After the Fireworks Faded

Ashley’s POV

As I stared at my phone, I realized that I was alone again.

It was my 22nd birthday and I had cleared out my whole day, even though I had a lot of work to do to, spend the day with my boyfriend, Jared.

We had made plans three months ago because Jared is a very busy man considering the nature of his job. He was the heir to a powerful Mafia Lord and he had to step in for his father at many events. 

I dialed his number, hoping that he would pick up my call. 

The moments I had spent with him had reduced several times because he said he had a big project. I tried not to pry too much, but part of me worried because of the nature of his job. 

The other part of me worried because of Sara, his first love, who just returned to the city.

“Jared. Pick up.” I dialed his number again.

My call went to call forwarding and then it was cut.

As I paced around my small living room, I tried not to think too much about all the things that could’ve gone wrong with Jared. He always had to be on the lookout for enemies. 

A message dropped on my phone the next minute: Something urgent came up.

I took a deep breath as I sat on the couch and took some of my anxiety pills. Dating Jared had not been as stress free as I thought it would be, but it was worth it because I loved him. And he saved me once when some men from a rival gang tried to kidnap me on a raid.

I texted back: Will I see you today?

It felt like I waited for an eternity for him to reply. 

During that time, my mind went back to all of our previous dates that had been cancelled on such short notice. Like a picnic in the park or riding a bicycle alone.

It didn’t matter what kind of date it was or how little it seemed, Jared would show up and when he wouldn’t he would always send a detailed message about why he couldn’t come and when I could expect to see him again.

But I do not see that now. 

All I could see was my ice cream melting and the food getting cold. I rushed the chocolate ice cream cake to the freezer. 

But as I did, I remembered our last date. 

Jared promised to meet me at the ice cream shop. I waited for him to show up. He said he was just around the corner, but when 15 minutes had passed without me seeing him, I called him.

Only to find out that he had run to Sara’s aid. She needed help moving her couch in the opposite direction in her room. And even though Jared had men he could send to do the work, he chose to go by himself.

I tried to put the thought aside. 

Today is my birthday. Surely, Jared wouldn’t leave me for his former High School Lover, right?

It was like the universe heard my question because a notification on social media about a viral live video popped into my phone. 

The caption read: Sara Morelli Written in Fireworks.

Jared’s former love was now an international model loved by all so it made sense that her video was on social media. 

I clicked the video, and the first sight cut my heart in two. 

It was my birthday, but my boyfriend was on a cruise ship holding hands intimately with Sara. 

I didn’t know whether to cry or to bash my head against the wall. 

Here I was on my birthday, alone in my small apartment with all the windows shut because Jared had insisted on privacy as part of his mafia protection, but in public view he was holding the hands of another woman and pointing into the sky.

My heart twisted even more as I watched him laugh at something she said. What could be so funny?

The fireworks exploded again. Truly, her name was written with fireworks. 

Jared had never performed such a large gesture for me. 

He always just told me to be grateful for what I had because many women also wanted him.

He was right about those many women. Sara was the chief of them all. She always found new ways to insert herself between us, especially when she knew that Jared and I were to be together. 

I watched him lean towards her and whisper into her ears. 

I decided that I had enough and called his phone. 

He didn’t pick until the third call. “Ashley, why do you want to blow up your phone?”

“Excuse me for interrupting your very private date.” I was as sarcastic as I could manage without sounding rude.

“I’m busy at work.” Jared said. 

Before, I would never have doubted him if he said he was busy at work, but now, I think he sees me as a fool, hoping that I would never find out about him and Sara. 

“I can see how busy you are. And maybe when you’re done, you’ll propose to Sara with fireworks too.”

“Are you calling me a liar?”

“If you don’t want me to call you worse, tell me where you are right now?”

“I’m at work. I could get shot for fuck’s sake. Calm down.” Jared yelled at me over the phone.

But I could see him on the video responding to my call. If Sara could make him lie to me on my birthday. Then there was no point in sustaining a relationship that is not based on truth.

“Enjoy your luxury cruise but don’t even dare think of coming back home to me.”

“What makes you so bold to accuse me of such?” He demanded anger in his voice. 

“It doesn’t matter, Mr. Social-Media-Couple-of-the-year. Enjoy your life with Sara. We’re through.”

With that, I ended the call and sat on my couch.

Shortly after, the livestream ended, Jared tried to call me but I put my phone on flight mode as I prepared to eat my ice cream cake all my myself with tears running down my face.

It was good that Jared got a taste of his own medicine. It was my time to be busy too.