The Proverbial Mr. Universe (39 page)

She smiled and bobbed her head in disbelief. “How did you manage to pull it off?”

“Ah … well, I had a little help from everyone.”

“Was my sister in on it? Jessica?”

Nick nodded, sliding his hands into his front pocket.

“I can’t believe they kept it from me.”

Nick gave her a sideways smile. “I guess they liked me better than you.”

“Okay, I guess my next question is why Mr. Universe?” She brushed the strands of her hair away from her face, the moon’s glow softly highlighting her features.

“Well, I suppose I got the idea from you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. I guess I wanted you to believe in something.”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Long ago, before we knew each other, you walked in the café looking so sad. I didn’t understand what was going on in your life at that point, but I felt you were in some trouble. I kind of overheard your friend say to you that it was the universe sending you a message. You responded that you didn’t believe the universe could provide you with any guidance in life.”

“I said that?” She smiled. “Okay, so why didn’t you admit it was you when I suspected it was?”

He shrugged his shoulders and smiled. “If I told you it was me, it might not have meant the same to you. Being anonymous gave me the freedom to continue writing these notes, especially after I had a better insight of your life?”

“I guess.”

“So. Monti, the question is, do you still think the universe can’t provide you with any guidance in life?”

She gave him a sideways glance. “Hmmm … alright, I admit our lives kept crossing under the strangest circumstances. I don’t know if that makes me believe in the universe or some fate, but I must divulge I believe in something.” She paused. “Whatever it is that brought you into my life, I’m grateful for it. You made me realize I have been ignoring myself, trying to please everyone, when in the end I was the one who was suffering the most. You’re the only one that accepted me for who I am. You took the time to figure me out, even before I ever did. Now I get it. I get what you’d been trying to do all along. With all those handwritten notes, you were attempting to help me figure myself out. You opened my eyes, and I never thanked you for it.”

“You did it all on your own, Monti. I was just there to shake you up a little.” He smiled. “But you know I didn’t get the short end of the stick. You brought so much to my life as well.”

“I didn’t bring anything into your life, Montgomery.” The serious expression on her face made him think she wasn’t kidding.

Nick frowned. “What? You have done more for me than I can ever imagine. You inspired me like no one else had. Do you know how much I adore you, how special you are to me? You filled me with peace and reassurance. Most important, you loved me.” He paused. “Do you know the moment I knew I loved you? It was the first time you looked at me. I showed you my deepest secrets and instead of walking away, you clung to me like a last breath. I had never imagined a person like that could ever exist for me.”

Olivia’s eyes became glossy, and she looked away.

He knew a year ago he had made the painful decision to let her go. And he tried to be strong, but now having her so close, everything came rushing back again. All the feelings, all that love and emotion had caught up with him at the moment. He made himself believe that living with her ghost would be enough for him, but he couldn’t be more wrong.

“Why is this so hard?” She looked down at her hands.

“I know what you mean.” Nick let out a frustrated sigh.

“I hope you’ve been seeing other people. I know it sounds strange coming from me, but I do care about you, and I do worry about you, Nick. I want you to be happy,” she said as he pushed off the wall and slowly paced around.

“Well, since you’ve been gone, I have been keeping myself busy with my art and then this place. There wasn’t any time for anything or anyone else. Don’t think I have forgotten what you mean to me, Olivia.” He faced her with his hands in his pockets.

“So there hasn’t been anyone else?” she asked in a small voice.

“How could there be?”

She turned back to look at the view of the city before them. He knew she was trying to avoid his eyes.

“Do you know why I chose to be alone? It’s quite simple. You see, I’ve come to realize that there are some people you love for a moment and the ones you love for a lifetime. And, Olivia Montiano, you are a love of a lifetime. If I can’t have you in my life, then I don’t want to be with anyone else. You’ve occupied my mind, and you’re still in my heart, Olivia. It doesn’t leave room for anyone else.”

Her mouth hung open slightly. “I don’t see where we can go from here? So much has changed, and we can’t live in the past, Montgomery.” By the tone of her voice, it was evident he upset her.

“Your right, but I got nothing else but the past. It’s the last place where we seem to exist,” he said

She shook her head and started walking away from him.

“It feels impossible to let you go. I know I should, but I can’t.”

“That’s not fair, Montgomery. All this time, it’s been hard enough to get through without you, and now you’re not being reasonable. What I think you’re asking of me … it’s best we both forget, especially when I recall you were the one to push me away.” She paused.

“I didn’t push you away. I wanted you to spread your wings and fly. I told you once that if I followed that thread it would always lead me back to you … Well, it works both ways.”

He walked closer to her, but she continued to walk further away from him.

She began talking rapidly. “I am not one of your projects that you can mold and create. It doesn’t excuse you from the fact you left me with a broken heart. I don’t think I can ever trust you again.”

“Don’t forget, Olivia, you’re not the only one that’s been hurting through all this.”

“I don’t get it, Montgomery. Why now? What’s changed?” Her arms made a smacking sound when she placed them at her sides.

“Nothing changed. That’s the thing. I still love you, Olivia.”

She looked off in the distance, trying to process.

“Do you ever think of me at all?” He asked.

“I think of you much more than I should.” She gave him a weak smile. “But it doesn’t change the fact that I’m going back to Milan in two weeks. Where does that leave us?” She paused and looked up at the night sky.

“I want to see you again,” he asked.

“Then what? Let’s make it the last time? Then never again? And besides your place is here and mine is in Milan. How could this ever work out?”

“No, you’re right. It could never be the same. That’s true. Maybe I should let you go, but I don’t want to,” he said as he came closer, and she turned and looked up at him.

“Montgomery, what if everything that was meant to happen has happened for us? What if that is it for our story?” she asked.

“See, I’m a shameless optimistic. I can’t tell you what will happen tomorrow or the day after that. But if you should ask me if I believe there is still hope for us, yes I do. What I see here is the possibility of you and me, and I don’t want to run the risk of losing you, not the second time around. If you take a leap of faith with me here, then maybe there is still a chance for us. As long as there is still hope and love, we’ll find a way to make it work … trust me, after all, I am Mr. Universe.”

“You’re incorrigible, Montgomery,” she said, her face softening. “It’s all your fault, you know. You made me care too much and … love you too much.”

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to do the right thing, Olivia. I guess I messed up. Maybe I should have done things differently. Please give me a chance to set things right.”

“I don’t see the point. I’m sorry … it’s just too late.”

Nick watched her walk away from him, heading toward the door to go back inside.

“Olivia,” he called out to her, and she halted in her steps. “Let the universe decide. Roshambo me for it.”

She turned to face him but didn’t walk back.

“Roshambo. If I win you give me one day, if you win, then you can walk away and never see my face again.”

She placed her hand on her forehead and shook her head. “You can’t base the future of our relationship on a kid’s game.”

“You don’t get it, do you? We belong to each other and no matter what, our lives will always revolve around each other. And I have a feeling that tonight is our night. You know how I know? Because the universe has been presenting countless opportunities for us to be together. All those times we crossed paths … when they did our direction changed for the better. No, I believe we were meant to be together.” He smiled. “Look, love is more complicated than we think, Olivia. Love is messy. Love is hard work. But when you know we are good together, then you have to make it count, and I desperately want to make it count. I want you to know I never wanted you to go. The truth is if we walk away from each other, we will never find what we have with anyone else.”

He pressed his forehead on hers. “Roshambo,” he whispered.

“Alright … okay,” She took a step back.

“Ro. Sham. Bo,” they said in unison.

She smiled. “Okay, you win, Montgomery. So what now?” she whispered as he gently pulled her into his arms.

“Everything.” He searched her eyes. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

He placed his hand on her face and leaned in closer, kissing her into silence on that very rooftop, on an evening which began, seemed like nothing could be possible. In that very moment they both realized that anything could happen, and everything was all they ever needed.

M
aria La Serra lives in Montreal with her husband and two daughters. Before becoming a writer, she worked as a fashion designer. She will try everything at least once, except for skiing or hiking or camping- okay anything relating to activities done in the great outdoors.

When she’s not working on her next book, you could find her spending her time with her family.

The Proverbial Mr. Universe
is her first book.

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