told anyone my secret, hers would get out, too. We would both be screwed and so would the men we love.

”We kissed. Twice.”

Her mouth dropped open and she began to giggle. ”Oh my G.o.d! You're lying!” she squealed in a hushed tone.

When she saw my face was serious, she asked how it was.

”Exciting. Loving. Perfect,” I replied, naming the first descriptive words that came to my mind, one by one.

”How did that happen? You were having dinner with Hunter; how did he not see?”

”That's a long story.” I sighed.

”It's Sunday. We can relax in here until lunch time, so spill.”

I sat up in bed and Mila handed me a piece of watermelon. I popped it into my mouth. It was so juicy and delicious. I explained all about Rylan and how he approached me at lunch, telling me everything.

”He's so hung up on you he'd do anything to spoil what you and Hunter have. You didn't believe him, did you?”

”I did, but at the same time, I didn't. Earlier that day, Eli told me not to put all my trust into Hunter, which tipped my scale to actually thinking it might be true.”

”Ohhh.”

I told her how I asked him straight out and he admitted to it.

”What? No. He wouldn't do that.”

”I was hoping he didn't, but he said he filed a report and then withdrew it.”

”Maybe he did.”

”So what if he did? He still wanted to get rid of Eli.” I told her I left Hunter at the restaurant and started walking, but Eli caught up to me. I explained the steamy kiss in the alleyway and again getting out of the car.

”I just can't believe it!” She gasped. ”Why now? How come you guys never wanted each other before? Maybe Eli was jealous that you were with Hunter.”

I didn't bother telling her about the kiss and the feelings we had for each other when I had first arrived.