Chapter 12: Shooting Stars
Alex, the filthy rich capitalist, had an entire house in the mountains with a glass ceiling that offered a perfect view of the star–studded sky.
I sat beside him wrapped in a blanket, suddenly feeling a wave of insecurity. We were both adults–there was no need to play naive. I could clearly see Alex’s interest in me.
But why?
I was completely ordinary, unremarkable in every way. The gap between us wasn’t just significant–we might as well be from different planets.
Why would he like me?
Or had he seen too many exceptional women and just wanted something different for a change? Was I just a novelty to him?
I quietly shifted away from him, suddenly craving a cigarette.
But I hadn’t brought any. Feeling restless, I turned to Alex.
“Do you have a cigarette?”
He looked surprised. “You smoke?”
Something contrarian stirred in me, and I deliberately said, “Yeah, I’m a total
addict. What, you can’t handle a woman who smokes?”
Alex raised an eyebrow. “Of course not. That’s your business.”
He felt around in his pocket and opened a pack. “Hmm, only one left. Menthol Camel. Want it?”
I nodded.
He used his long fingers to light it for me, his thick lashes casting shadows on his cheeks.
After one drag, he gestured for me to hand it over.
“Let me have a hit.”
I hesitated.
“You saw there’s only one left. Don’t tell me you’re selfish enough to keep it all to yourself?” Alex looked at me, his eyes lighter than most people’s, like seawater under moonlight.
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I couldn’t refuse that mesmerizing face. While I was lost in thought, he smoothly plucked the cigarette from my fingers and put it between his lips.
He closed his eyes and exhaled a cloud of menthol–scented smoke, then said, “Autumn, did you know that time at Jake’s dinner wasn’t the first time I’d seen you since coming back?”
I was startled. “What?”
“Six months ago, just after I returned to the States, I saw you on the street.
“A girl was arguing with her boyfriend when he suddenly slapped her and started getting physical. There were plenty of people watching, but the guy was huge and intimidating, so no one stepped in.”
He smiled around the cigarette. “Except you. You marched right up like some tiny vigilante and said-” he imitated my voice, “What kind of man hits a woman in
public? Let her go or I’m calling the cops.‘
“He was so aggressive, and you were like a kitten facing him, but you weren’t
afraid at all.”
I suddenly remembered that incident. I’d actually been terrified, but the girl was crying so desperately, begging for help while everyone ignored her. I’d acted on impulse.
I recalled a handsome stranger who’d stepped in when the guy tried to get physical with me, scaring him off. More people gathered, the police arrived, and I’d slipped away to avoid the hassle.
That man had been Alex.
“You’ve always been like that,” Alex said with a soft laugh. “When I fought with Jake as kids, the other children just watched, but you jumped in to help him. “Later when you played with me, if older kids tried to bully me, you’d puff yourself up and stand in front of me. This tiny little thing, somehow full of courage, always trying to protect others.”
Alex pulled out a blanket from somewhere and wrapped it snugly around both of
- us.
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“I do like you, Autumn. I liked you when we were kids, and I liked you the moment I saw you again as adults.
“You probably don’t see how amazing you are. Maybe you’re going through a
rough patch where you can’t see your own light, but I’ve always seen it, clear as
day.” He pointed to the meteors that had begun to streak across the sky.
“Just like that. Brilliant.”
I stared at the shower of shooting stars, and he smiled, patting my head.
“Make a wish.”
I quickly closed my eyes and made my wish.
I hope I can live the life I want. I hope my writing career takes off.
I reluctantly opened my eyes after adding a few more wishes, and found myself looking directly into Alex’s smiling eyes.
My face heated up, and I scrambled for something to say. “What did you wish for?” Alex didn’t answer. Instead, he leaned in slightly, his gaze dropping to my lips, his voice husky:
“There’s only one drag left… want it?”
