Endless: REWRITTEN

22. Sardonyx

Natalie

"Stop that."

"Stop what?"

"That!" I laugh, physically turning Robin's head back to the task in front of him, which is creating a sauce. "Focus on the food."

"I'm just looking at the snack in the room," he defends.

"I'm leaving," I scoff, grabbing the cup of tea I made to keep my hunger at bay. This morning, Robin texted me that he's going to cook tonight and to have a huge appetite when he gets there. Well, I do. And he's procrastinating like always.

"Hey," he calls. I turn, and he reaches his hand out. I take it and he pulls me close, leaving a chaste kiss on my lips. "Now you can go."

The ache to kiss him more is clear, but I opt for leaving because the desire to eat is even stronger than that. I hear him from the kitchen. "Hey, check my jacket! There's something in there for you."

Setting my tea down on the table, I rummage through the pockets to find a small box wrapped in brown paper. I sit down and unwrap the present carefully. Opening the box reveals a woven bracelet with thick yellow and violet colors and a charm dangling from it. The charm is a basic oval, but in cursive, it says 'bless this mess'.

I walk back into the kitchen with it, and it's like he already knows what I was going to say. "I was in the hospital on your birthday and I realized that I didn't get you anything. A coworker specializes in making bracelets, and he gave me a discount."

"You didn't have to, though..."

"I know. I wanted to. You deserve it, and more, honestly."

I smile at him, and slip the bracelet onto my wrist. It's durable, but light as a feather around it. "I love it. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now, go set the coffee table unless it's a 'carpet for two' night."

Seeing that as unfavorable, I begin the task. When I finish, I survey the scene, and adjust things as needed. The smell of food cooking and a pine needle candle burning fill the air. It's raining hard outside, the October weather setting in on Manhattan. I drift to the window and open the curtains, watching the rain pelt the glass on the window. There's a ledge on the window large enough for me to sit on, so sometimes on the weekends, I curl up on it with a cup of tea or coffee and write my thoughts down in a journal. Especially on days when it's raining or snowing.

I look back towards the kitchen to see Robin at my bookshelf, examining the two or three cookbooks I happen to have. The way he analyzes the pages like he's interpreting a different language makes me feel completely at ease, and it makes my heart flutter violently. Despite his past and his mistakes, he's managed to make loving him so effortless. It was like it happened overnight without my knowledge, like a dream that flickered in and out, but the memories still remain.

Yet, it's bittersweet. I feel like I should be more guarded, more defensive. I shouldn't be so smitten for someone who looks like the devil to everyone else. But maybe with a little bit of love, even the most poisonous of flowers can bloom. We're too far in; I couldn't dream of giving up this passionately magnetic man up.

He notices me staring, but I don't break my gaze; I'm encapsulated. Enchanted, even. He smiles that devilish smile at me, setting down the book on the table and approaching me at the window. He sits across from me on the ledge, takes my face in his hands, and kisses my forehead.