Perfect for Me by Claudia Burgoa
Chapter Six
Elliot
Truth can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet each one can be true. ―Swami Vivekananda
As soon asI climb in my car, I google Waterfront Property Management. At a glance, there’s nothing that indicates that they are a subsidiary of Beesley Enterprises. Until I click the contact tab and read the fine print at the bottom of the page. Fuck. I should’ve checked the company. Kyle is loyal and has many other great attributes, but honesty isn’t one of them. Before I start the car, I dial his number.
“How was it?” Kyle answers the call almost immediately.
It was hell, thanks to you.
“Not what I expected.” I let out a long breath, staring out the windshield.
“Translation?”
I open my mouth but close it when I spot her. Hazel and the two men I met in her office are walking toward a black Escalade. My chest explodes as the tall guy, I think his name’s Scott, rests his hand on the small of her back and looks at her as if she was the most precious thing in the world.
Are they together?
It shouldn’t matter. I moved on from my wife.
My wife, I think slipping the ring off my finger.
“You forgot to mention one important detail about the project, Kyle,” I say, resting my forehead on the steering wheel.
“That they pay net forty-five?” If he’s not feigning ignorance, I’m going to kill him for accepting those terms.
“Net thirty, Kyle. We invoice, they have to pay thirty days after that. No exceptions.”
“Well then, I’ll fix that,” he responds. “If that’s all—”
He wants to play dumb, so I’ll bite. “Have you heard from Hazel lately?”
“Every single day through her Instagram account,” he responds. “She had a mocha latte with almond milk and two pumps of her favorite chocolate syrup. Sadly, it had no foam.”
He sighs exasperatedly. “I have to teach her how to tag shit.”
“Fuck, you can be annoying.” I finally start the car. “Why didn’t you tell me she owns Waterfront Property Management?”
“Technically, her grandfather owns it,” he corrects me.
“Drop the bullshit. What’s going on, Kyle?”
“She moved to San Francisco. The properties her grandfather owns are in deplorable condition. When she told me about this contract, I thought it was perfect for us.”
“You should’ve warned me.”
“If I had, you’d have passed on the chance to win this contract.”
He’s right about both. It’s perfect but I would’ve ignored the opportunity.
“She’s back,” I breathe the words.
“Indeed. It’s up to you what you do next, dude.” Kyle sounds like my conscience. “Just be smart this time.”
Be smart. I laugh at his advice.
What do I need to convince her I’m not the guy she left?
I swallow hard, pulling out of the parking spot. What happens next is up to me, but also up to her. Things between us ended, but the attraction is still there. That magnetic pull we have. The trick might be reminding her of our love while showing her that I’ve changed.
“She’s calling when they make a decision,” I inform Kyle. “I’m heading to the property in Embarcadero. Call me when you hear from her.”
“You two should sit down and talk about what happened. Fix your situation.”
“We don’t have a situation,” I remind him. “It’s been over for years.”
“Has it?”
Who am I kidding? Everything between us remains fresh and raw. Seeing her opened the wounds of our past. The pain is right on the surface, throbbing with my heart. All the memories of us flooded my mind. After seeing her, I almost drowned as the love I still feel for her rushed back. I’m desperate to have her in my arms.
Her presence proved that I never stopped loving her. That, if possible, I love her even more than I did when we signed the divorce. I just didn’t admit it to anyone or myself. But I missed her more than I’d miss a limb. She’s an extension of me.
I remember the first time I told her I wanted to marry her as if it were yesterday.
I sat on the beach staring at the dark ocean, watching Hazel as she whispered into the breeze. Her eyelids fluttered closed. Her arms extended to the sides. She’s becoming one with the vast body of water. Scrunching her toes, she’s feeling the sand and waiting for the next wave to hit her feet. The moon shines. The emitted streaks of beautiful white light soak Hazel’s body with a magical light. She’s the prettiest girl I had ever known. My best friend, confidant, and nightly companion. My girl. We understood each other. She had a smart mouth and loved to stay up reading while listening to music in the company of the moon and the ocean.
And best of all, she loved me. Our love was bigger than the universe.
She sighed.
“What’s going on, Hazel Bee?”
“My parents are leaving town.” Her arms fell to the sides as her figure slumped. Of course, it’s her parents, the only ones who ever made her sad.
“They are gone for the entire year. There’s no Willow to take care of the sixteen-year-old child.” She pointed at herself as she mentioned her older sister who flew to New York last year right after graduation without thinking about Hazel.
Selfish fuckers. Suddenly, my pulse speeds up, and my hands become sweaty. “What’s going to happen to you?”
She turned around, touching the back of her neck as her eyes focused on the bag of snacks I brought for us. “Doritos?”
I nod, smiling as I reach inside the sack and grab a pint of ice cream and two spoons.
“How did you know I needed ice cream?”
“The same way I know you love me. I just know, Bee.” I placed the snacks by my side, extending my hand to her. As our hands touched, I grasped hers and pulled her to me.
Swallowing my fears, I asked with a calm voice, “Are they sending you to your grandfather’s house?”
Her eyes found mine, and her smile increased. “Nah. I’m an independent person who can make her own choices—Mom’s words.” She rested her head on my chest. “It still hurts, though, that they don’t care.”
“So, we have the house to ourselves?” She laughed at my question.
That melodic sound hypnotizes me and makes my body vibrate. Pulling her onto my lap, I kiss her deeply, long and slow, wanting more but still waiting for the right time.
I kissed her cheek. “We’ll be together forever.”
