AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"I'm glad, too.” My good hand covered hers. “I didn’t know I was lonely before.”
“It sucked,” Sage agreed and picked up my hand to kiss it. “Now, please—rest for me?”
I nodded, my brain feeling far less weighed down.
“I’ll be here when you wake up,” she promised.
The pillow was wet from tears when I woke up. I hadn’t cried in my sleep since college, and it was a sure sign that I was at the bottom of my tolerance barrel. The meds I'd taken before I'd gone to sleep were starting to wear off, and pain throbbed in my palm. The reality of my situation reintroduced itself once I wiped the sleep and tears from my eyes.
There was noise coming from the kitchen—pop music on the speakers and something frying in a pan. I padded to the living room to find Sage stirring something with one hand while holding her phone in the other.
Her place looked different from when I went to sleep. There were colorful throw blankets on the otherwise- empty couch. Prints were still in their plastic, leaning against a basic coffee table, waiting to be hung on the wall. Most impressively, there were lilacs. Lots and lots of lilacs—on the coffee table, dining table, and chairs. Overflowing bouquets at the bar. From what I could see, pots of them on the balcony.
My footsteps finally caught her attention, and Sage turned around with worry in her eyes.
“I didn’t wake you, did I?” She set her phone down, giving me her full attention.
I shook my head, still trying to take everything in. “What…what are you doing?”
“Making dinner,” she said, and in a lower, more embarrassed voice, “After burning the first two.”
I would be far more interested in the burning if I hadn’t felt like I stepped onto a fairytale set.
“Um, I’m referring to the billion lilacs all over,” I did a three-sixty turn, “everywhere.”
“You said they were your lucky flower.” Sage put a lid on her pot.
"I did." I nodded with a small smile. The flowers looked fresh and smelled like my childhood bedroom during the summertime. I'd spent so much time at my little green desk, drawing fantasy stories about girls kissing, and. Mom always made sure I had a fresh vase of lilacs.
Sage came up behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist, and I relaxed when she pulled me into her chest.
"I don't believe in luck," she whispered.
"Here we go," I teased.
"I wasn't finished." Sage kissed my shoulder. "I don't believe in it, but you do. Even though I think everything you've done is because you're an incredible human being and artist, these flowers help you believe that too. So, I'm going to shower you with them for as long as you want."
My cheeks warmed, and I turned around so we were face to face. Sage had an oil stain on her shirt and a dot of flour on her nose, and I brushed it off with my thumb before kissing the spot.
"Thank you," I said before kissing her. "It's beautiful.”
"Not a blank canvas anymore." Her eyes were bright with excitement from my approval. It was adorable, and I couldn’t help but kiss her again, slower as I tried to imprint my thanks on her skin, along with a thousand sorrys, even though I know she didn’t need them.
"I can get on board with this." Sage smiled when I pulled away.
"Decorating or kissing?"
"Both. Especially now that I’m dating an artist who’s good at both."
My smile faltered, a stumble in what should have been a flawless step forward.
Sage frowned. "What is it?"
"I'm scared." My hand tightened on the extra fabric of her shirt, trying to remind myself that she was here with me.
"Of what?" Sage's grip tightened. "You're here. You're with me. You're safe."
I melted at those words and how sure she sounded of it all.
