Three Years Later...

Head high, I swept out of the room. A second later, head even higher, I swept back in, snatched up the money and was gone again. It didn't matter that I had worked here for a little over two and a half years, I wasn't going to be treated like a dog. It didn't matter that my severance package was a complete joke, I needed that money. I'd managed to survive this long on nothing, continuing would be no different.

Life was full of lemons lately, but that didn't mean I couldn't make lemonade out of them. That wreck three years ago had been my wake-up call. I'd given up on the idea of fate and fairy tales.

Instead, I decided to pull myself up by the boot straps and move the hell on. I was fine alone. Sure, it was lonely at times, but at least I didn't have to answer to anyone. I could come and go as I pleased. I could spend an entire weekend with a stranger if I wanted to. Hell, I could even walk around my apartment naked, should I be so inclined.

There were always plus sides to being alone. Single. I didn't have to depend on a guy to do jack shit for me. It was actually kind of nice most of the time.

Rare occasions when I got a wild hair for some fun, I would find a random stranger to mingle with. I only really had one rule for the casual fling. Never sleep with anyone twice. I didn't need to get attached to another dead-beat man.

I think that was my problem all along. I got attached too quickly and the intensity of my feelings showed on an outward level and guys just didn't like that kind of thing. It was "clingy" or even sometimes "crazy" as they would put it. Personally, I just liked to think of myself as intense. It was easier and simpler that way.

I made my way down to my car, huffing a little at the nerve of Liam. He couldn't just fire me professionally, he had to add in a few jabs about my mental state first. Maybe I had been a little crazy lately, but I was trying to get my affairs in order. First with my life, then with my job. Unfortunately, the job was no longer. Even more unfortunately, he only offered me a thousand dollars' severance. I would need to find a new job within a week if I was going to keep my apartment.

I loved my little one bedroom apartment. It was on the top floor, overlooking the crowded streets that tourists filled day in and day out. I spent many an afternoon sitting out on the tiny balcony, just watching people go by and pretending they were famous. I'd recently gotten more and more lavish with the stories I made up for them, remembering that my own life was shit. It was okay to live in the make believe for a little while, but eventually I had to come down from that high and face reality.

My reality was that I was no closer to achieving the goals I'd set for myself three years ago. The only real thing I was good at was fucking everything up. Boy, did I excel in that. If my life were being graded for most fuck ups, I'd have an A+ and be top of the class.

The ride home was boring. I had to stop thinking and focus on the road so I didn't wreck yet another car. I was too easily distracted for all that. I didn't even turn on the radio. As I pulled into the parking lot of my apartment complex, I let out another huff and gathered my box of things in my arms.

Rich, the attendant, greeted me with the same friendly smile he always did, and a nod of his head.

"Hey Rich. Enjoy the evening." I said, passing by him to the small elevator.

"Likewise, Ma'am."

It didn't take long to get to my floor. I balanced the box on my shoulder and dug my keys out of my pocket. The cold air hit me right in the face the moment I walked in, and I sighed in relief. It was a nice change from the sweltering heat outside.

I quickly changed and walked out to sit on my balcony. The sound of laughter drifted up from the street below, reminding me how alone I was. I looked down, and froze as I saw a mop of dark hair and dark eyes that haunted my dreams. I couldn't believe it. Was it really him? I hadn't seen him since that day, and I was starting to think he didn't actually live here.

Hell, I had spent the first month searching for him, before finally giving up. Now, he was here, on the street below, seemingly looking right up at me. As if he didn't recognize me, his gaze fell back down to the street and he continued walking, just out of my line of sight.

Of course, he wouldn't remember me. It's been three years. Hell, maybe it wasn't even him.

I let out another long sigh and looked up towards the sky. The heat beat down mercilessly on my face, and tiny beads of sweat pooled on my forehead. The sun was too bright to stare into the sky for too long, so I closed my eyes instead, savoring the feel of it on my face.

The smell of fresh cut flowers drifted up from below, mixed with the fried goodness of the street vendor on the corner. I took a deep breath in, moaning softly before standing and gripping the rail. There was a guy standing directly beneath me, softly strumming on his guitar. I watched him for several minutes before heading back inside to fix some dinner.

The chords flowed together so beautifully, that I left the balcony door open so I could keep listening as I cooked. That was one of the best parts about living in the music capitol. There were constant sounds, smells, and musicians filling every unoccupied space. Everyone was friendly too.

I pulled out all my ingredients, realizing that I was down one. Quickly, I shut the balcony door and slipped back into my shoes. I'd make a quick trip to the store and then I would come home and eat dinner while binging on Netflix for the rest of the evening. I would leave the job search for tomorrow when my mind was clearer.

The ride to the store was rather quick, since I lived downtown and close to everything. I tore out of the car, a woman on a mission, and went straight for the isle I knew my ingredient was on. Plucking it off the shelf, I headed for the front.

As I turned the corner, I ran into a hard chest.

"My apologies, Ma'am." A deep voice said.

I didn't even have to look up. I already knew it was him by the smell of cigarettes and exotic cologne filling my nose. Slowly, I let my eyes drift up to his. Recognition dawned on him and a slow smile spread across his face.

So, he does remember me...

"We've got to stop meeting like this." He chuckled.

"Huh?" I was completely taken off guard by the intensity in his eyes.

Why does it feel like he is looking right through me?

His hand landed softly on my shoulder, squeezing it once, and I quickly snapped from my thoughts.

"Literally running into each other." He said with another laugh.

Suddenly, I couldn't seem to even breathe. I was hyper aware of his hand on my shoulder so I took a step back and looked back to the ground.

"I'm actually running very late, so if you will excuse me." I rushed out, moving to walk away from him.

Before I could get even two full steps away, he grasped my wrist and pulled me back.

"Wait." He said softly, catching my eyes again. "I'm going out of town for the week on a job, but when I get back, we should grab some coffee."

No. This isn't a good idea Lil.

"I'm actually rather busy these days." I said, trying to step around him.

He laughed again, so loud it shook me to my core.

"I believe you owe me. After all, I did save your life." His smile was disarming, and I found myself nodding before I could even think about it.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, handing it to me.

"Program your number in." He ordered in a way that only a proper businessman could.

He watched as I typed my number in and handed it back to him.

"See you around Lily." He winked at me and then turned and walked away.

He remembers my name.

I stood there for several moments, watching him walk away and wondered why life suddenly decided to become so complicated. It wasn't enough to lose my job, now we had to add in the sexy stranger I couldn't seem to forget despite trying for three years now.

Could things get any worse?