Finally, I was going to be discharged. I had been here for a week and it hadn't been an easy one. From constant injections to regular interruptions of my sleep by a host of people, nurses, doctors even medical students. Some at least had the decency to feel bad whenever they woke me up.

Most of the nurses had been nice and they also were fun to talk to but I was itching to go home and do something other than take drugs, watch TV and sleep.

"You seem very excited.", Ansel said and pecked me.
"Don't tell anyone but I can't wait.", I said and I wore my jacket. He had gotten me clothes since I came here in a nightie.

"Oh, well sadly the doc said you aren't fully ready, and they need to run more tests."
"You know you're very bad at lying.", I said flatly.
"Am I?", he said.

"Oh I heard you thanking the doctor so let's go.", I said and slid my phone in my back pocket, but as I walked past him he caught my wrist and gently pulled me back before pulling me close to him.

"When we get there Nicola isn't going to let us out of her sight so I need to kiss you."
"Need to.....", but before I could finish he kissed me, a slow, passionate but needy one.

This week had been amazing, he always slept with me, and then in the afternoon he would go but be back not long after. I got to chat with May, and even Paloma who I thought was pissed at me came.

Apparently, she and Parker were now on good terms, but she didn't want anything anymore, no more relationships. She keeps saying she doesn't like him anymore, but her eyes say the opposite.

I also got to spend time with Theresa and my dad, mostly Theresa. We seem to be better now. I haven't totally forgiven her, but I'm forgetting it.

And here I was kissing this handsome man, who I was falling in love with. It's not even been a year and he seems so perfect in my eyes. May wouldn't hesitate to say she told me so. I didn't tell her where Ansel and I were now, but I'm sure she would have figured it out.

We pulled apart. "I think we should get home now. I don't want to keep them waiting."
"Sure.", he said and we headed out.

He was right. Nicola didn't let us out of her sight. She kept on sweet talking me and she kept on asking how I was doing. But I was grateful. She was like a mother to me.

We reached the house and everyone was so nice, Cecilia had given me a kind of soup. She said it was a soup she knew they normally gave people who had just gone through stomach surgery. The healing soup, she called it.

Cory gave me a bouquet he had been grooming for the past week. It was so nice.

After everything we had dinner, now I and Ansel were cuddling on the couch and we just finished watching The Nutcracker and Four Realms. It was a nice movie.

"You know Jamie's birthday is coming up.", Ansel said.
"Oh really, we have to plan something."
"Along with May of course.", he added.
"Oh yeah sure."

True to that, the next day May called me needing assistance. His birthday was this weekend. I didn't have to go to work so I went to May's place, she was also free.

Martina had permitted me to work from home till I felt better. It was nice but I was already missing my colleagues. Mekhi had to drive me to May's house since Ansel didn't want to risk it, he even wanted to drive me himself.

We arrived at the house and I slowly climbed the stairs with Mekhi by my side.

"Thank you Mekhi, you can go wait in the car and I'll call you when I'm ready.", I said once I reached the door.
"Yes ma'am.", he said and waited for a while before leaving.

As he left, May opened the door.
"Riley, are you up for a hug?"
"Yep. Just not a tight one.", I said and she immediately pulled me into a hug. She shifted for me to enter.

Her apartment was very nice. The theme was maroon with landscape paintings on patterned wallpaper. I was the one who helped her with the design of the apartment. I smiled at the memory.

"So how are things?", May asked as we went to the dining and she poured a glass of juice.
"Oh I'm fine.", I said and sipped on my juice.

"Silly, I'm not talking about you I'm talking about your relationship with Ansel, how is it."
"It's fine, we're closer now.", I said and smiled.

"Oh, so you guys have kissed before."
"Yeah we have.", I said and I could tell she was waiting for the last piece of info before she would burst into screams. "A few multiple times.", I added.

"A few multiple times, that's like a lot right.", she said.
"No that's a few multiple times, a few.", I said and finished my juice since it wasn't that much.

"Hmm. So that means you're in love.", she said.
"No I'm not in love.", I said and went to drop the juice.
"What do you mean you're not in love.", she asked as she came up and we rinsed the glasses.

"It means I'm not in love with Ansel.", I said and headed to the sitting room.
"How can you not be in love with someone you have kissed, a few multiple times.", she said using air quotes for the last part of her statement.

"Ionno. I just can't fall in love with him, I still need time.", I said.
"Time for what?", she asked.

"My heart is still fragile, you know.", I said.
"Fragile my foot. That's bullshit, and what's making it fragile might I ask.", she said and I looked at her.

"Seriously, like you don't know.", I said.
"Matter of fact Riley I don't, please enlighten me. Because if I were in your shoes I wouldn't waste this opportunity that the universe has given me to love again because I'm sulking over a love story with a bad ending.", she said and I was silent.

Was that what it was with Brayden, all those years just summed up to a love story with a bad ending?

"Plus if you keep this up, one day some old fling of his will come up and might whisk him away. Then you'll find yourself hearing the quote, you don't know what you've got till it's gone.", she said and shrugged like it was going to happen.

"That can't happen.", I said.
"Oh and what makes you so sure."
"W..well 'cause.....", I stuttered and she raised her brow asking if there was any reason. But I continued.

"'Cause, he said she betrayed his trust and had lied to him.", I said.
"Oh.", her eyebrows went up. "Do you know her?", she asked but I shook my head.

"Not even her name?"
"Nope.", I said and she sighed.

"Anyways, leaving that at that, you should get your act together and grab your opportunity instead of pushing it away.", she said and her phone rang.

"Excuse me.", she said and left, leaving me to my thoughts.

She later came back and luckily she didn't bring up the topic so we only talked about her plans for Jamie's birthday. I spent the day at her house before heading home in the evening.

////////

Soon, it was Saturday, and I found myself wearing a strapless purple dress. It was a body hug and was long. It had a split up to mid-thigh.

Jamie was a very good friend of mine and also knew a lot of people. I was the one who designed the hall. Though I had invited Parker and Paloma so they would see it. I hoped they would come.

I curled my hair, not that it wasn't curly, I just wanted to. I also let it fall to rest on my shoulders. I had just finished my make-up when Ansel knocked.

"Come in.", I said. Since that incident where he found me only in a towel, he always insisted on knocking, if I was in the room.
"Yeah, are you......"

"How do I look?", I asked and he stood there looking dumbfounded.
"Um..you..."
"How do I look, is it nice?", I asked and he slowly came closer, till we were very close. His hand rested very low on my back.

"You look amazing.", he said before kissing me, with all passion. It was slow but passionate. I smiled into the kiss then pulled away as he rest his forehead on mine.

"So I'm guessing it's good.", I said.
"Riley, I'm not thinking straight.", he said and his hands rested on my zip.

I held his hands and stepped away. Feigning annoyance, I rested my hands on my waist.

"Ansel Michael Winson. You are one dirty-minded young man here. And I would not tolerate such behaviour before a party.", I said and headed downstairs without listening to what he was gonna say.

I smiled all through the ride. Ansel was the one that drove. His face looked sullen at first, then thoughtful. The way his expression changed made me want to laugh.

When he finally parked the car, he looked at me with a pleading look and I replied with the most innocent smile ever.

"You can't possibly be serious about what you said.", he said and I came closer. I brushed my lips on his and as they parted, my lips went to his ear and I bit it ever so gently.
"Keep those thoughts for later.", I breathed into his ear and opened the door.

I turned back and he was still there. "You coming?", I asked as I took the gift bag I got for Jamie and he muttered a yeah before we both stepped out.

The party had already started and the hall looked very amazing.
"Wow. You did this?", Ansel asked looking truly marvelled.
"Yes.", I said.
"You've outdone yourself.", he said and pecked me on the cheek.

"Well if it isn't the two lovebirds reigning in town.", I heard and turned to see Jamie and May by his side, holding hands.
"Jamie, happy birthday.", I said and hugged.
"Thank you.", he said and he hugged Ansel as I hugged May.

"Riley, thank you so much. This place is amazing.", Jamie said.
"Yeah it was nothing, you're like a brother to me, see it as another gift.", I said.

"Wow. I'll make sure I introduce you to some of my friends later on. They liked your work."
"Oh I would appreciate that.", I said.

We all chatted for a while and Jamie said some funny pieces of stuff. It was nice and he looked very happy
"I'll show her off to the gifts table.", May said and we both left.

After some walking, she said, "So I see you're taking my advice very well.", she said.
"What advice?", I asked genuinely confused.
"You know, to grab your opportunity.", she said but I still looked confused.

"That's why you wore this gown right.", she said and my mouth formed an 'o'. "By the way, this gown is legit fire.", she squealed.
"Legit fire? What is that, some cool lawyer slang.", I joked and she laughed.

"You can say that again.", she said enthusiastically and we both laughed this time. We chatted and talked about so many things.

I got a text from Paloma, she wasn't coming and neither was Parker. Maybe things weren't back to normal. But I would fix that when I get back to the office.

The party went on and in the midst of it, I lost May and Ansel to the crowd. I was now tired of walking around and decided to sit at the mini-bar that was there.

I was sipping on juice when someone sat beside me. I turned and once he saw me he acted like he recognised me, and then he shielded his eyes.

"Once again, I have stumble upon such great beauty.", he said like he was some commentator at some soccer match.
"Once again.", I said smiling.

"Oh I have met many pretty ladies, but you are by far the most beautiful of them all.", he said and smiled showing off one dimple, he was charming.

"And what could such damsel be doing all alone here?", he asked
"She's waiting for her husband.", I said and sipped on my juice making sure my ring was very visible.

"Oh my.", he said and scooted some steps back. "I guess I have very sadly stumbled onto a damsel who has already been taken. Where were you all my life.", he sighed and I laughed at his antics.

"Allister McGery.", he said stretching his hand for a shake. McGery, it sounded so familiar, I've heard that name somewhere.

"Riley Winson.", I said shaking his hands but his eyes widened.
"Mrs Winson, it's an honour to meet the wife and one of the most respected people on this earth in this lifetime.", he said and I laughed.

"What? In this lifetime.", I said as I pulled my hand away.
"Honestly, I am honoured.", he said.

We chatted for a while and he was really fun to hang out with. We exchanged numbers, and we also ended up talking about his really beautiful girlfriend.

After what seemed like a long time he decided he had to go.
"Thanks for your company.", I said.
"Oh it was nothing, plus if I should see Mr Winson, I would let him know you're here waiting."
"Thank you.", I said and he nodded before leaving

I waited for a long time. I had called Ansel several times but he hadn't answered. I went outside to where we had parked but the car wasn't there.

Had he gone home, without me?

I called May and we met in the hall. The party was rounding up.
"I need a ride. I can't seem to find Ansel and the car's gone too.", I said.

"Oh my, did he say where he was going?"
"No, I've called him but it's gone straight to voicemail.", I said sounding worried.

"Don't worry, you just wait and I'll get Jamie."
"Okay. Thank you."
"Don't worry.", she said and left.

Not long, they both came and reassured me that Ansel would be fine. Then we left. But I was all but reassured. So many questions.

Why would he have left like that?
Did he think I had gone home?
Why wasn't he answering his calls?
Had something happened to him?

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The Sparkling Authoress
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