Fling

Fling - CHAPTER 12

It was Darryl who came forth finally and said, "No. Stop Serah. I have to tell you something I never told or showed anyone because he told me not to and they're well, personal. I have letters he never gave you. I never told you about them because I thought you and him wanted to fuck and that was that. Nothing of substance worth losing and I ended up losing you both anyhow because I wish I could have changed my stance. Its not all of him. No, never was his idea. In every single letter he loved you purely and was hunkering down his feelings instead of going for you. James kept them in his desk, locked up and didn't tell anyone he was definitely in love with you. James wrote you a letter at the start of the day, each day starting after the trip you took together. James would write down a thought, a feeling that I, his best friend and boss told him he wasn't allowed to feel. I wasn't his friend in that much. I found them locked in his desk when he quit. I didn't know he did that until I dug them out of that desk. There were daily letters to you. They were addressed to S.U.S. James was definitely in love with you and I thought you were using him until I saw that painting of him. I don't know you, and I knew, no I know he was in love with you for a long time. I should have considered both of your feelings, but I was running a business. Why it had to happen at all is because you were my first female employee. I protected you from him in your sister's interests. I wouldn't let anyone sexually harass my future sister in law. I hope you can understand where I was coming from Serah. I considered Emma's feelings in this. Here... I didn't know they were for you when I found them because they were addressed to S.U.S. When I read one I figured it all out though."

Darryl went to his mail pile and grabbed a nice sized box.

It contained the daily letters written to: S.U.S.

I felt my eyes tear up and I said, "Its not right that he came into my life like a storm that I had to weather and carried me away into his thoughts. I fell in love with him because of who he was, the real thing when I was lying to myself about everything. My best friend since I've lived here. I valued him so much and he hid this away while stealing kisses in moments... a week ago... I feel severely wounded by him. This is too much!"

Emma said, "You must read one of them. You owe James that much for helping you tell the truth to all of us Serah."

"Fine. One." I said.

I randomly dug into the pile of notes to the top one. I fished out one dated as the most recent note. A week old. I read to myself,

'Final note to: SUS,

Last week you rebelled and wore a dress that showed off your tattoo on the back of your knee. I had never seen that and this whole time I have been wondering what is that tattoo of? I'll be in trouble if I even ask about it, but I want to know what it is. I admit something I did. Serah, I pulled up your dress last night when I carried you into my house and I looked at it. I'm a jerk. I sit here and think of it while you are off being yourself finally, Serah came back like I wanted. At least you will never be close to Max anymore. I know you hate him. I do too. I'll fire him just for you baby. What was that tattoo of? I admit, I looked.

I pulled that long thin dress up over your knee and I finally looked. Its of a constellation. Ursa Major. A bear? Why do you have that? That's hot. You're my little artist that has so many secrets. I wanted to ask you about it but I know that I shouldn't have looked in the first place. I find you so sexy I can't handle you. So when I saw the back of your knee so close to me I kissed it before I put you to bed. You slept so beautifully. God I love you and I don't know why I did that. I had to. You kissed me very deeply in the car before you fell asleep. You never remembered saying to me that you lose out on so much money on paintings you don't do because you work for Darryl and you definitely don't remember saying to me that you you do it because you want to be near me. You don't paint because of me? That breaks my heart. Hell no. I'm firing you immediately after hearing that. You are too good Serah. Come back to me someday. Be you and never be less. I love you. That killed me when I heard you say you didn't paint much anymore. I will not be the cause of your unhappiness. You needed someone to tell you to stop lying even if it hurts me, I won't let you be less than Serah Sand-