Autumn Flame (Seasons #2 )

Chapter 24: After the Fall - Rhys

Summer in the city is a special kind of purgatory. The heat is unbearable, the tourists insufferable, and the thing the movies don't show is the sewer smell peaking by July making it impossible to breathe the moment you step outside. I dream of the days when the leaves turn again.

The city empties for the weekend like water through a sewer grate, and all that's left is those of us that are stuck in AC-blasted office buildings, counting down the hours to the Friday happy hour at the nearest rooftop.

Cons of summer in the city: my suit feels like a personal sauna.

Pros of summer in the city: strong drinks with great views.

I swipe my Tagilvy badge at the door and carry my lunch back to my desk, a cube in a bullpen of identical desks. I'm alone today, so I eat my lunch in silence.

Checking my phone, I see that my follower count is steadily climbing. Bounce has been doing incredible. We just placed a large factory order, my first one, and I have three stores in the city that agreed to display my sneakers. Three! I have my dream internship in the best city in the world, and I'll be going on a European vacation with my best friends soon. My performance review is coming up, and Mr. Beau said that all the partners were so impressed with me, he wouldn't be surprised if I get a full time offer for after graduating. Things are going as good as they've ever been, and I couldn't be happier.

And that one little spot in my heart that feels tight and sort of bruised up after how things ended in the fall? It's been healing nicely. Time really does work a charm.

At least, that's what I tell myself as I prep my agenda for this meeting. I'm not nervous, it's just a hot-as-balls day.

Working at Tagilvy with her has been an adjustment, but I think we managed it as well as we could. There are days when I'm working late and my fingers itch to send a message, some dumb printer joke I thought of or something funny that happened with a client, but I resist.

Instead, I remind myself that I am now the consummate professional. I put on my best game-face on, "professional with a touch of charm," Felicity called it. We practiced it in a mirror and everything because she's the patron saint of dorky interns like me. I check my teeth in my phone camera for any loose salad, gather my belongings and hurry downstairs.

The elevator opens with a ping onto a busy floor. I take a deep breath, as I do whenever I know I will see her and proceed to the conference room. She's not in yet. A couple of my colleagues are sat on one end of the conference table, so I join them.

I take a seat, wiping my palms under the table. Not nervous, not anymore. This Rhys is a new Rhys, and he's got his stuff locked down. He's focused on doing a great job, and doing well in school, and not dating for a while.

I look up at movement on the other end, and that dash of red that still makes me a little weak. I plan to never again admit it to anyone, least of all to her. She gives a friendly wave to the room, and I return the gesture. Her eyes hold mine for a breath longer than the rest, and I give her a smile. It means nothing, this smile. Just a hi, how are you? It's nice to see you, old friend. Great seeing you, fellow Tagilvy intern. Nothing more, nothing less.

Not all love stories need to end in pain or eternity. Some of them turn into something else, something smaller but still valuable, like a memento from that one beach trip that you will forever cherish.

And I do cherish it, I think. For all the special moments we've shared together, as well as all the pain. It taught me a lot about myself and about other people. It taught me that, no matter how much you want something, there are things that are not meant for you, people that are not meant for you. And just because they're not in your life, it doesn't mean you lost anything. You will always have the memories with them. And if you still have them in your life in another form, like I have Melanie now, then I should be grateful. I will never regret meeting her and everything she taught me.

Is this what growing up feels like? I think, as I observe her set up the meeting and kick us off with a smile that lights up the room.

As for me, it seems my life is rewarding me for letting go of the unattainable, the impossible, and going after all the right things that are right for me. My internship, my friends, making the most of my school, and starting on what I think will be an amazing career.

Yes, I think. This is what growing up feels like. And I like it.

And who knows, somewhere down the line, I might meet someone special again, maybe even more special than the Little Mermaid. 

I stare at an old photo of us in Peregrine Hollow from that winter when we met, and before I archive it, I make a small, silent wish, too precious to be said out loud.

I hope you stay in my life somehow.