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His hand lifted my chin to search my red-rimmed eyes. His smile was gentle as he lowered his lips to capture mine in a soft, loving kiss.
"You do not have to say it now, Josephine," Stefan murmured softly against my lips. "You will say the words when you are ready. Always know that I will love you eternally. "
He wrapped me in the strong embrace of his arms and rocked me gently as I sobbed against his chest.
***
I woke up to the sound of rain splattering against the window, the gloomy light of an overcast sky darkening my bedroom. I stretched and rolled over, expecting to see Stefan stretched out beside of me. His side of the bed was empty, a note sitting on his vacant pillow. I sat up and reached over to pick it up.
Josephine-
I am sorry I will not be here to see the beauty of your face when you awake. I will count the moments until I return to you. . .
Stefan
I read the note twice, running my fingers over his elegant handwriting and held the note to my nose to see if I could smell his scent on the paper. I rolled my eyes, mentally berating myself for my behavior. I was acting like I was the heroine in a vampire version of a Harlequin romance novel, swooning and smelling a piece of paper he had written the note on. Sighing heavily, I reviewed the previous night in my head, groaning when I remembered that I couldn't bring myself to tell him I loved him. I was pathetic. He told me he'd love me eternally and I cried against his chest like a scared little girl.
It was true. I did love him. I didn't make it a habit to attach myself to anyone, yet within days I'd made a 180 degree turn. Now I was in love with a vampire and smelling his notes in the off-chance that I could smell his scent on the paper? Had I lost my mind?
Throwing back the covers in disgust, I made my way into the bathroom. As I brushed my teeth, my eyes passed over my reflection in the mirror and I did a double take. My hair, even in its disheveled, 'I was fucked by a six-foot-four sex god' state was bouncy and had a sheen to it that could never be achieved by any shampoo or conditioner. My skin was glowing and my green eyes sparkled back at me in the mirror. I watched my hand trace my much plumper lips in the reflection of the mirror. I looked like I'd spent hours at a spa. What the hell is going on?
My cell phone rang, causing me to jump and tear my eyes away from the mirror. I sprinted down the hallway to unplug my cell phone from the charger, not bothering to look at the phone. I knew it was Georgia calling to berate me for not calling her.
"Hello, Georgia. "
"You know, you were supposed to call me. I'm sure you were too busy with Hunky McHunkerson to remember little old me. " I could hear almost hear Georgia's pout over the phone.
"I know, I know. Time got away from me. We're talking now, so what's up?"
"'What's up!? I'll tell you what's up," Georgia mocked, her voice incredulous. "I just talked to Anna. Obviously you and Mr. Hunky are serious since you were mooning all over each other at dinner last night. What the hell is going on? And now is not the time to feed me a line of bullshit either, Josie. "
"He has a name, Georgia. It's Stefan. And yes, it's serious. I think. " I busied myself filling up a kettle with water, placing it on the burner to boil water for coffee. I scooped coffee into my French press and waited for Georgia to continue.
"You think it's serious? I don't like to get in your business but. . . "
"Really? I would have never known by this conversation. You've been all about being in my business for two days," I retorted sharply. "I like him. A lot. I don't know where this is going but I'm not going to push him away. "
I was being a coward again by saying I liked him. I loved him. I loved how he made my stomach flip like an infatuated school girl when I saw him. I loved how he made me want to pull my hair out and then jump him. And I even loved his aggravating smirk and swagger. . . yeah, I especially loved his swagger. Yum.
Georgia sighed into the phone. "Whatever, Josie. This isn't like you, honey. I'm running into town. Wanna join me?" The water boiled, and I poured the hot water over the coffee in the press.
"Give me twenty minutes. I do need to grab some groceries. "
"See ya, chick. "
I hit 'end' on my phone and shook my head, closing my eyes in exasperation. Georgia took twenty minutes to mean fifteen. I ran back down the hallway to start the shower.
***
I was walking up the hallway after my quick shower and brief primping session to find Georgia and Anna both sitting in the living room, pointedly looking at my clothes that still littered the living room floor. It was obvious this was going to a double interrogation, a surreal version of bad cop, bad cop, neither taking my side since they both wanted the dirt. I immediately decided to feign ignorance since it didn't take psychic abilities to know what was going to happen.
&nb
sp; "Coffee?" I asked as I darted around the kitchen, getting cups and sugar out of the cupboards.
Georgia and Anna's heels clacked over the wood floor as they made their way into the kitchen. I was nervously waiting for the questions to begin.
"Sure," Georgia said, pulling out a chair and sitting down at the table in the kitchen. Anna nodded and sat down across from Georgia. "It looks like you had an eventful night, honey. "
