Wild Hearts Series: Book 1-Crazy In Love

Thinking Out Loud

"Love will rip you apart the moment you love two people at the same time. You are torn between two choices."

"Ouch! My head hurts." Alyssa threw herself immediately on the couch the moment she entered the hotel room. She took out the vapor rub in her bag and gently applied some on her forehead while badly sniffing.

And the strong scent of the eucalyptus came to her senses right away to relieve her colds.

Probably she got herself sick for staying out late. During their date under the cold weather at the beach.

She sighed!

"I'm so damn tired today." She mumbled while her eyes were closed.

"Take a good nap. You can't go out like that!" Marcus uttered.

He sat on the couch and raised Alyssa's leg and placed them on his lap. "Let me give you a massage, this will help you to relax your body."

Then he started massaging her leg. It felt so good, though it was a bit hard. A moan slipped her mouth.

"Thanks Marcus!" She smiled and closed her eyes, trying to get some sleep.

Silence filled the room when his phone rang, while his fiancée was soundly sleeping.

"What's up bro?" His voice was a bit low, being careful not to disturb Aly's rest.

"I got everything almost ready," The man reported in a confident tone that made Marcus smile upon hearing his update.

"In a few weeks, they will release your marriage license and they will schedule you for seminar."

"That's good to hear." He was smiling while watching Aly sleeps.

"I can't wait to make you mine, Aly" His gaze was full of desires. "I want you so badly Aly". Every inch of him was yearning and longing for her entire being.

Aly made a sound. She cleared her throat, and Marcus was alarmed right away.

"I'll get you a glass of water Hon." And he stood up and went to the kitchen.

While he was there, Aly made a glimpsed to her best friend.

She missed him so much. The thoughtful, sweet, loving, kind and gentle Marcus, her best friend.

He was the same as before but she failed to notice that. He never really change. But she does.

After his love confession everything have changed. The closeness and the bond between them has been gone.

"Here Hon, have some." Marcus handed her a cup of hot lemonade.

"Thanks Marcus" and without even realizing it, her heart smiled over his sweet gesture.

"Get some sleep" and Alyssa went back to rest. Marcus covered her with a blanket and turned off the lights on the living room. But the light on the lamp on Aly's feet, was kept opened.

On his way to the kitchen, he noticed Aly's bag on the floor of the living room. He planned of keeping it inside the room, when a card caught his attention, as he grabbed it.

When he read through it...his face demeanor change in an instant.

***

"Hey! You're here. Where's Aly?" Zack asked the moment he saw Marcus approaching. His hopes were high that she'll see her around, but when he came without her - his world collapsed.

Marcus came nearer and stood in front of Zack to update him about Aly's health "She won't make it tonight. She needs to rest because of her fever and flu." He started

Right after pouring some tequila in a shot glass, he continued "But don't get worried, she'll be okay in the morning, for sure. All it takes to get well soon, is a cup of hot lemonade." and then he gave him a fake smile.

Zack sighed. "Glad to hear that. Have something to eat." he pointed his finger at the buffet table at the side of the pool.

Marcus shook his head. "I'm not staying long. I just passed by to let you know her condition and to invite you personally." he paused as his sharp gaze landed on his face, after taking the tequila shot.

"We are getting married soon" He announced, and upon hearing the news... Zack became flustered.

"I hope to see you on our wedding, as Aly's boss" he added, and Zack's vein in the head was popping out as he controlled his emotion. As much as he wanted to ignore him, he just couldn't simply let it slide.

Out of the blue, Marcus raised this issue about wedding, and Zack was not dumb not realized that he was trying to pull up something. He knew that, Marcus was already having a strange feeling towards him and Aly.

So he utter his defense, as he pulled his self together.

"That's nice to hear! Congratulations, I hope you can keep her till the wedding." he joke to irritate him. And a sudden change of demeanor appeared on Marcus.

His face became serious, "So what exactly do you mean by that?" he asked in a flat tone, however, Zack chose to answer him with a funny face.

"You know! The girl thing..." he said "having cold feet that's why they run away" and he laughed

Marcus didn't find that funny, rather...insulting on his part. "You think she'll do that to it?" his face was as serious as hell. "I don't think so Zack. That will never happen" and Zack was flabbergasted over his self-confidence.

"Really?" Zack asked "I guess you are so sure about that, huh!" and he took the shot of tequila, Marcus have served.

"I am 101 percent sure Zack. Because all these years I've been Aly's other half...You know!" he started bragging about the years they've been together.

"We love each other, that's for sure. She may get attracted to another man, that's possible...and have this crazy little feeling called love towards some other guy, but she will never exchange me for the world." he said nonchalantly.

And as per Zack. He didn't expect Marcus to be that bold. He opted not to argue with him, when he thought about Aly. He doesn't want to give her a hard time.

"Please excuse me, there is somewhere i need to be" and Zack left the party in an instant, after Marcus have infuriated him.

Marcus phone rang.

"Hey!" he answered in a soft voice. "You're awake honey?"

"Are you at the party?" Aly's voice sounded hoarse. She brushed her hair with her fingers and sniffed. Still feeling stuffy.

"Yeah, but I'm about to leave now. Are you okay?" Marcus sounded worried. He took big steps towards the hotel's lobby. Rushing to get in the elevator.

"My head still hurts," she groaned in pain as she rubbed her head with her palm.

"Don't move, you might faint." His wobbly voice lingered." Stay where you are, I'm coming over." and he ran as fast as he could to get to her floor while still having her on the line.

"I won't." her voice was flat.

"Good girl, wait for me!" Marcus pressed the floor number in the elevator as soon as he got a lift-and while he was to waiting, his head narrowed down as he closed his eyes.

***

After her conversation with Marcus, She hung up the phone and went back on the couch. She placed her hands over her chest and felt her heart aching in guilt.

Marcus has been so nice to him ever since they've been together. He is so caring, concerned and thoughtful in many ways.

Marcus came rushing through the door, after a couple of minutes. He breathed heavily and was sweating as soon as he ran to her.

Aly's moment of sadness was cut off. She wiped away her tears and gave him a deceiving smile

"What's the rush?" looking at Marcus's worried face.

Marcus cupped her cheeky face and drew his lips on her forehead to check if she was burning hot. And a peck on her cheek to to give her some warmth.

He sighed. "Thank God you don't have fever."

"It grieves me to think that you might get sick again so badly, just like when you were 17." He bowed down his head and felt a little shyness.

And looking at his eyes made her think how lucky she was, being the love of his life - half of her existence has been so much exciting because of him, and how he treated her was truly such a wonderful feeling that every girl would wish to experience in a man.

"I remember, I was so spoiled to you. You brought me my favorite flower every day with a bowl of hot porridge that Nana Mercy cooked." Her eyes twinkled as she brought back the memories.

"Yeah! You loved Nana Mercy's porridge so much," he smirked and pinched Aly's face gently. "You were so cute back then, when you dug in. You love to eat." then a loud laugh filled the room. It's been a while since she had a good laugh...with him. With Marcus.

Aly's eyes became gloomy. Sadness hit her suddenly upon realizing the truth.

Marcus loves her so much, and he has done everything for her over the past years.

She might have given him the chance, and could have returned the love back, if she was not forced to accept his love at the most pathetic way-

If it wasn't because of her family's debt, it could have been nicer from the very beginning.

It wasn't really that hard to love him. It's just that, she wasn't ready yet that time. And now, unfortunately her love bloomed for somebody else just before her feelings for Marcus flourish.

Her mind was preoccupied the whole night that she couldn't get over on her childhood memories with her friend. She woke up with a heavy head. She was pulling her hair while walking barefoot in the living room.

"So you're up!" Marcus turned to Aly as she walked out of the bedroom.

"Coffee?" He asked upon raising his cup. "Just in time for a freshly brewed coffee!" he poured a hot coffee in her cup and handed it over to her as plain as that.

"Here's your coffee. No sugar and cream, just black". Marcus uttered after serving her energy drink. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee got into her nerves and it made her feel better.

She pouted her lips. "You really know me so well!"

"Indeed! All your preferences I guess." His voice was proud as he glazed into her eyes.

"Stop looking at me that way" she messed up his brushed hair with her fingers and Marcus grabbed her hand immediately.

"Hey! My hair - don't do that or else I'll kiss you!" he teased her as he leaned a bit forward that his nose could almost touch hers.

"Back off Marcus!" she stood up from being seated and ran through the bathroom...before she close the door, she yelled at him "Get moving! We have a plane to catch!"

Inside the bathroom, in front of an oval mirror is where she stood by. Looking at herself made her anxious.

She was worried about her mixed emotions where it could possibly lead her.

Her wrong decision could be fatal. Either she choose Marcus and she'll end up hurting Zack or she will choose to be with Zack then create a tragic history.

Her heart was pounding so hard that it almost wreck her rib cage. The thought of losing both men in a wrong way, made her entire core weakened.

No one has to have her. No one deserves a woman like her - they are both good men and they don't deserve to get hurt.

"I must run away! Run away from them.

It is only fair that we all suffer from this ill-fated relationship. No one should be left alone."

She convinced herself as she cried her heart out helplessly.

She came back to her senses when she heard a knocking on the door. It was Marcus.

"Aren't you done yet? What's taking you so long to take a bath? "

"Just give me 5 more minutes and I'll be out!" she exclaimed and opened the shower.

After a few minutes, she went out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her hair.

She was all dressed up already. "It's your turn. Wash up hurry!" she ordered and walked inside her room.

As she entered the room, she found her bag on top of the drawer. She remembered the card that Zack gave her yesterday. It was not there, where could it possibly be? She asked herself as she checked her stuffs randomly. "I must have misplaced it" She mumbled.

It was 12 midnight when they arrived at the JFK International Airport, it was a long flight, and it took them almost 13 hours to be home in Brooklyn. Marcus and Aly took a different flight back to New York.

"I am so exhausted!" she complained as she reached for her luggage on the conveyor machine.

"Let me carry your stuffs." Marcus grabbed her bags and held her arm. "And you too!" He smirked then started moving. As they reached the exit door, Marcus stopped the cart of luggage he was pushing.

" Let's wait here, Pablo will come to pick us! "His eyes was moving at the driveway.

"Pablo?" she was shocked to hear his name. "Since when did he arrived in New York?"

"A couple of days already. Dad asked him to come home to help him manage our business."

He uttered while looking around, searching for Pablo's car in the waiting area.

"Here comes the punk!" his voice raised with excitement. As he glanced at the man walking towards them.

"You made my girl wait for you!" his voice was in high tone but there was no tension behind it. It was pure teasing.

"Is that how you welcome a good old friend?" Pablo smirked at him and turned his head to Alyssa and spoke to her in a very warm tone.

"You look great! It's been a while." He grabbed Aly's shoulder and leaned forward to give her a friendly hug.

"Is this crazy guy giving you a hard time?" he whispered in her ears.

Aly giggled. "Not really I'm good!" looking at Marcus with a smirk. "Actually!" she paused and held his hand sweetly while her gaze was stuck in his light blue eyes "I think... i am the one who's giving him a lot of challenges" her lips pouted nicely and Marcus found it sexy.

Marcus shook his head for disapproval and kissed the back of her hand.

Pablo cut the sweetness off with his manly voice "Why don't we continue this chatting in a coffee shop." He suggested.

And everyone seemed to like the idea, so they waste no time and spend the whole afternoon reminiscing the past memories.