Pretend ^^ says Pierce
St. Angeles was a cozy outdoor boardwalk near the water. There were local vendors in the area who would sell items for a makeshift farmers’ market every morning, but by nighttime, the atmosphere usually turned more romantic. Maybe that’s why Addie and Leo had spent an entire day here earlier… before things went awry. Addie was here before Leo and couldn’t help but smile at the ambiance… at the memory, it brought back to her. The night sky was filled with lanterns that lit the breezeway as the cool air passed amongst the night. Addie slowly walked towards the edge of the pier where there was a bench situated to overlook the water. Sitting down, the woman let her eyes gently close - recalling her last real date with Leonardo Azure.
40 years earlier
“No…no…nope, I am not going on that bloody contraption Leo,” Addie told the man, chickening out last second. The two had been waiting in line for the Ferris wheel overlook at the end of the pier… but bloody hell did Adelaide Parker really hate heights. It took all day for Leo to even convince her to go on it in the first place. Honestly, Adelaide had been content just enjoying the day ON THE GROUND with her boyfriend, so why the hell was he so intent on the Ferris wheel. Maybe he was trying to get her out of her comfort zone… either way… she was bloody scared. The two were at the front of the line… hell it was their turn when Addie tried to back out. “Oh no you don’t,” she heard his voice as he pulled her inside slightly against her will.
She frowned towards him as she punched his shoulder. “You… how dare you Leo… Okay… I guess… it’s not so bad… nope nope I spoke too soon,” her eyes immediately closed shut as Adelaide wrapped her arms around the man’s torso and stuffed her face in it - unwilling to look out of the removing contraption he had put them on.
Despite her fear… there was always a sense of love between them… even as the two made their way to the very top of the wheel and he convinced her to peak at the view. Which… okay kind of freaked her out more but he calmed her down… like he always did…
Adelaide’s eyes remained closed as she recalled his touch… the way he made her feel safe in his arms. It was something she loved about him. Adelaide Parker was 99% sure this was where he was going to propose to her… at the very top of that Ferris wheel to make one of her irrational fears into a good one… but he didn’t. She didn’t know what it was that stopped him that day… maybe simply the fear in her that told him it wasn’t the right moment and ironically, after that day it would never be the right moment again.
Adelaide’s eyes opened when she heard someone walking towards her, though she made no effort to turn around to look at who it was. Part of her just… knew it was him. “It’s been 40 years since I’ve been here,” Addie started, looking at the water as he made his way towards her - stopping only when he was close enough to hear her. “No matter how far, we lay under the same stars,” she continued a soft smile on her lips. “I’m pretty sure I told you that when we were here the last time… It’s tru-,”
Though she was going to continue, she heard him say something along the lines of skip the pleasantries and sighed, looking at the man for the first time. Standing up, Adelaide walked towards him so that she was standing right in front of him. With a calmness, she met his eyes before slapping him as hard as she could. “Leo… there was a time that both you and I were different people. And I understand, we’ve both changed but what you did at that bloody wedding… really? That’s my niece, you had no right.” Adelaide started with a fury within her. “40 years and I would never do anything like that to you because part of me will always love you but clearly… I just… I never thought someone who loved me once upon a time would ever be capable of that… clearly you never did. So, fine, let’s do this. After 40 bloody years, instead of hurting my family, just hurt me right now and tell me what you really want me to hear. That you hate me? I know. I can see it in your eyes Leo.”