The Marked One (The Marked Series Book 1) (13 page)

“It is not your fault,” he whispered, mere inches from her perfect face, which now looked a little confused.

“Tristan?” she asked in as soft voice. “Are you okay?”

“I lost my sister.” He saw her surprised look. “It was my fault, and I—”

“I’m sure it just feels like it was your fault.” She held his other hand. “My mother died of cancer and I still feel guilty.”

“I can understand why it could feel that way, but it was really my fault,” he said and seeing no reason to hide the truth, he spoke again. “She had epilepsy. I was supposed to take care of her, but it was when I was in my early twenties. I couldn’t even take care of myself back then. I drank like tomorrow was a definite, I wasted money, and I screwed around.”

“I don’t think I need and want to hear this now, Tristan,” she protested.

He smoothed his thumb over her lower lip, in a manner to make her keep quiet and also to show, in a simple way, that he wanted to tell her. “She got an attack when my parents were at a gala event. I was too drunk to realise what was happening to her and when I did, I rushed to the hospital and got us into a car accident.”

“I’m so sorry,” Aaliyah whispered against his thumb, which he then took away as he stepped back.

“She died when they arrived at the hospital. I was fine. A few bruises and a concussion, but the thing that makes it worse is that, four days after, I couldn’t remember anything. I had amnesia.” He shook his head and looked down, unable to look Aaliyah in the eyes. He felt like a monster. “And because we have money, I got a special pardon after my father paid the judge. I only got a few months of community service instead.”

He felt a warm hand on his shoulder and looked up to find Aaliyah looking at him the same way she had before. “You made a mistake, and while losing your sister is terrible and I can’t ever understand the guilt you must feel, you seem like you aren’t that person anymore. To use the obvious comforting words, I’m sure your sister wouldn’t want to see you in this state. I know whatever I say won’t change anything and you will still feel guilty regardless, but…” She sighed. “You are the kindest man I’ve met. I can see you’ve paid the price, but try and stop blaming yourself. Doing so only makes it harder to move away from the pain.”

He reached out and traced his fingers from her forehead, where the birthmark disappeared into her hairline, down her cheek and then the side of her neck. He let his fingers only just graze over her skin, as he let his hand rest on her shoulder and did the same with his other. He sighed. “I’m sorry about that. About everything you had to find out about me in these few days.”

“It’s nothing. I’m glad we are comfortable enough with each other so we can talk about these things, even if it is a quite advanced second date.” She carried a tiny smile that truly made him feel better.

“So you see it as a date?”

“Your charm has convinced me.” She continued to smile at him. Aaliyah looked completely at ease, and as much as he wanted to wait until she kissed him, he pulled on her shoulders and held her tightly against his body. She let out a tiny mewl as his mouth met hers. He used the moment of her parted lip to allow his tongue to explore.

Her lips tasted like cherries, and her tongue still had the blueberry sorbet aftertaste. He wanted to kiss her forever, have her be his, because, as the kiss deepened, he swore he felt her resolve disappear with his. It was a type of freedom he thought he’d never experience again. Every moment he spent with Aaliyah was emphasised by the kiss.

Until she pulled away, quite breathless. “I can’t. We can’t do this.” She stepped back a few more feet and looked like a deer caught in headlights. The sudden change had him baffled.

“Aaliyah?” he asked with concern.

“Tristan, you have been the first man that didn’t want me to cover up my face. The first person who, in fact, isn’t my close family or friends, who insists I keep off my makeup. It feels…overwhelming. And these emotions, they are even more so.”

“I can’t see how there is a problem.” Tristan began feeling hurt by her words.

Her eyes were afraid. “I’m scared, Tristan. What I feel for you…it is so unknown. I’m afraid I’ll get hurt.”

“I won’t hurt you,” he whispered, attempting to get closer to her, but she stayed wary. “Please, trust me. I won’t ever—”

“Since we are opening up…” She looked to be on the verge of crying. After she let out a held in breath, she spoke again and he could see all her pain etched in her eyes. She looked just like she did in
The Marked One
portrait. “I’ve only cared for one other person like I’m already caring for you, and he used me to make fun of me. And even if it was years ago and I was just a teen, I already feel something very strong for you and I’m afraid…I’m afraid you’ll do the same.”

“Aali—”

“You are a man who can have whatever you want, but you are
here
and you haven’t even tried to force me into doing something I’m not ready to, while other women will give you what you want. Why can’t you rather—”

“Aaliyah, I want to show you that the world isn’t—”

“The world is awful. You might not see it the same, but people always look at me as if I’m a freak when I’m not wearing makeup. But now I’ve been focussing on you instead, because I want to believe you aren’t going to tell me it was all just a joke.” Tears welled on her eyelids, expressing her pain.

He stepped closer and saw her fear. “Aaliyah, this is no joke. I can’t tell you how beautiful you are to me, and with you around, I feel like I can be more. You look at me in a way. I wish to save you from the evils of the world, but you need to trust me.”

She looked far too convinced that he was the enemy, and for the first time since that first day, he saw her turn her face away, ultimately hiding her beauty. He realised the best thing was to give her space, so he stepped back, and with a heavy heart, he accepted that she needed more time.

Straightening his back, he dug deep to gain his courage. “Thank you for spending the evening with me and for making me one of the best dinners I’ve had. I hope to see you again soon. Goodnight, Aaliyah.”

He turned and walked to the door. It was the hardest thing to do and when he turned to face her one more time, her eyes were closed, like she didn’t want to face the fact that he was leaving. He stepped out and faced the inevitable. She wasn’t going to let him in easily. At least not until she realised that she was in fact beautiful and that he was beyond in love with her.

***

Aaliyah

Aaliyah opened her eyes and her heart dropped at the realisation that she let him leave. That she was still so afraid of connecting, that she might have lost the only person who looked at her with true admiration. But she wasn’t sure if he was being honest with her, as the ever nagging fear of betrayal seemed to never let her go.

Slaves sung over the stereo about becoming more broken with age. She turned it off. It was too relatable. Heavily sighing and wiping some of the thick tears on her cheeks away, she found her cell phone.

On the second ring, Madeline picked up. “Sooo…how did it go?”

“I screwed up.” Her tone was dead.

“Liyah, did he hurt you?” Madeline’s voice was filled with fury and concern, and it sounded like someone was mumbling in the background.

“No, no, not at all.” Both sighed, but while Madeline sounded relieved, Aaliyah was fearful. “He opened up and I did too, but I got scared. I’m not used to this. Maddy. I just need a hug right now. Can I come over?”

“Uhm…yeah, of course, but please let a driver get you at your door. That place is a danger zone.” There was a knock on Aaliyah’s door.

“Hold on.” She walked to the door, keeping the phone in her hand. She asked, “Who is it?” She knew who it was before she heard the answer.

“It is Vera, dear. Can I come in?” her landlord’s raspy voice responded.

She opened the door, telling Vera to hold on as she continued her call. “I’ll come over in a while. I’ll text you once I leave.”

“Okay, be safe, take your time.” As Aaliyah ended the call, Madeline’s response felt odd, but she figured Madeline would tell her soon, so she faced the landlady in her bright purple nightgown.

“Evening, dear, I just wanted to know if you were okay? I saw your…guy friend leaving a little upset and just wanted to make sure…”

“I’m fine, thank you, Vera. We just…” For a moment she wanted to say that everything was all right between her and Tristan, but it would be a lie. She had hurt him and she was so afraid to believe that he truly was the kind man she always hoped she would find. But she had lost herself in the fear.

“Dear, are you still here?”

She found Vera’s concerned eyes. “I’m sorry. It just sunk in that I had just maybe lost my biggest chance of being with someone who might actually accept how I look.”

Vera nodded. “I saw you weren’t hiding your face. And, it is very clear you two fit together. How long have you two been a couple?”

“This was our second date, well, third if him visiting me at the place I work counts,” Vera’s brows rose high. “See what I mean with lost?”

“Dear, if a person looks at you the way I saw him looking at you, while I was peeking through my window, when you two had returned from your date a while back…” the woman added without a second’s hesitation ”…it was something remarkable to see.”

Aaliyah shook her head. “I can’t be sure that it is real.”

“Aaliyah, that man had love in his eyes. You can’t let your fears rule your future. Give him a chance, because the way he left, I imagined you two had an awful fight. He looked hurt and…I know our moms always teach us to be careful with the pretty ones, but the one you had just let go…seems to be a real deal.”

Aaliyah chuckled grimly. “You don’t even know if it was real.”

“Honey, a man in love is a sight far more beautiful than what Mother Nature has to display, but a bruised man, they show hurt even Mother Nature can’t fix.” Aaliyah frowned and Vera sighed. “You need to give that man a chance, because no matter what you say, you saw that he cared and you feared what it meant. You’re not used to it. You have hurt him, and I don’t think he should feel guilty when it’s clear that you know you feel the same way about him.”

She thought a moment. “What do I do? I don’t know where he lives. I have his number, but…” She shook her head at herself. “I don’t think it is love yet, but, Vera, he makes me feel beautiful.”

Vera carried the sweetest smile. “Then give him a chance. Call him, go see him, but do it soon. Wounded animals are skittish.” Vera turned to the door. “I hope you figure this out. Regret is an awful thing to live with.” Vera left. Aaliyah wanted to cry, shout, and laugh at the same time.

After a few minutes, she had her mind set. She needed to apologise to Tristan, so she called him, but he didn’t pick up and she was afraid her indecisiveness caused him to just stop trying. But realising that it might be possible that he was still driving, she held out a little and called Madeline.

She told her friend that she needed to fix her mistake and that she would make it up to her. The only thing Madeline was worried over was if Aaliyah was sure. It was then that Aaliyah realised Madeline was, in fact, with somebody. Aaliyah only hoped it hadn’t been Rick, Madeline’s ex-boyfriend, who always somehow found his way back into Madeline’s life, but it was confirmed when she asked. Still, Madeline had finally convinced her that she needed to go to Tristan and make things right.

Finally calling a cab company, she then gave clear directions as to where she wanted to be picked up. After ten minutes, she tried calling Tristan again.

He picked up. “Aaliyah, is everything—”

“I need to see you. I need to apologise for  being—”

“Aaliyah…” She heard him sigh heavily. “I can’t do this if you don’t at least trust me.”

“I know, but you leaving made me realise that I care for you…already. That is scary, but I want to be with you. Can you tell me where you live? Then I’ll be there as soon as possible, but I want to make this right.”

“I can come to you instead.” She heard his relief.

“I already called for a cab, so I can be there soon.” He gave her the address, and he sounded less detached. Right before the call ended, she heard him say “Thank you.”

With a smile and a bouncing leg, she waited for the cab. When car lights illuminated down the road, she jumped up to go outside. She spotted Gerardo and a grey rat running to hide behind the building. She made her way to the cab.

The cab driver obviously struggled to understand why a lady like her would stay in such an odd place. He kept telling her that if she was a whore, he didn’t want any trouble, so she gave up on trying to convince him that the neighbourhood wasn’t too bad.

Stopping at the address Tristan had given her, she could only just see the beautiful house, as large trees filled the front yard. After giving the taxi driver his fee, she followed the small hedged pathway up to the enormous wood and glass door. The house itself looked to be a piece of history, sitting in one of the most amazing neighbourhoods of Pittsburgh. She hadn’t even known this place existed—like most of the city.

Before she reached the door, it opened, allowing soft music from within to pour out. Tristan stepped closer.