Chapter 59 - another shot

Wren Austin woke the following morning due to the blinding sunlight that was beaming through the windows, and she felt a deadweight on her chest. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes before looking down just to see a fast asleep Giovanni O’Connell, his head buried in the crook of her neck, while her arm and leg were tightly wrapped around her body.
Wren smiled, mentally replaying the events from last night as she found herself staring at the gorgeous man sleeping, wondering how she had once gotten so lucky and how a human being could be so damn stunning.
With Giovanni in her arms and in the comfort of her apartment, Wren Austin felt like it was only them that mattered. She felt like they were far away from everyone and everything; they were away from gossip, their jobs but mostly their responsibility.
Last night, they had the chance to lose and have a blast, rekindling the passion Wren lost and an emotion the young man never thought he would ever feel.
Hell, she was still struggling to believe if last night was real.
Whilst she the blonde was busy daydreaming, she failed to notice Giovanni’s figure shifting ever so slightly and she snapped back into reality only when she was met with a pair of sleepy eyes.
“Watching me whilst I sleep, Austin? Giovanni cocked an eyebrow, an amused grin on his face.
She was indeed. The use of her last name made her insides swirl and flutter.
“Nah, just thinking I guess..”
And it was the truth. Whilst the memory of last night still lingered on her mind, she couldn’t help but think of their relationship. They’ve had so many ups and downs.
Whenever it seemed like they had moved past their history, something always came in the way and separated them. Giovanni, Sierra, her job, Hunter. And right now, she couldn’t help but wonder what the universe had planned for them.
But now, he was lying in her arms. And if anyone were to walk in on them, they would probably assume they’re just another happy couple. But in reality, they had had to fight through several battles.
At least, Wren did on her part.
“About?” he frowned, tilting his head to the side.
“At how breathtaking you look when you’re not talking”
Giovanni O’Connell stared at her bewildered before he shoved her and they both burst into a fit of laughter.
It was a while after and they had calmed down from laughing. Giovanni still had his head resting on Wren’s chest, but this time, the blonde stroke his hair.
They found peace in the quiet. No words needed to be said. They allowed the sound of their heart beating to tell each other the words they could not verbally express.
“Wren” the young man called out after a while of being silent.
“Shh” Wren Austin shushed him. She knew what he wanted to say. He wanted to apologise for his actions and that of Sierra and promise to make things between them better.
Wren didn’t want to hear that. Part of her was convinced that his promises were the genesis of their issues. She didn’t want him promising to make up to her, consequently stirring hope from Wren, only to be brutally slapped in the face by reality and in the end, having Wren promise herself not to cry over him.
The process was endless for her. And tiring.
“No, Wren. I should speak up” Giovanni O’Connell sat up and took Wren’s hands in his.
“You’re probably tired of hearing me say this, but I’m going to say it anyways. I’m sorry. I am deeply and truly sorry for all the end you have had to endure because of me. For all the times you had to cry yourself to sleep. For all the times you felt humiliated and insulted because of me, the list goes on and on” he paused momentarily and brought her hands to his lips.
“I let you down. I should have defended you when Sierra disrespected you. The fact that I did it behind closed doors doesn’t count. Hell, if she dared to speak to you like that, then it’s because an action of mine gave her the go-ahead to, and I will spend the rest of my life trying to make up for that. I love you, Wren, I do. From the depth of my heart, I love you”
“I know at some point I began to care more for my job than for those who meant a lot to me. Nana Denise, Topaz, Unika and you. Hell, I’ve been so wrapped up in my own bubble that I didn’t realize my little sister was gay and even had a girlfriend. I didn’t realize Unika has grown up and will be a freshman this coming academic year. I’m trying to make up for all of that”
“I know it will take more than words to convince you of my sincerity. I just need you to not give up on us. Give me one last chance to prove to you that I am the same person you were once head over heels in love with”
The young man repeatedly kissed the back of Wren’s heart.
She was falling again. She was in a state of dilemma.
Her heart was falling again for his sweet, kind and promising words. So she turned to her brain, the voice of reason. But they had apparently decided to work together but not for the better because right now her mind was telling her to fuck everything that happened in the past and give their relationship another shot.
She knew the risk involved. At this point, it had become a routine.
Cry. Hear him out. Be hopeful. Get disappointed. Cry again. She was already used to it.
The promises she made to herself vanished. The kind words Calista had said to her vanished.
Her heart and her mind were telling her one thing, and it didn’t matter that it may potentially leave her heartbroken.
She pulled him into her and pressed his lips against hers. She straddled him and deepened the kiss.
Then she looked into his eyes and said;
“I want to give us another shot”


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Hi there! I apologise for my absense. My head has been all over the place. I promise to update regularly