The Gentleman's Club

Star-Crossed Sneak Peek

The following is a small excerpt from my new story, Star-Crossed, which will be released May 6th. The prologue and the first two chapter will be available on Wattpad the day of the release, but the next nine--maybe ten idk yet--chapters will be available in full on Radish. I will update on Wattpad as often as Radish guidelines allow. Stay tuned for more information on my Wattpad update schedule. Enjoy the sneak peek, guys!

STAR-CROSSED SNEAK PEEK:

I let my feet move and head to the Chinese place across the street. I happen to know their steamed pork buns are to die for and just imagining the taste makes my mouth water.

Although in many ways my life is far from perfect, there are little points in my life where I realize how lucky I am. I mean, for instance, at least if I had to be in a foster home, I was chosen to stay with Miss. June. As detached as she was, there was a sort of kindness to her. Not to mention, I have never worked a day in my life, but I always had all of the things I wanted. When I turned twelve, she began giving me half of the money from the check she was sent every month for caring for us. So, at the moment, I had a good amount of money to spend if I needed anything.

She did the same thing with the other kids, too. Once they all hit the age of twelve, she gave them each half of their check so they could do what they pleased with it. With her half of all of our checks, she paid the bills, bought us food and the rest, she saved. Mainly for summer and spring vacations or for gifts during Christmas, but if we ever needed more money for anything, she would give it to us.

Still, though, I often find myself wishing I'd had a maternal figure in my life. I find myself wishing that my mother hadn't given me away. I find myself wondering how she could give me away.

I've never had a child myself, but if I did, I don't think I could just part with them as easily as my mother parted with me. I would hold onto that child with everything inside me. I wouldn't ever let it go.

I wonder what was so wrong with me that my mother could just... let go.

I open the door to the Chinese restaurant and immediately the smell of authentic Chinese cuisine hit me like a wave. My stomach roars with approval and I wait in line, impatiently waiting to order. When they finally get to me, I order my meal and tell them I'll be eating here, paying soon after.

After about twenty minutes, I have my food and I am sitting in one of the corner booths, eating my stress away. I look through the window, watching as life lives on right in front of me. The sun is almost gone now, barely keeping its head up against the roaring waves of the horizon, knowing it will drown soon, but still covering the sky with its gold, painting the clouds pink.

Cars have their headlights on now and the dimming sunlight makes the bright buildings stand out some. I love daytime in Los Angeles, but I love nighttime here, too. The thousands of lights, thousands of different stories, all blended into one under a night sky.

My only regret is the inability to see stars. The bright lights always outshine them and that's always made me feel a tad contrite. Maybe it has much to do with my obsession with Xerxion and the Cosmos, but I really want to see the stars again. It might never touch the beauty of the Cosmos, but I feel like it will make me feel better. For so long, I have had this feeling of homesickness and seeing the stars would take that away a bit, I think.

As I'm eating, I damn near choke on my food as my eyes meet a pair of hauntingly familiar ones.

Xerxion—er... the Xerxion look-a-like—is standing across the street, staring straight at me. The cars whizz by him and people pass him by, but he is unmoving, simply staring at me levelly.

My heart is pounding, beating against my ribcage in a disjointed rhythm. He is far away, but even from here he is affecting me. Even from such a distance, his eyes on my skin is like an inferno. My heart is ablaze and my skin alight. I can't even take my eyes off of him. Somehow his gaze is holding mine, not letting go.

My birthmark aches and with my other hand, I reach up to touch it gently, rubbing it. I'm a little freaked out because this has never happened to me before. This odd twinge my birthmark was giving off. But right at that moment, the Xerxion double does something unexpected.

Right as I reach to touch my birthmark, he reaches over to touch his chest. The exact same place where Xerxion had his birthmark in my dream. His eyes widen at the same time my eyes widen. I'm thinking there's no possible way he can be Xerxion and he's looking like he's thinking there's no possible way I can be whoever he's looking for.

My love, something inside whispers. Come to me, my love. My Consort.

I swear it's like some part of him can hear it because he takes an involuntary step forward, his hand still on the place Xerxion's birthmark would be.

He steps back, though, mouthing something before a large truck passes by and covers him. When the truck moves, he is gone and the sidewalk is filled with ordinary people just living their lives. No warrior lovers who build castles out of stardust are there.

I want so badly to deny that I saw him. I want so badly to say someone slipped LSD into my food and I was clearly having drug related hallucinations. And yet, at the same time, I want it to be real. I want him to be more than a hallucination.

My birthmark is still throbbing, evidence that what happened is real.

I lean back in my seat, food forgotten as I stare at the spot he vacated just moments ago.

I place a hand over my still pounding heart, remembering the word he mouthed before he disappeared.

"Rania."