Page 59 of Pushed Through The Dark
Guiding me to my room, he pushed open the door, letting me go in first. I was looking around, not sure what it was he wanted to show me. Spinning on my heels, I arched a brow and glanced side to side again.
Koa smiled, leaning against the doorway. "On the floor beside the bed."
Walking around the bed, there was a wrapped box with a giant yellow bow. "What is this?"
"The only way to find out is to open it." His smile grew wider as he crossed his arms.
Picking it up, I placed it on the bed. Running the silky ribbon between my fingers, I pulled one end so it fell free. Glancing up at Koa, he was grinning like a child as he bounced his brows and tipped his head toward the box.
"Open it up."
Peeling off the paper, I dropped to my knees in surprise. "A record player?"
"You like it?"
"It's beautiful." I was scanning the record player, my eyes huge.
"Reach under the bed."
"What?"
"Check under the bed."
Lifting the blanket, there was a crate. Pulling it out, it was filled with records. Flipping through, I sit in shock.
Koa dropped to my side and pulled out one of the records. "These were some of my grandmother's. I already have a ton and thought you might like some."
"You didn't have to do this," I said, my eyes filling with tears. "Really, I can't accept this, I can't—" I started to push the crate in his direction, but he cut me off.
"You can. It's a gift, Aubrey. I want you to have them." Koa pushed them back toward me.
"Thank you," I said. My eyes lit up as I pulled out a dark green sleeve with big, gold words curving across the top and the image of a woman in black and white in the center. "Oh my god. . ." My voice trailed off as I held it up. "Are you kidding me?"
"What?" he asked.
Spinning the record, I couldn't stop myself from crying. "This. . ." I could barely get the words out as he watched me with confusion on my face.
"Iseppa Ricci," he said. "It's good. She has a beautiful voice."
"This is the first record I heard as a little girl. This woman made me fall in love with opera."
His face fell flat as my words sunk in. Of all the men in the world, of all the places I could have ended up, I was here.
Was it fate?
I never believed in fate, but how can I ignore that?
It was too coincidental for me to just brush off. Maybe fate was real. Maybe fate had somehow worked its fingers into my life and was finally able to yank me free.
And as the first real tears I had cried in a long time came flowing out, I smiled.
I smiled because the tears deserved to be shed.
I smiled because nothing could have prepared me for any of that.
I was smiling because he earned it.
