Disclaimer: I own nothing. Characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. Plot inspired by Halsey's Hurricane.

Beta: SunflowerFran


12


Overwhelmed by disappointment, I slap my empty glass down on the bar and bid Mike farewell. At this point, home is looking better and better.

The street outside is teeming with people in a way that only New York City can pull off. I step into the center of the bustle and breathe the night air in. It does nothing to make me feel better.

Eyes mashed shut, I shake my head and sigh. The steady rush of the sidewalk traffic pulls me forward, so I just go with it. It's the wrong direction, but I can't find it in myself to care. I'm not going home, I've decided. I can't. Not like this.

I get five feet away before I'm stopped in my tracks by a hand on my arm. I already know who it is before I turn around. Doing so just confirms this. Bee is unsmiling as she peers up at me with dark, clear eyes. Wordlessly, she hands me a gray card before stalking away.

Twirling it in my fingers, I realize what it is. Her father's business card. I roll my eyes because, well, I already have the old fuck's contact details. On the back, though, is a hurried addition. The address of a hotel nearby followed by a brief note.

Room 13

Midnight

Vague, but telling. I don't have to think hard about it. I already know I'm going.

I have an hour to kill before our scheduled meeting time.

I spend that hour in the hotel bar. I'm literally the only person here, but I could give a fuck. I have half a mind to get fucked out of my mind. But then I think about what's to come ... and I know I need to be sober so I can remember this.

At 11:50, I pay my tab and meander over to where the rooms begin on the first floor. My heart rate increases as the numbers do, and I'm full-on quaking with nerves by the time I reach thirteen.

Swallowing my nerves and wiping my palms on my slacks, I raise my fist to knock and the door swings open underneath it. I wasn't expecting that, but I force myself to shake it off. Steadying myself, I push inside, eyes squinting against the dim lighting.

The room, as far as I can tell, is empty. But the door leading to the small porch out back is ajar. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I make my way across the room to it. The little handle is cool in my hand and the door slides open easily. Instantly, I'm engulfed in the chill of the night.

"Married, huh?" Her voice startles me, and I can't help but jump away and look sharply to my right. Shrouded in shadows, she stands there in that cream dress with that neat hair looking familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

At a loss for words, I shrug and tuck my hand into my pocket, thumb pushing angrily at the ring attached to my finger.

"Bummer." She drawls, stepping forward into my space. She smells amazing. Better than she did back then. She was all sweat and salt and smoke back then. Now, she's peaches and cream.

"Why'd you ask me to come here?" My voice is shaky as I push my fingers through my hair.

"Why not?" She shrugs, looking me over slowly. Her eyes consume me, so much so that I'm not sure if there will be anything left after she's done.

"Thirteen years..." I trail off, swallowing as I look away. I'm not sure what else to say. What little relationship we were able to build on that day thirteen years ago was not based on conversation.

That's putting it nicely, because I'm not sure that we talked at all.


She does recognize him! What do we think will happen next? There's only one more chapter to go until I press complete. How do you think this will end?

Thank you for reading!

xo

j