One Redemption

Chapter 2

Henrik

I'd let out a sigh as I tilted my head back, letting the liquor make its way down my throat, warming my insides. She looked incredible. I'd spotted her as she made her way through the crowd before Chelsea had pulled her over. It was like my eyes had sought her out. Since hearing that she'd be here tonight, it'd felt like my entire body was on high alert. I'd let my eyes travel the length of her body, taking her in. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulder, those honey brown eyes of hers glistened like gold under the lighting that hung over the garden. My throat went dry as I watched her, the way her hips swayed from side to side, the way the muscles in her toned legs flexed with every step she took, and those heels... My God, they were easily the sexiest pair of heels I'd ever seen. It didn't seem possible for her to be even more beautiful since the last time I saw her, but she was.

"Brooklyn, you remember Henrik, don't you?" My dark-haired friend said as he patted me on the back.

The second the two of us locked eyes, I'd felt it. All the feelings I'd worked so hard to drown out, to push away, to try and let go of, came flooding back like a tidal wave, engulfing me. The last time I'd seen her, it'd felt like the breath had been taken out of my lungs. Watching the video of her crying the night I left the villa, the way she'd hugged the pillow to her chest, sobbing. How she'd snuck off that night, crying in the bathroom. The sound of her cries and the pain in her face, had crushed me. Deep down I knew that what I was feeling for her, she was feeling as well. It was obvious. The tension between her and Gary that night was so apparent, even before the video was aired. He'd hardly looked at her and the few times he did interact with her, it seemed strained. The only time he put his arm around her was during the point of the show when the host was asking me questions about my departure and what caused it, as if they didn't know. The muscular blonde and I had locked eyes, with Gary staring me down as he'd wrapped his arm around her small frame. Even six months later, the guy still had a problem with me, even though he'd won. He'd got the girl. I hadn't understood it at the time, not until the footage of Brooklyn reading my letter had been revealed. At that moment, it had all made sense. He was threatened by me because he had a reason to be threatened by me. She clearly had stronger feelings for me than she'd let on. It had surprised me that he'd kept his shit together as well as he did after seeing the footage. I remembered feeling horrible for Brooklyn, knowing full well that as soon as the show was over, she was gonna be in for a long night with him. His entire presence radiated with anger and Brooklyn, well, she looked nervous. I didn't want that for her. She didn't deserve to spend an evening in a hotel room getting yelled at and crying. But... she'd picked him. Again. I'd stood there, our eyes locked on each other. She was crying and, well... She'd picked him... I don't know if it was out of guilt or because she felt like she owed him something, but she'd chosen to stay with him. I remembered seeing the way her eyes looked at me, that familiar look of I'm sorry in her irises as she turned on her heel and left. I can't lie, I was fucking crushed. It felt like that day on the daybeds all over again, only it was six months later. When I'd decided to leave Love Island, especially the way I did without saying goodbye to anyone, I knew that it was gonna come as a bit of a shock. I'd just been at that point where I had to ask myself what I'd get out of staying? If I couldn't have Brooklyn, if I couldn't be with the girl that I was completely in love with, what reason did I have for staying? I didn't regret leaving, not at all. I had to go, for my own sanity, but if I could go back and do everything over, I'd have left a letter for Sage... Something, even if it was short. The way I just up and took off, without even a goodbye, it was a real prick move on my part. She'd declined coming to the reunion, which I knew was probably in part because I was gonna be there and I couldn't blame her really. Looking back, seeing her beach hut confessionals and everything she said, she deserved better. I should've treated her better.