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He bought the painting for$500,0000 in the end.
I smirked scornfully.
After the auction,he blocked my way.
"Where've you been?You vanished.I searched for you for two years,turned the city upside down.If I hadn't seen you on the news,I don't know how long I'd have go on looking."
I looked at him calmly.Two years wasn't that long,but certainly enough to let go of love and hatred.
"Why look for me?What are we to each other?Wasn't my wedding setup for you and Rachel satisfactory?"
His sounded broken."Emily,I was wrong.I love you—always have.Rachel and I are done.I was foolish..."
Memories flooded back—the insults he made on my birthday,the ring with her initials on it,their kiss under the aurora.
Nausea hit."You've got some nerve begging for forgiveness now.We're done.Don't bother me again."
Ethan suddenly pulled me into his arms like my words had got to him."Emily,I'm sorry.Please don't leave me.Without you,I'm nothing."
I struggled,but he wouldn't let go.
A fist hit Ethan's face.Noah stepped in,shielding me.
Ethan wiped blood from his lip."Who the hell are you?This is between me and my fiancée!"
Noah gripped my hand tight,the look in his eyes ice-cold—nothing like his usual warmth."When did my girlfriend become your fiancée?Harass her again,and a punch won't be the end of it."
Ethan was speechless.
Noah led me away,still holding my hand long after we'd left.
I tried to pull away,,but he held firm."Thanks,but he's gone.You can stop acting now."
His expression grew serious."I'm not acting.I meant it.I like you.I want you to be my girlfriend.My mom's no collector—I bought Firefly myself.I tracked down the buyer for years but was too shy to admit it."
I froze."Don't joke around.I wasted eight years on one relationship.I can't play games again.I like our friendship—I don't want to lose my only friend."
His eyes glistened."You loved someone for eight years.So have I.I fell for you the moment I saw you.You're smart,driven,stubborn—I felt I was no match for you.I lacked the courage to tell you my feelings.I regret not being braver—maybe Ethan wouldn't have had a chance that way .When you were hurt,I couldn't even comfort you face to face,only leaving that note."
My mind reeled."You wrote that note?"
He nodded and laughed at himself."A firefly in the dark never fears darkness.As long as your heart lives,miracles will happen.Stupid words—what could they do?"
Tears fell non-stop.I'd thought Ethan wrote it,accepting him because I believed he understood me,saw him as my lover and my soul mate.I'd been wrong.
"They did more than any other comfort I ever received."
He shook his head."I quit painting for you,not because I wasn’t gifted.I wanted to be a great orthopedic surgeon to heal you.You're a genius,meant to shine in arts."
My heart swelled with bittersweet emotion,I felt like I was about to suffocate.
I said slowly,"I'll be your girlfriend."
Noah,eloquent moments ago,froze."What did you say?"
I laughed through tears,kissing him."Get it now?"
The evening breeze lifted his white shirt,a impossibly beautiful sight.
We walked hand-in-hand under sycamore trees.
Noah asked,"What's next?What's gonna be your next painting?"
"I'll donate today's earnings to an orphanage.I've suffered——I want others to suffer less."
I stopped,looking at him most earnestly."Come see the aurora with me?I want to paint Aurora Kiss."
"Deal!"
