Lights flickered through, and I just settled for watching the view of Midnight, which was always brighter and livelier at dusk until daybreak.
The city never sleeps.
"How was riding with Athena?"
It was unusual for Ares to be the first to strike up a conversation; well, it was given because he hadn’t stopped staring since we left the estate. I blocked him out, but now I can’t do that anymore.
I pushed my glasses to the bridge of my nose as I replied. "There are no words to describe it."
That was not a lie, and it was my best chance of stopping him from asking more about it.
Another silence took over the car until we arrived at the penthouse. I came down and slammed the door shut, pausing when I realized Ares was yet to move. Maybe he’s off to his private business. I huffed, strolling through the entrance.
When I got inside, I went straight to my room and quickly dialed Granny’s number.
"Hello, Pumpkin."
"Gramps? What are you doing with Granny’s phone?"
"She’s sleeping."
I checked the time. Fuck! I called too late.
"Are you both okay?"
"Yes?"
"I-I’m just checking in, that’s all."
"You never call me anymore."
"Don’t be like that, Pa." I sat on my bed. "I only call you when I have problems."
I recalled when he told me that if I had any, I should tell him that he had a special ability to absolve them all. My little mind believed him and told him everything.
He chuckled. "And yet you don’t call."
"Because I’m all grown up now."
"You’ll always be my little pumpkin. Nothing will ever change that."
I smiled widely. "I know."
"You don’t sound okay."
Another reason I don’t call him is that he always notices something is wrong, and unlike Granny, he won’t let it slide until he knows what. He had his ways.
"Today was a nightmare, I thought I was gonna die and leave you behind."
He laughed, thinking I was making a joke, even though it was far from it. I felt tingling hearing that carefree sound.
"City life must be dragging too much. Why don’t you come home?"
"Have you forgotten? I won’t give up that easily."
He never wanted me to leave Rosevale, and even now, he indirectly tells me to come back.
"Giving up isn’t such a bad thing; it also means taking a step back to retrace your steps and open up to other opportunities."
"That’s not fair."
"What?"
"Now I feel like leaving it all behind, but I can’t, not yet. I don’t know what to do, Pa, I’m mixed up in something."
"What is it? Is it bad?"
I wish I could tell him, I really do.
"Just one year," I said. "One year wearing a mask, and then it’ll all be over."
I said this more to myself than to him.
Gramps sighed heavily. "Working must be taking a great toll on you. I know your work is important there, but I don’t want you to lose yourself."
Maybe I already did. The moment I signed that contract, it felt like a drastic shift had happened.
"Dan and I broke up," I confessed.
"What happened?" he asked, worried.
"We decided it’s time to let go."
"Sweetie, you have been together since MU. You were so close. Granny planned your wedding in her scrapbook, always talking about it."
"Don’t tell her, please? T-This was for the best. Turns out I never knew who he truly was."
"Did he hurt?" he asked sharply, and I could already picture him grabbing his rifle and shooting Dan.
"I-I ended it. We have grown distant since I started working for King Corp."
That was the truth, except I didn’t add that he cheated on me. It was best not to mention that.
"Then you’re not okay. I’m taking the next flight to Midnight."
"No, no, no! This is why I didn’t want to say anything."
"This is my fault."
"What?"
"If I had stepped up, you wouldn’t have to spend half of your life paying back loans. You would have gotten a lighter job, and maybe you and Dan would have still been together."
"Gramps, none of this is your fault, and I never blamed you and ma. Ever since mom and dad, you have always been there for me. You worked through fire, and everything I have now is all because of you. I’m not burdened, it’s a bridge I’ll eventually cross."
He breathed heavily through the line, and my eyes stung.
"I’m sorry I shouldn’t have talked about them."
It was always a heavy topic, and it affected us more than we wanted, even though it had been years.
"No, sweetie, don’t apologise, it’s alright. I-I wish I could have done more for you."
I shook my head as a tear slid down my face. "What you did was more than enough, and now it’s my turn."
"Catherine."
"I’ll clear it off soon, in a year’s time, we won’t have anything to worry about. I may even come back to Rosevale, work the farm, get horses, cows, and more of everything."
"You’d leave Midnight?" he asked, heartbroken even though he was the one who urged me never to go.
I smiled. "Yes."
~☆~
I sat up in my bed when I heard scratches on my room door. Puzzled, I took off the sheets and walked barefoot to it. Opening, I saw no one but leveled my gaze at Loki.
"Hey," I said, watching as he ran in.
That’s a first. He gave a soft meow to me, and I smiled.
"Are you sure you haven’t been switched? What’s with the friendly air?"
He lay down and showed me his belly, meowing more. Seems like the treats I always left around finally worked its magic.
Giggling, I crouched and rubbed him.
"Who’s the cutest cat ever? Oh yes you are, yes you’re."
He sat up and pounced on my bed. I was about to go to him for more rubs when my eye caught something at the dresser.
I walked to my nightstand to grab my glasses and put them on to see clearly. Is that...
Startled, I neared it and grabbed the small black box. When I opened it, I saw a ring.
Not a new one, but the same one I had lost. I would recognise the unique craftsmanship anywhere.
How come it’s here? I was sure I took it with me to the equestrian.
Did Reed find it?