Secret Heartbeats

my side. I scanned the crowded room for Anna, but she was miss

er, cornered between the wall

Mor

whispered, her voice barel

e turned his contemptible face toward

but I could not bring myself to accept it.

uired, turning my attention ba

" I warned him under my breath bef

e boomed as he caught me and st

I started to prote

xpress my gratitude for your presence this evening. This w

celebration," he declared. Ignoring his words, my focus drifted across the crowd, searching for Anna am

a Fallon," my father proclaimed, prompting applause as he handed me the microphone. With a sinkin

. But lately, I have come to realize the brevity of life, so I decided to ask her a few weeks ago, " I forced a smile, glancing

have overlooked something. I had not forgotten; I was del

ustering what my dad would call my 'signature smirk.' Ol

e people who truly mattered to me; they all looked displeased, exc

as usual, my dad proceeded to

r if, all these years, I have been in love with him, believing he felt a similar way. Yet, per

POINT O

doing here?" Rose's voice seethes wit

ics, and I want nothing to do with him," I si

e blonde community," she mutter

us on the floor for a dance, " Tanya's s

Duet" fills the room as couples m

, the confident doctor and model, asks my be

es, returning my glan

e Olivia dancing with Stephen, his hand

have to witness the person

ither," Chris mutters

nod, and we head

e is actually h

know it, " he replies, causing

ink h

na.

it,

le is here," he insists, glancing in Trey's direction

I am pretty sure he got

I chuckle as Chris twirls me, and

his hands slide around my wais

Trey has hurt you enough?" he a

lationship, causing me mental angu

is skeptical gaz

Not physically? " He

just me

the breakup

n away, joining Chris

im a glare, and he finally

y was tolerable, I suppose. I wish Trey had not sho

ide home? " Ros

ake her h

hen hugged her, and she g

I followed him to the garage,

out unexpectedly. He chuckled

y fiancée, and she l

fe, same thi

thanks for coming," he remark, no

ence twice. Directed to me. Must be my lucky night," I j

chuckle too. I have got

e towering, lit-up building, feeling

gets out of the car and

e I can finish, he li

eph

peak to the lady at the front desk. After sorting out my incoming packages with her,

am lifted up bridal style. Then, I feel hi

that is so m

sponse as we

re, it is fine. Thank

Lunch tomor

be late

t. Good

"Anna," he began, his voice softer now, "I know we have had our dif

the weight of the night sud

you," I whispered, mor

turned and walked away. The sound of his footsteps echoed down the hallw

smile, clos

n had unstrapped and padded barefoot to the window. The city lights twinkled like dist

of the room. Trey's face flashed in my mind, his smile that never quite reached

ped in the past. But as I crawled into bed, the echoes of what had been whispered thro

y phone buzzing on the nightstand. I reach

: "Don't forget lunch.

Maybe, just maybe, Stephen could be a part

apter on Trey and open a new one. And perhaps, this time, it would be a cha