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We break the kiss, gasping for air, our eyes locked in a haze of desire and longing.
There’s a flicker of something in her gaze that puts me on edge and as I reach for her again she shies away.
“I’m sorry! I can’t!” Angelica blurts out, pulling away from me and dashing for the bathroom. Before I can comprehend what’s happening, she’s flipped the lock and turned on the shower to drown me out.
“Angelica? What’s wrong?”
I knock on the bathroom door, my heart pounding now for an entirely different reason. The water is running, but there’s no response from Angelica. Panic begins to seep into my veins as I try to process what just happened.
“Angelica, please talk to me,” I plead, my voice thick with concern.
There’s a moment of silence before Angelica finally speaks, her voice muffled by the sound of the rushing water. “I’m so sorry,” she says, her words filled with regret. “I didn’t mean to pull away like that. It’s just... I can’t do this right now.”
My brows furrow in confusion, my mind racing to find an explanation for her sudden change of heart. “What do you mean? Is something wrong?”
There’s no answer for so long that I think she didn’t hear me, then she says, “Just forget about tonight. I’m sorry. I should never have joined you for dinner. The kiss was a mistake. I’m going to wash my hair and then have a bath. Don’t wait up.”
I’m left standing outside the bathroom door, my heart sinking with each word she utters. The room that had once been filled with anticipation and desire is now cloaked in my uncomfortable silence. The water continues to pour from the shower head, a stark reminder of our interrupted moment.
My mind whirls, desperately searching for answers. What could have happened in such a short span of time to change Angelica’s feelings so dramatically? I have so many questions, but no way to voice them.
With a heavy sigh, I turn away from the bathroom door and make my way back into the main room. The music still plays softly in the background, mocking the sudden shift in our evening. My gaze falls upon the virtually untouched glasses of champagne on the table and I sigh.
As I sit down on the edge of the bed, I can’t help but replay every interaction we had leading up to this moment. I search for any hint or clue that might explain Angelica’s abrupt change of heart, but everything seems to blur together in a chaotic mess.
Minutes drag as I wait, my mind racing and my heart heavy with disappointment. The sound of the shower eventually stops, but Angelica doesn’t emerge from the bathroom and soon after I hear the sound of the large tub filling.
A heaviness settles over me as I realise that she won’t be coming out tonight. Not while I’m awake anyway.
Frustrated, I grab the pillow and blanket and set up my makeshift floor bed, knowing there’s no chance of Angelica letting me share the bed with her now.
I lie down on the floor, staring up at the ceiling, my mind still reeling from the sudden turn of events. Thoughts and emotions swirl within me, a hurricane of confusion and disappointment. The distant sound of Angelica’s bath fills the room, a stark reminder of her presence and yet her absence.
I wonder what could have caused such a drastic shift in her demeanour. We had shared an undeniable connection, a fire that burned between us. And now, it feels like everything has been extinguished, replaced by an icy silence that hangs in the air.
As I lay there, my mind continues to search for answers. Was it something I said? Did I misread her signals? Or was there something else entirely at play? Perhaps there are demons haunting her that she’s not ready to confront, wounds that run deep and threaten to unravel any semblance of happiness. That, I can at least understand.
A pang of empathy washes over me, tinged with a renewed determination. I can’t let this be the end. Not when I’ve glimpsed the beauty and vulnerability that lies beneath Angelica’s guarded exterior. There is something special here, something worth fighting for.
With a resolute sigh, I gather my thoughts and rise from the floor. I approach the bathroom door and gently knock, hoping to break through the wall of silence that separates us.
“Angelica,” I say softly. “I know you need your space right now, but please let me in. We can talk about whatever it is that’s bothering you.” The bathroom remains silent. “I’m not giving up, angel. I care about you too much to walk away without trying to understand. Please, just let me in.”
There’s a long pause, the only sound in the room is the faint echo of my own heartbeat. Just when I start to lose hope, I hear a quiet sniffle coming from inside the bathroom. It’s a small sound, but it fills me with a glimmer of optimism.
“Are you okay?” I ask, my voice laced with concern.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Angelica responds. Her voice is shaky and filled with raw emotion. “I’m not... okay,” she admits, her words punctuated by a muffled sob. “I thought I was ready for this, but... I’m not. Please, just go to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”
My heart clenches at the sound of her vulnerability. I lean closer to the door, hoping that my presence on the other side offers some comfort. “You don’t have to face whatever it is alone,” I say gently. “I want to be there for you, Angelica. Through the good and the bad.”
When there’s no response, I head back to bed. Sleep doesn’t come for hours, and Angelica still hasn’t emerged from the bathroom when it finally claims me.
ChapterFourteen
Angelica
Iswear it’s the middle of the night when the alarm goes off. Last night Lycus dropped the bombshell that he’s arranged some sort of surprise for us both this morning – one which evidently involves getting up at the arse crack of dawn.
