Page 101 of Anteros' Return
“Wait, come here.” Beckett pulled me into the park, confusing me slightly.
“Is this some kind of shortcut I’m unaware of?” I arched my brow as he ignored my question.
“Not quite.” He came to a standstill beneath an oak tree, and for a moment, I wondered what he was doing until I realised what tree this was.
I whipped my head to the side, and there they were… Our initials faintly carved into the tree trunk. I couldn’t believe they were still there, and that he remembered that one evening after school he carved them with his maths compass.
“Look, it’s still here.” He smiled. “I already knew it was, though. I checked when I first came back.”
“You did?” I gasped, surprised he was able to even find it.
“Of course I did. I could never forget where or when I’d carved it. It was a cold December evening after school. The weather was damp and so damn cold. My fingers were like ice as I gripped that bloody compass, but I didn’t care. I wanted to show you that we were forever. Do you remember what I told you?”
I nodded, remembering his exact words and repeating them. “‘Emily Ryton, I love you more than life itself, and I’m going to grow old with you.’” I blushed.
“Good. I knew you’d remember.” He couldn’t hide the smile gracing his lips. Not another word was said about it as we made our way out of the park towards the shop.
“What was that about?” I quizzed, confused about his trip down memory lane.
“Nothing, I just wanted to know if you remembered.” He brought my cold knuckles to his lips, pressing a kiss to them softly, the warmth of his breath welcoming.
“What about that flower shop over there?” He pointed to a small, well-known florist still run by Madeline, an elderly woman who was nearing retirement.
“That’s where you got my roses from for our first Valentine's Day together.”
“And it was only after your brother told me that sunflowers were your favourite that I realised you accepted my gift with the biggest smile, not caring that they weren’t the flowers you really would have wanted.” He draped his arm around my shoulders as he spoke.
“Because they were from you and I wasn’t expecting you to get me anything.”
“How about there?” He pointed to the social club that was hidden down a small gravel path.
“I remember you taking me there one night because you wanted to see me.” I remembered every single thing. “Apparently, seeing me at school wasn’t enough.”
“No, it wasn’t. I never got enough of you then and I still don’t now.” He spun me beneath his arm in a playful gesture.
“Anything else on your trip down memory lane?” I teased, my body colliding with his as he twisted me back into him.
“Yes, one more place. Just over there.” He cocked his head towards the small restaurant.
“That’s where we had our very first date.” The restaurant was now run-down, and to be honest, it was close to closing down, but I still remembered the dimly lit booth we sat at. How we shared a half and half pizza. How he barely let go of my hand until our nerves subsided.”
“I was so damn nervous that night, not wanting to fuck it up.”
“You definitely didn’t do that.” I kissed the back of his hand as we finally made it to the shop. “Wait, actually do you remember our movie nights?”
“You mean how we’d come in here and play rock, paper, scissors to see who would pick the savoury snack, the sweets, and the drink?” His face lit up as he remembered. “I think we should do it with Liam now. Make it a kind of Saturday night tradition, what do you think?”
“I think it sounds perfect.” The thought of having our own tradition as a family was something I never thought would happen.
“Right, I’m going to grab the bits I need, and I’ll come and find you.” He kissed me quickly before darting off for the fruit and vegetables section. I, on the other hand, headed in the direction of the chocolate and sweets.
As I turned the corner to my favourite aisle, I saw Maggie, Mike’s grandmother.
“Good morning, Emily.” She smiled, but it was one that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Morning, Maggie. How are you?” I paused in front of her.
“I was actually hoping to run into you.” She pursed her lips before continuing. “I hope you know what a decent man you missed out on.” Of course, she was referring to Mike.
