Reviving Aspen

Part 8

I woke up the next morning without a care in the world. I felt buoyant as I sauntered into the shower, taking time to wash my hair and letting the steamy water run over my skin. The one thing that weighed heaviest on my shoulders was now gone. Eli had taken it from me and had laid it across his own shoulders willingly and with ease and I was so thankful. Smiling at myself in the mirror, I looked different than I had last week. I looked happy. My cheeks had a soft pink color to them and my eyes were bright, the dark circles that usually rested beneath them were much less noticeable now that the nightmares had faded away. My smile. I hadn't seen it in an excruciatingly long time. I used to smile all of the time. As a child, everyone adored me for being so happy, no matter the situation, they would look to me for positivity. I had been broken from that in a way that I had believed to be irreversible, but now, looking at my life-filled face I saw hope. That seemed to be a repeating pattern of my emotions for the past few days happiness then hope. I wonder how long this will last?

I didn't know, but I also didn't care and with that I headed off to work. When I arrived Pam met me at the door, all bubbles.

"That is quite a man you have there!" She exclaimed, grinning ear to ear.

"What are you talking about?"

"Come on! You've got to see this." She said, her smile never fading.

As soon as I turned to face the glass window that exposed the inside of our office, I saw them. Dozens upon dozens of flowers in an array of pinks and reds.They filled the room with at sweet smell and on my desk there was a stunning white orchid sitting elegantly in a glass pot. I could not wipe the smile off my face as the other women gushed. No one had ever done anything like this for me. Sheryl grabbed my hand and squeezed, smiling at me too. "You deserve this.", she mouthed.

Next to the orchid was a small cream envelope with my name written across it in blocky, neat hand writing. Clearly Eli had written it himself, it was very masculine.

I opened it,

Aspen, i'm sorry I could not drive you to work this morning, i had an early meeting. Therefore, I could not leave you to believe that i Hadn't spent the last 14 hours thinking of anything other than you're beautiful face. I hope that right now a smile is crossing your lips. Have a good day at work darling. I will pick you up. Eli.

Yes, Eli, you made me smile. Thank you for caring. My heart was inflated for the rest of the day, waiting impatiently for four o'clock. I even caught myself humming once or twice. Oh come on. He must be buttering you up for something.

I frowned. What if he was? He's too good. My frown deepened, but I didn't really believe it because as soon as his car pulled up I was running to see that sweet face. Smiling, he met me, opening the door. For some reason that was very unlike me, I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck. He must have been surprised to because it took him a short second before his strong arms were holding me to him. I was on fire in the must delicious way and so I stayed there, pressing my face in to his chest, memorizing his scent and the feel of his body melding to mine. His kissed the top of my head.

"Its nice to see you, too." I could hear the smile in his voice and I pulled back from him to see it. His sweet, clear eyes found mine and all I could do was grin up at him.

"I'm sorry I couldn't meet you today, there were people from China, coming here specifically to talk to me so my assistant told me I couldn't cancel." He laughed and the action shook us both.

Ah. Being close enough to Eli to feel his laugh. I put my head against his chest again and his arms tightened.

"Aspen, are you alright? Whats the matter?" He was hunched over me, his lips next to my ear. Oh, this man. What is he doing to me?