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Chapter 116 – Damien’s Teenage Crush and a Somber Anniversary
The room went deadly silent after Victoria’s brazen question. I stared at her in horror, heat rushing to my checks.
“Victoria!” I hissed, mortified. “You can’t just ask people things like that!”
But Damien didn’t seem offended. Instead, a thoughtful expression crossed his face as he lowered himself onto the armchair across from us. His eyes, those impossibly deep blue eyes, drifted from Victoria to me.
“When did I first fall for Hazel?” he repeated slowly, as if savoring the question.
Victoria leaned forward eagerly. “Yes. Was it love at first sight? Or did it develop over
time?”
I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole. But part of me–the part that had been wondering about this very thing–desperately wanted to hear his answer.
Damien’s gaze caught mine, and his lips curved into a small, secret smile. “I was sixteen,” he said simply. “Swimming in the river outside of Willow Creek when the current became too strong. I would have drowned if not for a brave twelve–year–old girl who jumped in after me.”
My mouth fell open. “What?” I whispered.
“You pulled me to shore,” he continued, his voice soft with memory. “Lectured me about swimming alone, then made me promise not to tell anyone because you weren’t supposed to be at the river either.”
Memories flooded back–hazy, half–forgotten moments I’d filed away years ago. A tall, lanky boy with dark hair. The panic when I saw him struggling in the water. The relief when I managed to grab his arm and pull him to safety.
“That your hair was longer then. And you were so thin…”
as you?” I breathed. ”
His smile widened. “My rebellious phase. I was staying with my grandfather for the summer, sneaking away whenever I could.”
Victoria clapped her hands in delight. “Oh my god, this is better than any romance
1/5
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novel! You’ve been carrying a torch for her since you were teenagers!
Damien didn’t deny it. Instead, he kept his eyes on me, letting me process this
revelation.
“Why didn’t you ever say anything?” I asked, trying to reconcile this new information with everything I thought I knew about us.
“There was never the right moment,” he replied. “And then you were with Julian.”
Victoria snorted. “So in a way, Julian did you a favor by being such a massive jerk. If he hadn’t dumped Hazel, you two might never have reconnected.”
I winced at her bluntness, but Damien just chuckled.
“I suppose there’s some truth to that,” he admitted.
Victoria stood, gathering her purse with a triumphant smile. “Well, this has been enlightening. I’ll leave you two to your doctor’s appointment–and apparently your long–overdue reunion. She bent to kiss my cheek. “Call me later with all the details.” After she left, a heavy silence fell between us. Damien watched me, waiting.
“You remembered me all this time?” I finally asked, my voice barely above a whisper. He nodded, moving from the armchair to sit beside me on the sofa. “How could ! forget? You saved my life.
“I just helped you to shore, I protested weakly.
“No,” he said firmly. “The current was too strong. I was panicking, exhausted. If your hadn’t come along when you did…”
His hand found mine, fingers intertwining as naturally as breathing. I stared at our joined hands, trying to process everything. All these years, while I’d been building my life with Julian, Damien had been carrying this memory of me.
“We should get going,” he said gently, breaking into my thoughts. “Your appointment.”
The drive to the hospital was quiet, but not uncomfortably. I kept stealing glances at him, seeing him through new eyes. Had he really harbored feelings for me since we were teenagers? The thought made me dizzy.
When he helped me from the car, his arm strong around my waist, I leaned into him
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more than my injury strictly required. He noticed–of course he did–and his grip tightened slightly in response.
“Thank you,” I murmured, not just for the physical support.
The follow–up appointment went quickly. The doctor seemed pleased with my progress but insisted on another round of acupuncture. This time, knowing Damien was watching, I tried not to flinch or cry out as the needles went in.
“You don’t have to be brave for me,” he said softly from beside me, his hand steady on my shoulder. “I know it hurts.”
I bit my lip, tears springing to my eyes despite my best efforts. “I’m fine.”
His thumb stroked my neck, a subtle caress that sent shivers down my spine. “Stubborn as always.”
When the treatment was over and we were back in his car, the atmosphere between us had shifted. There was a new tenderness, a new awareness that hadn’t been there before. He drove with one hand on the wheel, the other holding mine across the console.
I was lost in thought, replaying what he’d told Victoria, when my phone rang. I glanced at the screen and felt my heart clench.
“Aunt Esther,” I said, answering quickly. “Is everything okay?”
“Just checking on you, sweetheart,” came her warm voice. “I’m finalizing arrangements for tomorrow. What time should I expect you at the cemetery?”
My stomach dropped. In all the chaos of the last day, I’d completely forgotten.
“Tomorrow is…” I swallowed hard. “I’m sorry, Aunt Esther. I won’t be able to make it this year. My knee-”
“Oh, Hazel,” she sighed. “Your mother would understand.”
“I know,” I said, even as guilt washed over me. “I’ll visit as again, I promise.”
on as I can walk properly
“Of course, dear. I’ll place your lilies for you. White ones, like always?”
“Yes, please,” I whispered, a lump forming in my throat. “And tell her… tell her I miss
her.
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After a few more minutes of gentle reassurance from my aunt, I hung up. The car felt suddenly too small, too intimate. I was keenly aware of Damien beside me, and wondered how much he had overheard.
“Tomorrow is your mother’s death anniversary?” he asked softly.
I turned to find his eyes on me, filled with understanding and something deeper- something that made my heart ache with a strange mixture of sorrow and hope.
“Yes,” I admitted, blinking back tears. “Fifteen years tomorrow. I’ve never missed visiting her grave, not once since the funeral.”
Damien’s hand squeezed mine. “You don’t have to miss it this year either.”
“But the doctor said I shouldn’t-”
“The doctor said you shouldn’t walk on it,” he corrected gently. “He didn’t say you couldn’t visit your mother.”
I stared at him, understanding slowly dawning. “You would take me?”
“Of course,” he said simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Just tell me when.”
Something warm and overwhelming bloomed in my chest–gratitude, yes, but also a deeper feeling I wasn’t quite ready to name. This man had carried feelings for me since we were teenagers. Had watched over me from afar. And now, without hesitation, he was offering to accompany me on one of the most painful days of my year.
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. “Thank you.”
He lifted our joined hands, pressing his lips to my knuckles in a gesture so tender it nearly undid me. “Always, Hazel.”
As we pulled up to my apartment building, I realized with startling clarity that something fundamental had shifted between us. This wasn’t just attraction or chemistry or even the growing affection I’d been fighting inst. This was something deeper–a connection that had apparently been waiting for us to rediscover it since that day by the river, all those years ago.
And for the first time since Julian had shattered my world, I wasn’t afraid of where
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these feelings might lead.
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