Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
“I’ll be back, kid,” I told Ava as I picked up my own glass of champagne, downing it and placing it back down on the table.
As I walked around the house, I saw a ton of people laughing with one another. Some were dancing. Others spoke highly of Henry as if he was the greatest thing since sliced bread. The more positive comments I heard about him, the more my rage built.
When I looked across the way, I saw Kierra standing next to Henry’s mother, Tamera. The two smiled as they interacted. When Kierra looked up at me, her eyes flashed with a stillness. Her smile faltered for a second before her lips turned back on. She held up her hand, waving slightly. I waved back. I still felt uncomfortable after our last exchange. All I wanted to do was be near her, and I knew it was inappropriate to say the things I said to her, but I couldn’t help myself.
I just needed to let her know that I felt more whole whenever she was near me. There was something about Kierra and her eyes. I’d never known locking eyes with someone could feel so much like home.
She excused herself from Tamera and began to walk over toward me. “Hey, stranger.”
“Happy birthday, Kierra.”
“Thanks. This is amazing. Ava is a sneaky devil. I can’t believe she pulled this off all on her own.” She then narrowed her eyes. “Which is exactly why I don’t think she pulled it off by herself.”
“She may have asked for a little help. I may have made a few calls.”
“Gabriel…you didn’t have to do this.”
“I know. I wanted to. You look amazing, by the way.”
She was wearing a fitted deep-red gown that highlighted every curve of her body. My eyes had moved up and down her frame many times since I’d spotted her that evening. “Oh, this old thing? It’s a Kierra original.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Bullshit. You made this?”
“Finished it last week. I finally dusted off my machines.”
“It looks beyond fantastic. You look beyond fantastic. I’m so fucking proud of you, Kierra.”
Her eyes teared up. “Thanks, Gabriel.” A small breath released from between her lips. “Can I tell you a secret?”
“Always.”
“For the first time in years, you make me feel seen. You make me feel…good enough. I haven’t felt like that in such a long time.”
I bit my bottom lip, debating if I moved in too close to her seeing as how there were so many others around us. What would our proximity appear like to them? What would people say if they saw me so close to Kierra? What would they think?
“Kierra—”
Before she could reply, the room filled with people singing “Happy Birthday.” We looked over our shoulders to see Henry and Ava coming out with a giant cake being guided on some robotic table. The three-tiered cake was covered in white, gold, and pink fondant with sparklers sticking out of it, making the whole cake seem remarkably luxurious.
Kierra’s eyes widened with surprise as she clasped her hands together and placed them against her mouth in awe.
As she moved closer to Henry and Ava, placing her hand against her heart, everyone in the room sang “Happy Birthday” to her, leaving her near tears. After the singing came to an end, Kierra blew out her candles. I couldn’t help but wonder what she wished for.
If I had a wish, it would be for her.
Damn, that dress looked phenomenal.
After the candles were blown out, everyone began cheering and shouting, “Speech, speech, speech!”
Kierra waved her hands bashfully. “No, no!” They kept chanting until she gave in. “Okay, okay, fine. Though most of you should know I’m not the best at public speaking. When I was sixteen, I had to give a speech during a softball awards ceremony, and I threw up all over myself.” Snickers were heard throughout the room. Kierra’s smile seemed so gentle. Her shyness only made me fall harder. I watched her lips slightly part as she continued to speak. “I am just really, truly grateful for you all. This surprise, you all showing up, means the world to me. My life is happier because you are all in it. Now, go eat, drink, and be merry.”
Everyone clapped and cheered once more.
Someone walked over to me and tapped me on the shoulder. I turned to find an older gentleman dressed in the most impeccable suit I’d ever seen in my life. And the most impeccable gray beard I’d ever seen in my life, too. This dude looked like a GQ model.
He smiled. “You’re Gabriel, right? The architect.”
“That’s me.”
He nodded and held his hand out to me. “I’m Joseph. I work at the clinic with Kierra.”
I shook his hand. “Oh yeah. I’ve heard about you from Kierra.”
“Hopefully good things,” he said as he lifted two beers from the robot that kept circling the room. He held one toward me and I accepted.