CHAPTER FOURTEEN

 

Ophelia

 

One thing you need to know about me?

I can pretend like everything is fucking fine. I would sit at my desk every day and write words like I always do. I use my writing as my shelter, as my armor and you can’t see me being miserable. I hear the constant ping from my phone, letting me know that I have a text, but you wouldn’t see me reading those messages, even though I feel empty without them. You wouldn’t even realize there’s a big hole inside me. I don’t hit that call button even though I want to, especially at night, when I’m lonely in my bed. That’s the only time I take off my armor and let myself read his texts.

Some of them are apologetic; some are just random jokes. Some messages are demanding. But when I wake up the next morning, I’m back in business.

“Austin?” I call out for him as I head to the kitchen. He’s nowhere to be seen, and I know he’s with him, back to being Beau.

With a sigh, I put some breakfast for him on his plate. He’ll come whenever he wants anyway.

Eating my granola bar, I wait for my coffee to be ready. I’m ready to finish that fucking Christmas book and everything it reminds me of.

Just when I’m about to sit in front of my computer, comforted by the delicious scent of coffee, Austin comes through his door. I don’t try to call him to me. He’s after one thing at this time of the day, and it’s definitely not affection. He would prefer his affection through a meat flavored cat meal.

Opening my laptop, I read the last few lines I wrote last night, but I’m interrupted by a furball on my lap.

“Austin?” I ask, surprised and I can swear I see him roll his eyes.

He rubs his face on my chest and lies on his back on my lap. That’s when I see the little note attached to his collar.

Sighing, I grab the piece of paper.

Talk to me. Please.

With a shake of my head, I drop the paper in the trash can and rub Austin’s head. “Sorry, buddy. But I’m not talking to him,” I say.

He looks at me for a moment before jumping out of my lap and heads out of the apartment without a second glance to my way.

He just left me?

“Okay, choose him over me,” I yell at him and take a big sip of my coffee.

I force myself to focus on my book and forget about Hendrix and Austin.

I have only been able to manage 200 words when Austin comes back.

I laugh when I see him. There’s a mistletoe chaplet around his head. I can’t even see his face clearly. If I didn’t know better, I would say Austin is glaring at me as he comes closer to me. I suppress my laugh and free him from the circle around his head.

I’m still thinking about our kiss.

Austin looks at me expectantly, or at least that’s how I think he looks at me.

“No, I’m not talking to him,” I say and throw the mistletoe into the trash.

He rubs his head on my legs like he does whenever he wants something.

“No, Austin. I’m not talking to him and stop taking sides,” I say, and he runs out of the apartment.

Shaking my head, I close my laptop and grab my kindle. With his being the messenger between us, it doesn’t seem like I will be doing any writing.

I start reading the book I’ve been hoping to read for so long and before I can finish even the first chapter Austin jumps on the couch next to me. There’s a note on his collar.

We should talk. At least for Beau’s sake. He’s affected by the tension between us. We can divorce, but we can’t divorce our cat, right? Be reasonable.

I snort. Now he’s using the parent card to manipulate me.

“No, buddy. It’s not going to work,” I say with a smile.

Austin growls. I wink at him, and he leaves. Today’s routine. He comes and goes.

I ignore Austin when he comes back again. He jumps onto the couch next to me, rubbing his face on my leg.

“No,” I say, but it doesn’t stop him.

He puts his paws on my kindle screen, and I have to put it down.

“You’re on his side, right? Manpower or whatever shit you’re on. Both of you are on my shit list,” I say to him, glaring.

Finally, I sigh and grab the box on his collar, having a hard time trying to untie the box.               Opening it unceremoniously I frown at the glasses in there. I find the note under the box.

Glasses for your beautiful eyes… so you can see me better now.

I snort. “Fucking arrogant bastard! Who says I want to see you?” I shout, and Austin jumps off the couch, leaving my apartment after my outburst.

Good.

A few minutes later Austin comes back again. I turn to look at him. He’s walking almost hesitantly toward me. Is he scared of me?

I laugh. “Come here. I’m not angry at you. I’m mad at your other owner, the bad one.”

As if he understands me, he walks faster. Are cats really that smart?

He’s breathing fast. The small box he carries must be a little heavy. Crouching next to him, I take the box. It’s a snow globe. I shake it, and it snows on the couple kissing in the middle. Under it, there’s a note as usual.

A snow globe for my Snowflake.

I always liked snow globes, but the mention of my dress in the ball makes me angry, reminds me that he knew who I was. Did he know it then?

“I’m not YOUR Snowflake!” I growl and put the globe on my desk before sitting back on the couch with my kindle. Austin is looking at me with expectant eyes, and I glare at him.

“Go away!” I snap, and he looks at me with big eyes before leaving the apartment.

I’ll apologize to him when he comes back, I think to myself and busy myself with the book               I am trying to read, but I can’t focus enough.

I roll my eyes when Austin strolls back again. This time he drags something big after him.

I kneel next to him and untie the lace on his collar, lifting the box to my lap.

I’m Hendrix. I’m your neighbor. I’m the stranger you fucked on that balcony. And all of them are smitten with you. May I…

I frown and open the box. There’s a green, sexy little babydoll in there, May I Slytherin is written on the front. Slytherin snake is moving toward the hem of the silk nightie.

I smile, shaking my head.

“No,” I say to myself and push the box away.

I swear Austin huffs at me.

“His gifts may be good, but I’m still angry at him,” I say to Austin, and he seems like he’s considering my words. Of course not, but it seems like it.

“I can’t help but feel like I’ve been played. He knew it all along for fuck’s sake!” I keep talking to my cat.

“No, buddy. You may not Slytherin!” I shout to the closed curtains, causing Austin to leave my apartment with hurry again.