HIS ONE TRUE LOVE

BROOKLYN 7

We had been walking the gardens in silence for over fifteen minutes, he walked beside me silently, quietly, his hands in his pocket, his strides slow and patient like he was waiting for me to say something.

I knew what I wanted to say but the words would not come out. I was consumed by him, overwhelmed by the man standing by my side. He looked older than the last time I had seen him, his jaw was set and his cheekbones high. The faint stubbles were visible and made him more attractive than I liked to admit, even to myself.

“You know you don’t have to pasture me like a grazing cow before you can tell me what you need to tell me, Hailey” He said as his strides stopped.

I nodded faintly, my voice barely above a whisper. “It’s Halo”

“Oh my bad. Excuse me for getting your name wrong, Miss White but I believe that was your name a year ago” He said, turning to look at me.

“I know… I didn’t.” I breathed, trying to get the words out as I palmed my skirt. “I know you must hate me for everything that happened, I didn’t mean to hurt you, I know I don’t deserve—”

He grunted. “Please Hailey, please just stop okay? Just don’t”

I looked up at him and his eyes were unreadable, he looked like he was bored out of his mind and the thought that he might have really moved on, hit me like a hurricane. My tongue darted across my lips and I shut my eyes to stop the tears that threatened to fall. I need to be strong.

“No more lies okay? No more!’’ His voice was calm, too calm that it almost drove me insane.

I tried again. “I didn’t come here to lie—”

“Funny,” he said with a sharp laugh. “You lied just fine the last time. Different name, different life, different exit strategy. You must collect identities the way some women collect jewelry.”

That stung. I flinched. “Let me explain—”

He stepped closer, eyes cold. “Explain what? That you left because you got a better offer? That’s what this is, right? Gold digging with better branding?”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you. It was not—”

He chuckled, humorless and cold. His fingers running through his hair. “So tell me, what was the plan then? You didn’t mean to hurt me but you lied to me from the very first day we met. You didn’t even tell me your real name so you must have known or planned this from the start”

“You think I planned to fall in love with you? You think I planned to feel that way about you? It was meant to be a one night stand. That was why I gave you a fake name” My voice quivered.

“Right and uh at what point did it stop being a one night stand to you? A week after we met when you moved into my apartment? A month in when I told you I loved you? At what point did I stop being a cheap piece of ass for you? At what point Hailey? Hmm?” His voice was low, layered with pain and anger but his face betrayed no emotion.

I put my hands forward trying to touch him before I could stop myself. “Harlan I know I made a mistake—”

“You made a mistake?” He laughed out loud like I had said something amusing. “A mistake is you forgetting your shopping bags at the mall, a mistake is you forgetting to fill the tank before going on a drive and you call this a mistake?”

I shook my head frantically, my fingers trembling at my side. “That’s not— that’s not what I meant. No”

“What did you mean, Hailey? What part of your plan was this? I mean the part where we meet again and you are not Hailey but Brooklyn Halo and you are my brother’s fiancee? It just seems like a well thought out plan and I’m curious” He said with a smile so big that it scared me.

“I would never—”

“Come on!! Don’t be shy, was this the plan the whole time? Use me to get to my brother somehow? I mean I can understand that, he’s the heir to a million dollar fortune, who wouldn’t wanna be with the richer brother.” His eyes raked over me and landed on my chest.

I let out a low laugh but it was not funny, none of it was. “You think I was with you for money? What are you even saying?”

“Well maybe my gifts were not enough. Hell my money is not enough, that would explain how you made a mistake and landed on my brother’s bed” He chuckled.

My hand connected with his face before I could stop myself, I was enraged. My chest caved in itself and my lips trembled as I tried so hard to keep the tears at bay, how could he? How could he reduce everything, all that we had to this, to a lie, to schemes when I pined everyday for him. When I had sleepless nights after I left Paris and the misery of being without him consumed me.

He laughed like the slap I had given him was some joke. “That was….. stimulating.”

“I thought we could have a conversation like adults but clearly we can’t, you’re just an immature asshole and don’t you dare talk about me and your brother that way.” My voice carried with rage.

His face etched in confusion. “Immature?”

“Yes, immature. You wanna know why I left you? Because you wouldn’t know what to do with me even if you had me. You’re young and stupid and you would never know what to do with a grown woman like me. So go meet your red head girlfriend.” My chest heaved.