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Standing there and contemplating who it was would not open the door. I open the door, and the paintbrush drops in a large splatter from my hand.
Damien? Damien Stone?
How is he in Los Angeles? How is he at my doorstep, right in front of me?
“Lea…”
I was so lost in my thoughts that I missed what he said after calling out my name.
“Damien! It’s good to see you.”
“Same here! It’s been such a long while,” he says.
“It has been. I am obviously shocked to see you as well.” I point at the mess my paintbrush had created.
He throws his arms open for an embrace, and I take it all in. The last time we hugged like this was on my graduation day.
When the hug ends, I notice the paint marks from my overalls on his black-and-white checkered shirt and some on his black jogger pants.
His cologne is breathtaking, and I don’t want the scent to disappear. Being a sucker for great fragrances, this one has me in a chokehold.
“Please, come in.”
Damien walks in and shuts the door behind him. Walking into the living room together, I observe him thread his way through the splattered paint on the floor.
Damien is Kelvin’s best friend, and we all grew up together until they both got into Princeton while I got into NYU. We all attended the same schools from kindergarten through high school. None of our family vacations were complete without his family around.
Our parents attended the same college, became friends, and got married. Theirs is one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever heard. Four friends turned into two amazing couples.
It was an unmistakable decision that their kids would be best friends. Technically, Damien and Kelvin were best friends while I was the younger sister.
I had not seen Damien in years, and a lot had truly changed about him.
His gray eyes shine distinctively against the sun. He has developed bulgy muscles and grown taller since I last saw him. His charcoal black hair even had a distinct style, and there was just an aura of confidence around him.
“What are you doing in Los Angeles? I thought you would be on some exotic island, exploring the world. Did Kelvin tell you I was here?”
He chuckles as he responds, “I moved here about a year ago. Kelvin informed me that a house was up for sale next to this one, and I took it. To answer your second question, he didn’t tell me anything. I had even thought he was the one here, not you.”
“I would never have guessed you were the one who lived next door, either. Kelvin did not inform me about that.”
“Very typical of Kelvin to leave out important details. You know how occupied he gets with his first love, the courtroom.”
“Thankfully, we both agree on this one about Kelvin.” My brother always missed out on important details. He always has his mind preoccupied with laws and cases.
“It is nice to see you again, Damien. You did a number on this house. I mean, look at the sun’s reflection on the glass exterior. It’s gorgeous.”
“Well, I got the best hands in the city to get it done. I see you are about to do the same with yours.”
“Off-white is not really my style, so I needed to fix it as soon as possible. Some parts of the wall were already peeling off, anyway. It was inevitable.”
“I can imagine. When I got my house, it wasn’t exactly the most captivating sight. The walls had cracks already, and I knew they needed a total reconstruction. Got my guys to work on it, and it was ready for me to move in within six months.”
As Damien told me more about the renovation process, I stared at the house and pictured the work and resources it must have taken.
My mind cannot help but recall long-lost memories that drown out his voice in my ears.
No one ever realizes the significant effect time has on friendships when they are not in close proximity.
