I've always wondered what my reunion with Leilani would be like after all these years apart from her. Maybe she'd finally be free of her family and now a successful businesswoman in New York? A happily married woman and mother strutting happily with her family down the city? Maybe her mother would've completely healed from her coma and moved in with Lei away from the people who treated her daughter badly?
There were many scenarios that played in my head over the years but each of them had one thing in common—she'd have moved on from me. Completely forgotten about me and now living her life without the slightest bit of an idea who I am, or she'd ignore my presence entirely, resenting me with every cell in her body.
The last thing I expected though was meeting her in a bar with Manon. There she was, Leilani Mayfield, hotter than I last remembered—and she still knew my full name. That's all that mattered to me in that moment.
It still does.
Because now she's giving me a chance to explain myself—a redemption arc I always wished to get the moment I'd meet her again. I don't know where to start. We're alone in the car and I know she's listening with everything she's got. The look on her face says it all. "Give me a good reason to forgive you, Desmond."
I can't fuck this up and that's what's making it complicated. One wrong move and I'll lose her for good this time. Better yet, I lose my only chance to keep her close. To finally live with her under the same roof. To get to know her better.
To call her my wife.
"Remember how I promised to change my ways after you told me to stop causing trouble at school?" I begin, not breaking eye contact with her.
Leilani nods, eyes twinkling with emotion when she clearly goes back to those days. The days when I was so desperate for my mother's attention I'd do anything and everything just to get her to notice me. Getting drunk, fighting, cursing, you name it.
If it wasn't for my crush on Leilani and her finally opening up to me, I'm sure I'd have joined some kind of gang back then. Fuck. Thinking about it now makes me realize how much of a hopeless case I was back then. Always seeking approval. Pathetic.
"What about back then made you leave, Desmond?" Lei asks after I stay silent for a while.
"Well, I stopped causing trouble back then. I stopped drinking, I started attending classes, and coming to school. I stopped cursing the teachers too if you remember."
"And you stopped being an asshole too," Leilani adds making me smile a little. Good. She's listening.
"That was the only month I stayed obedient back home and my mom didn't get called to school...until Calvin noticed..." my voice trails off.
I can't reveal that I like her unless I want to scare her away, but I can't lie to her either. Fuck. How do I go about this?
"Hurry up and tell me, Desmond! What happened that made you leave without telling me?"
"He saw us hanging out everywhere around campus," I explain, raising my head to look at her. "I did tell you he likes stealing things from me right?"
"So you're saying he tried taking me from you?"
I nod and Leilani scoffs. "You...what do you take me for? You think I'm that easy?"
"No! God no that's not what I mean Leilani. I'm not done with my explanation yet."
"Then hurry up and explain before I start making assumptions asshole!" Her eyes water a little as she shakes her body all over the car seat, visibly getting impatient.
Just how much did I hurt her?
Sighing, I continue with my tale. "He took an interest in you and started stalking you. You know...getting pictures and the like. Then one day during family dinner, he brought you up as a topic—said he wants you for a girlfriend. Then he showed us the pictures. I got angry at him...you know I had less self-control back then. I told him to stop trying to steal you away or I'd fight him. He said it's not his fault he's in love. Ended in us fighting till we were pointing knives at each other's faces."
Leilani gasps and clasps her mouth but I continue anyway.
"Long story short we got transferred to a disciplinary college in California that night and I had to go through counseling classes for three fucking years whilst Calvin got to enjoy his life because he wasn't the one who started the fight. They took away our phones too and said we had to forget about you or else we weren't coming back to New York...but I couldn't forget. How could I? You were my first friend."
And crush.
When I raise my lowered head to look at Leilani, I'm surprised to see a stray tear falling down her cheek. She immediately wipes it off, looking away and taking a napkin from her purse so she can dry her face. That's all I need to see before my nervous body relaxes. She cares. She still sees me as her friend. I almost pump my fist in the air to celebrate but stop when I hear Leilani sniffing.
"Are you crying, Lei?"
"Shut up! Who wouldn't cry at the sob story you just told me?" She mumbles on her napkin. "Now my makeup is ruined damnit."
If only she knew I don't mind seeing her in smudged makeup. As long as she's next to me, I'm fine with anything about her.
Before I know it I reach out and pull her into a hug. She grows stiff for a second before finally relaxing in my arms. I might sound like a pervert for saying this but the moment her scent fills my nose, I close my eyes and breathe her in. God I missed this. Wrapping Leilani in a hug with her lavender scent masking us. It's pure bliss, one I'd be happy to die in if the chance is handed to me.
Finally, Leilani calms down and stops sniffling. I still hug her though. I've dreamt of this moment for such a long time, I'll gladly drag it for as long as I can, or at least until Leilani wants to stop. Unfortunately, that moment comes a little too soon. Leilani is still covering her face with her napkin when she moves away from the hug and sits up straight.
"I'm pretty sure you know my Instagram account. If you don't then ask your cousin, she'll gladly send you the link—something you should've done if you really wanted to farewell back then. I'm expecting you to start the conversation tonight if you're serious about trying to make up with me. I'm not giving you a third chance after this," Leilani mumbles, still covering her face.
"Now please leave my car. I'm too embarrassed by my smudged mascara and can't have anyone see me in this state."
"What about your driver?" I ask before I can stop myself.
"He's a different case. Now please leave."
How's he different from me? I'm left puzzled as I step out of the car, gawking at hot scar or whatever as he immediately rounds the car and gets in the driver's seat. Chester steps out and stands next to me as we watch Leilani's car leave.
"Things fine between you two now?" He asks.
I shrug. "I think so, but she didn't want me to see her face when she left. Said I'm different from her driver and he can see her instead."
Chester chuckles and I glare at him. "What? I can never understand why you two act like children the moment you see each other. It's like you're a couple but also not at the same time. So annoying."
"Don't badmouth her."
"Okay, Mr. obsessed. Jesus, she can't even kiss me on the cheek without you glaring daggers at me."
"That's because your skin's too coarse for her delicate lips."
"Whatever man. Get in the car, we're leaving." He opens the door for me.
"Oh right. I need her Instagram account before—"
"Already sent you the link whilst you guys were having your little meeting."
I beam at Chester and open my messages app before clicking on his number and tapping on Leilani's Instagram link. "Sometimes I'm scared you're so smart."
He starts the car. "Figures. The darkness always dims when the light comes through."
I ignore Chester's taunt and send Leilani a message:
Me: Hey. It's Desmond.
A minute doesn't pass before she replies:
Leilani: I can see that dummy. Here's my number...for texting.
Then she sends her digits.
"Dude, the way you're grinning is blinding my eyes."
I immediately fix my face at Chester's taunt and he laughs. I didn't even realize I was smiling. But then again, I managed to secure Leilani's number. Who wouldn't smile when they secure their crush's number?
Just then a message pings in my inbox and I'm not surprised to see it's from grandma.
Grandma: Desmond Lawrence get yourself here right now or else...
I groan, the warmth leaving my body the instant I think about being around my family. But I can't ignore grandma's call unless I want my life doomed that is.
"Turn the car around, we're heading over to my grandma's."
"Yes sir."