Fragile Desires (18+) (GxG)

Eighty-Eight | Odd One Out

Egos are tricky things.

I'm still learning that, even now.

But one scorching Tuesday afternoon at twelve years old, the lesson hit me harder than a dropped ice cream cone.

It was a ritual Antonio and I had: Ice cream Tuesdays.

This particular Tuesday, however, anticipation turned into a three-hour wait on a sticky park bench.

My strawberry cone melted into a puddle of disappointment until I eventually determined he wasn't going to show up.

My heart, hotter than the summer sun, ignited with a fiery mix of betrayal and childish anger.

But it all turned out to be one big misunderstanding.

Antonio, oblivious to our unspoken pact, had no idea it was a tradition.

But even after his apology, my ego wouldn't budge.

The thought of sharing a cone with him again felt unthinkable to me at the time.

So, Antonio did what Antonio always did: he went above and beyond.

He showed up at my doorstep, not with a cone, but with an entire tub of my favorite strawberry ice cream.

We sat on my balcony that evening, laughing over the absurdity of it all, the sweetness of the ice cream a metaphor for the lesson learned.

There were no more Tuesday turf wars after that.

Our ice cream ritual continued—and we never had another petty argument over ice cream again.

- Azzy

♛Chapter Eighty-Eight: Odd One Out♛

The next day, I spent my morning in bed—my excuse was that I was simply just tired.

But the truth was...

The conversation I had with Renata last night ran on a loop in my head.

I think I was finally coming to terms with the fact that we were truly over, and the conversation we had provided the closure we needed.

Or it was supposed to.

Now I just have this aching feeling in my chest and I feel entirely sick to my stomach.

"Tone told us to make sure you eat," Lunden raised a brow, causing Miracle to slide me a menu.

Lunch with Lunden and Miracle didn't seem to feel like an option when they managed to knock on my hotel room door until I finally opened it.

Apparently, Devora was busy with Fenix and Arya with Vincent.

So why are they free right now?

I was almost ninety percent sure that Noa kept Lunden bedridden daily.

And Miracle and Armani seemed to be exploring Vegas these past couple of days.

Which left me with the question of—

"Is this a pity party lunch?"

And almost as soon as I asked it, smiles seemed to grow on both of their lips.