Reid
Mallory was shining tonight. When I saw her at the party, lit up by the friends she surrounded herself with, I was briefly reminded of the butterfly my ex-girlfriend used to be. Alighting on flowers to take in sap, she glowed brighter with every feed.
After a year of pining for Mallory, I realised that she never stopped loving me. My mind was spinning, drunk off my happiness. Tonight was the stuff of my dreams.
As I left the party, heading up into the hotel, I realised that I needed to talk to Nina. I leaned my head against the elevator wall, closing my eyes as it took me up to the eighth floor. My feet carried me to our room when the lift stopped. I knocked on the door cautiously.
Nina answered, her eyes shadowed with dark circles. Wordlessly, she turned and walked back to the bed, sitting on the edge cross-legged. I approached warily, leaning against the wall opposite so I could face her.
Nina stared at me with undisguised wariness, asking, "Where were you last night?"
I sat by her cautiously. "This isn't going to work out, Nina."
She didn't react. Her eyes permeated my own, accusing. "You didn't answer my question. Were you with her?"
I was shocked by the vicious edge to Nina's voice. We both knew who she was talking about. "Yes." I answered flatly. "I didn't cheat on you."
"It's too late for that, isn't it?" Nina dismissed bitterly. She got up from the bed, wrapping her dressing gown around her body. "Thanks for wasting two years with me. I thought you cared more than that."
I sat on the bed, watching Nina angrily shove her things into a suitcase. Once she zipped it up, ready to leave our room, I broke the silence. "I'm sorry."
"I'm not." Nina retorted. She tipped her head up as she stared back at me. "I thought you were different, Reid. I thought you actually cared this time."
I frowned at her. "This time?"
Nina rolled her eyes. "I lied to you when I said we were friends before. You hated me because I loved you, and you couldn't handle it. You only care about Mallory, and I'm sick of it."
"What are you talking about?" I asked, completely at a loss to understand.
"You'll realise that Mallory was never good with you. Nothing like how we were." With that parting blow, she stalked out of our room. Before she turned the corner, she gave me a withering glare of pure hatred.
I stared at the spot where she stood a second ago, bewildered. In the last few minutes of our conversation, Nina became a completely different person.
The night of Mallory and I's last date floated to my memory. Mallory sitting on the rain-covered sidewalk, staring up at me with mascara streaked down her cheeks. How could you not see that?
Nina felt scorned by me. I empathised with her, but I was starting to realise that Mallory knew her ex-friend's character more than I did. After two years together, Nina and I's relationship was still on the surface-level. She never fully trusted me.
I went down to the lobby, where I noticed Nick waiting by the elevator. Once he saw me, he approached with a wary look in his eyes. "I need to talk to you."
I gestured to the restaurant next to us silently. We took a table. Nick stared at me, clearly wondering what to say. I just stared at the windows and crossed my arms, waiting for him to start the conversation.
"What were you doing with Mallory yesterday?" Nick asked, straight to the point as always. His mouth was pressed into a sombre line.
"Why are you assuming I was with her?"
"Because she wouldn't tell me anything last night." Nick said flatly. "So what's your answer?"
"We talked." I decided on. "Mallory's loyal to you. We didn't do anything that would put your trust into jeopardy."
"Good." Nick said, leaning forwards in his chair. His eyes drilled into mine, accusatory and sharp. "Why won't you let go of her?"
I shrugged, flicking the glass of water in front of me. "I never gave up on Mallory."
"Figures." Nick sank back into his chair comfortably. "When I realized my feelings for Mallory, I curbed them out of respect for you, and our friendship. I thought you were right about your connection with her." Nick told me, a sad smile hovering about his mouth. I couldn't tell if it was genuine.
I hated that Nick was so calm. He was so confident and sure in his feelings for Mallory. Whereas I was still halfway on my journey of discovery.
Nick's honesty was picking apart my heart, and I was slowly bleeding out on the ground. Even if I regained my memories of the past, I would be helpless. Nick had a multitude of weapons to hit me with, while I was trying my hardest to hold onto a broken sword.
"What changed two years ago, Nick?" I asked, wondering if I wanted to know the answer. "Why did you ask Mallory to date you?"
He leaned forward in his seat, piercing me with his grey eyes. "I know that Mallory loved you. But I started to question your feelings."
"I loved her." I protested, anger gnawing at the edges of my words. Who was Nick to question my feelings?
Nick didn't flinch. "That might be true. Tell me honestly that your relationship would have survived longer than a month after your amnesia, before you left her. Can you say that without guilt?"
"That doesn't matter anymore. I remember her, and she loves me. That's enough for us, so shouldn't it be enough for you?"
"I don't believe that you love her now." Nick told me softly. Silence ensued for a minute as I gauged his words. He sighed, leaning back in his seat. "I won't tell her to stay away from you, because Mallory is her own person. I respect her, and I believe that she won't hurt me."
"Even if it's unintentional?" I asked calculatingly. Looking back on this moment, I wasn't the best version of myself. But love makes us desperate. When I realised my mistake, I leaned into my chair. "I'll make the same promise, then." I acceded. "Neither of us will do anything to sway her decision."
Nick looked at me strangely. "Why would you do that?"
"Because if she chooses me, I want her to want me. I don't want to actively influence how she lives the rest of her life." I answered honestly. I tilted my head to the ceiling and rubbed my eyes with my hands, feeling exhausted but proud of myself for not yielding.
Along the way of these last few years, I learned a lot about myself. Love was sacrifice and hard work, but it was worth it. Mallory was worth this and more.
"You haven't given up. I thought as much." Nick replied quietly. He got up from his seat and walked to the front door of the restaurant. At the last arch of the hall, Nick faced me again. He was clear-eyed, and looked stronger than I remembered.
"Just so you know, Mallory and I are better together. You're refusing to see it." Nick told me coolly. I was struck by the quiet assurance on his face. Nick completely believed in what he said, whereas I was plagued by doubt. Everything became so complicated in the last year. And I was alone again.
I wandered down to the beach, where I talked with Mallory yesterday. I wondered if she would come there too. I sat by the beachside for hours, skipping stones along the waves as I thought about what to do.
At last I heard light footsteps behind me. I turned and Mallory was framed against the sun, dressed in an orange tube top and long skirt. Her gold earrings winked in the sunlight, her long hair streamed down her back. She looked like a goddess, her eyes piercing into mine. "How did I know you'd be here?"
I gave her a tiny smirk, staring up at her divine face. Her eyes looked like pure sunshine as they held mine steadily. "Lucky guess?" I teased.
"More like intuition." Mallory disagreed wryly. Her expression became serious. "I broke it off with Nick an hour ago."
My luck was never this good. "Seriously?"
A euphoric smile broke through on her face. "Seriously."
"I broke it off with Nina this morning. Know what that means?" I asked teasingly, a grin breaking out on my face, like the sun through the clouds.
She blushed, smiling at me. "What does that mean?"
I stood up, offering my hand to her. She took it without hesitation, and I pulled her up to face me. Two towers, bridged together at last. "Don't tease me." I murmured. I was done with being unsure; done with stepping on eggshells around Mallory.
I took an infinitesimally tiny step towards her. When we reached for each other, I knew this was our way forward. Making this girl my own, to have, to hold. To love. Mallory stole my heart a long time ago.
I kissed her slowly, and she reciprocated it with enthusiasm, winding her fingers into my hair. We ended up with my back against the sand, with her legs either side of my body as she braced her hands against my chest. I pulled Mallory's body against me, kissing her with feverish desperation. We were past uncertainty, and the fire in my chest only pushed me to go forwards.
When she let go of me, I complained, "Do we have to stop?" I pouted to emphasise my point. Mallory just laughed, embracing me as we sat up on the sand.
She ran her hands carefully over her hair, beaming. She looked beautiful when she smiled. "We have the rest of the day, Reid."
"Do we?" I asked. From the crease of her brow, Mallory knew I wasn't just alluding to one day. What would happen with the future?
"I'm tired of waiting for a bomb to drop." Mallory confessed. "The worst has happened, so why don't we just move forwards? Just enjoy today, and the day after that?"
I smiled. "I like the sound of that. One more kiss?"
Mallory chuckled, leaning forwards to kiss me slowly. She moved away to prop her head on her elbow, staring at me. "From now on, you never have to ask."
Despite Mallory's desire to go back to a room, we spent another half hour on the beach talking about how happy we were. This time, I felt it wasn't temporary. We weren't looking over our shoulders for something to happen.
Just living in the moment, feeling free to focus on one thing at a time, was a luxury I never had before. Not with Mallory. But finding this space, this moment where we could just stop and breathe in each other, was precious.
We left the beach hand in hand, walking up to the hotel entrance. I turned slightly to take her in, but Mallory knew straightaway that I was looking. She turned and winked quickly at me as we walked into the building. I smirked at her in return. But the color in my face drained when I saw who was waiting for us.
Kennedy was in the lobby, staring at me with a knowing look in her eyes. I recovered myself and smiled sheepishly, holding on tightly to Mallory's hand. I had no intention of hiding anything.
She raised her eyebrows at us. "I'm not going to ask, but I hope your respective exes know that they're history."
"They do." Mallory reassured her.
Kennedy smiled, squeezing us into a hug. "I knew you'd pull through in the end. It was just too good, right?"
"The story hasn't ended yet." I reminded her with a grin. "There's still your wedding."
"Which I'm so excited for!" Mallory squealed, hugging her best friend. She wiped away imaginary tears, smiling. "I'm overjoyed. Two of my best friends are getting married."
Kennedy grinned at us. "And two of my best friends have rekindled something. One of them being my soon-to-be brother in law."
"Isn't that crazy? We're going to be related by marriage." I said in disbelief, thinking it over. "I still can't believe you chose my brother."
"Call the devil, and he shall appear." Tony grinned, materialising from the air like normal. "I'll have you know that I'm a catch. Only Kennedy could reel me in."
"You most certainly are." Kennedy crooned, kissing her fiance.
Mallory turned to me with a look of disgust on her face. "Is that how we're going to be when we get engaged?"
Warmth spread in my chest. "Don't you think you're getting ahead of yourself?" I teased.
She took my joke seriously and smiled. "I think it would be a nice dream someday."
Tony watched us interact, looking confused. "I feel like I missed something," he said doubtfully to Kennedy. She just smiled at him.
"Have you?" I wondered.
Tony squinted his eyes, looking from Mallory's sheepish face to mine, then to our entwined hands. His expression became completely shocked, disbelieving. "Have my prayers been answered?"
"I have to sweep Mallory off her feet first, but yes." I answered, unable to contain my grin.
Tony whooped, hugging me. He turned to Mallory, taking one of her hands, his eyes shining with joy. "This is one of the best days of my life, excluding my wedding. And possibly the births of my future children."
"Absolutely." Kennedy agreed, smiling. "All's well that ends well, right?"
"Right." Mallory agreed softly with her best friend, glancing into my eyes. I kissed her on the cheek. Her radiant smile grew wider. "We'll need to book a separate room for the rest of the trip." she told me.
I agreed, and she went off to the reception desk to ask for one. I was left with my cousin and his fiance, both of whom were looking expectantly at me. I stared back at them, wide-eyed. "What is it?"
"Well." Kennedy opened succinctly with, in a tone that clearly said you're kidding me.
"Where are the details?" Tony asked us incredulously. "I need to know everything about you and Mallory, including the tiniest little pieces of information."
I smirked, knowing the perfect response to their interrogations. "Well, if you want to know the exact details of how we got intimate on the beach, get comfortable. It's going to be a very long hour."
Kennedy ran away, muttering something about how she had to water her plants. Tony was more expressive, and simply pretended to vomit on the tiled floor.
I just laughed and glanced back at Mallory, who was waiting by the counter with her sunglasses lifted onto her head. She turned back, her eyes searching for something until they landed on me. Her lips lifted into a bright smile as she tilted her head at the desk, inviting me to join her.
When we were finished, Mallory and I walked hand in hand back to the cabana. Our beer pong setup was still there, with a fresh set of cups waiting on the side.
I looked at her, an idea brimming in my mind. "Sit down, I have an idea."
Mallory glanced at the cups, then back at me. "Is it a good idea?"
"Probably." I affirmed, guiding her to the seats. I kissed her on the forehead, then I walked over to the cups. Grabbing a pen, I scrawled a message underneath one of them for her.
When I was satisfied, I called Mallory to the table. She grinned, taking in the layout. "So we're doing a rematch?"
"Exactly. When you drink, look at the bottom of the empty cup after." I told her.
"You're not trying to get me drunk, are you?" Mallory appraised me with her clear dark eyes.
I chuckled. "That's not part of my plan, no. You have a high alcohol tolerance anyway."
She laughed. "You got me there."
Mallory was unexplainably good at the game. She got three of my cups before I managed to land my shot into the cup I wrote on. My heart rate picked up as I watched her smile, turning the cup upside down.
As she read the message, her smile dimmed. She looked up at me, her eyes filming with tears. "Obviously I will, Reid."
I smiled, walking past the table to embrace her. I cupped the back of her head with my hand, burying my face into her shoulder. I kissed her neck quickly. "You make me so happy."
"Just seeing you makes me happy." she returned quietly. My heart felt lighter than it did in years.
As we walked away in search of our hotel room, Mallory took the cup with her. The message on its underside read i love you. will you go out with me? It wasn't the most poetic message I could think of, but my feelings for Mallory were simple and straightforward. I expressed them in the same way.
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