Broken Bad Boy
Chapter 52

PERCIE

"You don't have a plan to get drunk, do you?" Grandma added before I walked out of the library.

"No promises," I sang.

"Percie?"

"I said no promises."

I went back to Hailey. She was already sitting on the ottoman. One thing I noticed was the lit candles in every corner of the place. "Hey, you're back. Are we gonna sleep in your car?"

I smiled. "Not tonight. How did these candles get here?"

"I don't know. One of the staff, her name is Donna. She just started lighting candles. The smell is incredible. I thought this is your idea."

"Nope, but I'll thank her and Grands later." I uncorked the wine, poured two glasses, and I offered a glass to Hailey. I sat beside her and wrapped my arm around her.

I raised my glass. "Happy two months, Lee."

She looked beyond shock as she stared at me. I leaned over to kiss her lips.

"Happy two months." She sipped her wine.

"Don't ever tell your dad that I corrupted you to drink wine."

"If you can keep a secret. This tastes so delicate."

"You love it?"

"Yeah."

"I'm gonna take one new bottle before we leave."

"You can't just steal from them." She held her laugh.

"Who said of stealing? They knew I took a bottle. I said I made no promises to get drunk tonight."

"Thank you." She stared at me with those big startling eyes. I couldn't resist kissing her. She instantly responded, kissing me back.

"I wish I can come to your room tonight."

Hailey giggled. "Not tonight, silly."

"I know." We poured another drink before we stared at the dark skies.

"Do you think she would like me?" she asked me out of nowhere.

"Emma?" "Yeah."

I wrapped my arms around her as she laid her back on my chest. "She would you. She was friendly, joyous, and free-spirited." I grabbed my phone and opened a website. "I wanna show you something. I hadn't checked this out since she passed away."

"Are you sure you wanna do this?" Her voice filled with worry.

"I'm good, sweetheart."

"You meant what you said earlier?" I could feel the hesitation in her tone.

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I kissed the side of my head. "About seeing a shrink? Yes, I meant it." I topped the video with more than one hundred thousand views.

My heart ached when the video started. I still missed Emma so much, but I could still live while I celebrated her life.

"She's Emma." My hand trembled against the phone.

"She's beautiful. Her smile is so bright. I'm nothing like her." Hailey steadied the shaky phone as she wrapped her hand around mine.

Emma was smiling at the camera even if she was in her wheelchair. Her light brown hair was almost blonde against the lighting. She had been answering questions from her followers that she wrote down on paper.

"Who inspired me? I have a lot of people I'd like to thank who inspired me to make this blog. Of course, you're one of them. Also, to you guys who have lost their ability to walk. It's the end of our world. We can still make a difference by inspiring people, giving them hope, make our friends, loved ones, and family happy. It's not because we're stuck in this chair, our dreams are over. Remember Stephen Hawkings? He made a difference. Even if he's gone, he left his legacies to us and the next generations."

"She so strong and inspiring. I admired her." Her voice cracked, and she sighed deeply.

I closed the video and placed my phone on the table. "You're like Emma, more than you realized, Lee. May I reminded you how you saved me and how you saved Lexie. Those students who came to thank you. You just inspired them." "I haven't thought about that." She turned to face me.

I framed her face with my hand as I looked at her in the eye. "You don't have to go the street to inspire people or to post your My day on social media to be an inspiration. I'm proud of you, Hailey. You're the kind of person who sees the best in people. You never gave up on me, even if I was an asshole most of the time. Besides, you're fucking hot. Your gorgeous eyes, sinful lips, and your huge heart made me fall for you, Hailey." My confession didn't shock me sideways. It was bound to happen. It freed me from the restraint of emotions.

Her face seized a mix of shock and satisfaction. I gathered her into my arms and pressed her against my chest. She was soft, warm, and delicate against my hard one. We just fit perfectly. I let myself lose in her warm embrace as she wrapped her arms around me. I closed my eyes. My heartbeat grew stronger it beat for her. She knew that by now.

I was so proud of myself that I told her how I felt even if she hadn't said her feelings back. In my heart, I knew she cared for me. That was all that matters.

Hailey made me whole, made me feel like a human-a man-a man capable of love. She taught me the beauty of life and love.

***

I woke up early. We didn't get to our bedrooms. We fell asleep on the carpeted floor after our last third drink. I carried Hailey to her room. She stirred on our way.

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"Hush, sweetheart. Get some sleep." I let her get some more rest because, in the afternoon, I had to take her back to her parents. After I put her to bed, I went down for a run. When I came back, I took a shower.

My heart was in a gallop as I pulled my strength together and unlocked the door. Grands didn't change or put Emma's things in the box.

We always came together for a monthly visit to Grands. This had been her room with a pink and golden motif. This room reminded me a lot of her, everything about her, and our memories together.

My knees finally gave up. I took a seat on the edge of her bed. Then my gaze landed on the framed on her table. It was our picture after we played golf.

The door creaked open before I could grab the photo. "Can I come in?"

I smiled at Hailey, even if it was hard at this moment. I offered my hand. "You're awake."

"An hour ago while you went for a ran."

"Really? Why didn't you join me."

"You seemed to have fun." She reached out to my hand.

"Not so much without you."

She took the picture and sat down on the floor between my legs. "How old were you in this picture?"

"Sixteen. I just met her a year earlier."

"Your eyes really radiate life. I wish I would see this again."

I kissed the top of her head. "I'm happy, sweetheart."

"I know the feeling of losing a sibling a twin. Half of us died with them as well." She looked up at me. "I want to see that glow in your eyes again, not only when you look at me, Percie, but every time you open your eyes."