Cereus
The weight of the evening's responsibility finally lifted, leaving me drained and with a dull ache in my lower back. I was just about to call for a car when I spotted Matthew weaving his way through the throng of exiting staff. Relief washed over me again, a sweet tide erasing the lingering tension from my encounter with Collin.
His smile was as warm as his greeting. "Hey there, superstar," he said, enveloping me in a hug. "You did an amazing job tonight."
"Thanks," I breathed, burying my face momentarily in his shoulder. The familiar scent of his cologne, a mix of citrus and woodsy musk, anchored me in the present, away from the ghosts that haunted the past.
"Let's get out of here," he said, taking my hand and leading me towards the exit. "Borrowed Alex's car since my new one is arriving this weekend. Hope you don't mind the slightly less glamorous ride."
"Not at all," I chuckled, stepping into the cool night air. The city lights shimmered, a glittering tapestry against the inky blackness of the sky.
As we drove away from the venue, Matthew launched into a detailed account of his day, his voice a steady stream of anecdotes and observations. I listened intently, offering occasional comments and questions, all the while wrestling with the image of Collin standing alone, a flicker of hurt in his eyes.
"Why did he look like that?" a traitorous part of my mind whispered. "He was the one who left, who shattered your world."
But the memory of his cold indifference, the way he'd retreated back into his stoic mask, silenced the doubts. He'd made his choice, and so had I.
Reaching my apartment building, Matthew pulled up in front of the entrance, the borrowed car a sleek black sedan that stood out from the usual assortment of dented hatchbacks.
As I unbuckled my seatbelt, he turned to me, his gaze soft. "You okay, Cereus? You seem a bit distant tonight."
"Just a little tired," I lied, forcing a smile.
He reached out, his thumb gently wiping away a stray strand of hair that had escaped my bun. "Understandable. You did a hell of a job tonight."
His touch sent a jolt through me, a welcome distraction from the turmoil within. Leaning in, I met him halfway, the kiss warm and familiar. It was a comfortable kind of intimacy, a safe harbor after the stormy seas of my encounter with Collin.
Pulling away, Matthew's eyes searched mine. "You sure you're alright?"
"Absolutely," I said, my voice a little too firm, a little too quick. "Just a long day."
He didn't push it, thankfully. We stepped out of the car, and he walked me to my apartment door.
"See you tomorrow?" he asked, his voice laced with a hope I couldn't quite meet."Maybe," I hedged, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue. "Busy day again."
He nodded, a flicker of disappointment crossing his features before he masked it with a smile. "Alright, well, don't work yourself too hard. Get some rest."
"You too," I offered as he leaned in for another kiss. This one felt different, a question mark hanging heavy in the air. Pulling away, I mumbled a goodnight and hurried inside, collapsing onto the couch with a sigh.
The exhaustion hit me like a wave, but sleep remained elusive. Collin's image kept flickering behind my closed eyelids, the hurt in his eyes a constant reminder.
Why? The question echoed in the silence of my apartment. He'd been the one to walk away, leaving me with nothing but a gaping hole in my heart.
Yet, the sight of him, so different from the boy I once knew, had stirred something unsettling within me. A flicker of… what? Curiosity? Regret? The answer remained frustratingly elusive.
As dawn painted the sky in soft hues of pink and orange, I finally drifted off to sleep, the unanswered questions swirling in my mind like fallen leaves in a restless wind.
The following days were a whirlwind of preparations for the upcoming board meeting. Presentations to finalize, reports to compile, and a never-ending stream of emails to answer. Collin, thankfully, seemed content to remain a distant figure, his interactions with me strictly professional.
The memory of his hurt still lingered, a nagging ache I couldn't quite ignore. But I buried it deeper, focusing on the comfort of Matthew's presence, his reliability a stark contrast to the volatile memories of my past relationship with Collin.
One evening, as I was finishing up some paperwork at the office, a soft chime from the elevator announced a visitor. My heart skipped a beat as Collin emerged, his expression unreadable. He scanned the room, his gaze lingering on me for a fraction of a second before settling on the documents sprawled across my desk.
"Working late?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth.
"Just finishing up some reports for the board meeting," I replied, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "Anything I can help you with, Mr. Reeves?"
He hesitated, then pulled out a chair and sat down across from me. The silence stretched, thick with unspoken words and memories.
"About the other night," he finally began...