The List: One Year, One Adventure ✔️

Chapter 12: The One Regret In My Life

Dean

The weather in Miami was that typical October Florida weather, that was hot and summery, but you could sense that it would quickly change at any minute. I loved everything about this city, but for the first time in my life, there was an emptiness that consumed me while I was here. The people didn't seem as colorful and sexy, the lights seemed dimmer, the water looked less crisp and blue than normal, and the beaches seemed less exciting. I supposed that when the only thing on your mind was a certain girl, everything else paled in comparison.

It hurt to tell her I wasn't going to New Orleans. The truth was, I'd been dying to go back there since my amazing time during Mardi Gras, in 2010. I wanted to share that city with her, but what I needed to do right now was more important. I thought back to what she said to me in her moment of anger, the truth about how she viewed me; my heart split when she told me that she wasn't worth it. That was why I was in Miami. It was also the reason why I had done my own summoning of The Queen. It was no secret that my grandmother loved any chance to visit Miami, so when I called and actually pleaded with her to meet me, she acted like it was no big deal, but somewhat jumped at the chance.

At the last minute while I held her note in my hand, I had made a decision and when I was sure it was the right one, I was on the phone in less than thirty minutes changing all my plans. I cancelled all of our hotel rooms for Miami and called in a favor with Pierce and got his Setai Hotel contact and made some calls. I booked in two ocean suites, each with a standard one bedroom and the penthouse suite. I had no qualms about blowing my corporate monthly budget on the rooms; plus, the Queen agreed it was the right thing to do. Also, her majesty wouldn't lay a finger down in anything less than the penthouse.

When I arrived at the hotel and made my way to the penthouse, I knew my grandmother was already there, because a stack of large Louis Vuitton suitcases were sitting in the entryway.

"My love!" She heard my footsteps and emerged from the master bedroom, dressed in custom designed blue Marysia Venice Maillot swimsuit, with a sheer black cover up over it.

She came over to me and placed her perfectly manicured hands on my shoulders, taking in my appearance with her blue eyes and pursing her lips into a demure smile.

"Dean hunny.. You look like utter death." She clasped my face and gave me a slight kiss on my forehead, before she stood back and lightly maneuvered a chunk of her short grey hair from her face.

"Grandmother. It's always a pleasure," I stated, as I kissed her cheek and took her hand, leading her to the couch in the sitting area.

She looked at me with worry in her eyes for a moment. "Dean, please tell me everything is alright?"

At that moment, I felt like breaking down. I had never hated myself this much. I also knew that I could never lie to the woman seated next to me about what was going on. She raised from the couch and headed over to the decanter on the bar, the liquid inside had a dark walnut color. She handed me the glass and I took a whiff of the alcohol within. It had an aroma which was weighty and rich, yet it achieved a heavenly balance. It smelled of honey-dipped vanilla, which mingled with the scent of cinnamon and dates.

As the hot liquid reached my mouth I forgot about my problems for a brief moment. The taste was like nothing I have ever experienced, it had hints of cracked black pepper, which instantly awoke my taste buds, followed closely by the ever so slight hint of cloves and roasted cocoa beans.

"Damn, that's amazing!" I exclaimed, as I licked my upper lip.

She laughed, before sitting down on the couch with her own glass. The aftertaste in my mouth was electric and reminded me of dark chocolate and smoked honey. For a moment, it tasted like Ari's lips, the same lips that I yearned to touch right now.