The Last Laugh novel Chapter 66

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Heather's POV:

Ace.

Ace had been Sheridan all this while. I'd been so blind. Everything had always been so evident about him.

His smile. His eyes. The fact that he knew me so well.

Sheridan had been close to me all this while and I didn't even realize it!

--

As I drove as fast as possible through the lighted city of California, I couldn't help it but smile. I was so Happy. It was 7:30pm and I was heading for Sheridan's apartment. He was alive.

He had a lot of explaining to do. He had to know that I'd discovered who he really was.

*

Ace's POV:

It'd been a week now since Heather had broken up with me. It'd been a week of sadness. It'd been a week of me not going to work. It'd been a horrible week for me. I spent most of my nights worrying. Heather hated me. What could I do?

I thought of giving up on my revenge mission and letting her know the truth. But it was way too risky.

Would I stay like this forever?

That particular thought a lot, I'd thought and stressed a lot until I slept off. I slept from three in the afternoon to seven PM. I was inconsolable. I'd not seen Keith since the afternoon. I avoided and snubbed everyone.

At seven, I got up from sleep and looked at my phone, hoping to see a reply from Heather. I saw none.

For the past days, I'd texted her, begging for forgiveness. She did not bother replying. I guessed she would just delete my messages without reading them. I even called and called. She never picked. What had I gotten myself into?

Now it was Heather or my revenge. I couldn't lose both. As bad as it hurt me, I decided to forgo Heather. I had to try and continue my revenge. Heather would hate me without knowing. But once all this was going to be over and I got my company back, I would tell her the truth and regain her heart. For the moment, I had to try and live, knowing she hated me.

I got out of bed and got undressed. Maybe a cool shower would help to get my thoughts back in place.

I got into the shower cabin and turned on the cold water.

As it rushed down on me, I looked at myself in the shower cabin's mirror.

Was I gonna make it? Would I succeed knowing Heather hated me? It would not be easy but I had to achieve my goals. I just had to. And all would be well after that.

I rubbed gel on myself. I couldn't stop thinking of Heather. I couldn't.

"Why can't I get you out of my head my love? Why?" I whispered to myself. I couldn't lie, never had I felt so guilty and heartbroken before.

After a long thoughtful shower, I tied a towel around my waist and stepped out of the shower. Immediately I did, standing right there, to my surprise and almost shock, was Heather. I froze and blinked several times like a fool. Was I just imagining her? No, I wasn't. She was really there.

My mouth dropped open and I tried to say something but no words left my mouth. What was she doing here?

I stared at her, speechless and curious. She stared back, intensively, as if she was trying to find something in my own eyes.

I got nervous and swallowed uncomfortably. What was going on?

*

Heather's POV:

I looked at those eyes and suddenly, I remembered them. He was the one!

I tried my best not to smile. I did everything to maintain a serious expression. He'd been shocked when he'd stepped out of the shower cabin and met me standing in the middle of his bathroom. I'd entered his apartment without him knowing because I still had the double of his keys.

Ace or Sheridan, stared at me with a sad look. I could see from his eyes that he'd been as sad as me for the past days. He was so cute. I withheld myself from jumping on him and kissing him real till he ran out of breath. He was clearly confused and in wonder, amusing me. He probably thought I was there to shout at him or cause more drama.

He finally broke the silence.

"Babe- Heather? I-" he began to stammer, uncomfortably. I raised a finger and he immediately stopped talking.

"Did you have sex with Sawyer?" I asked.

"No. No, I didn't, baby. Please, believe-" he began nervously.

"Then who did?" I cut him.

He stared at me, reddening a little.

"I- I asked Keith to do so. Heather, it wasn't me. I promise. I can explain. I-"

"Shhh. I got one last question,"

I cut him again.

Ace's POV:

I had just showered with cold water and yet, my forehead was getting sweaty. I was getting anxious with all the questions she was asking. I just hoped that she would forgive me at the end.

I was careful with what I said. I didn't want to anger her in any way, or worsen things between us. I wondered what her last question would be.

"Yes?" I asked.

She smiled, her cheeks reddening.

Wait, she smiled?

I felt my brows shoot up in surprise.

I stared at her, lost.

"Are you," she began, "Sheridan?"

I stopped breathing. Literally.

Heather's POV:

I knew he was the one of course but I wanted him to say it with his own mouth.

He'd turned pale white when I'd asked him the question.

"W- what?"

"Sheridan, is it you?" I asked, a smile still on my face.

He looked at me, his mouth open. He was doubting on whether to answer me or not.

I took out the album from my bag and threw it at his feet. He looked at it and froze. Then he looked up at me.

"Who- You-"

"Yes. I know," I replied lowly, feeling my eyes begin to prickle, "Now, answer me."

He stared blankly for a while.

Ace's POV:

My heart was palpitating. I didn't even realise when I started smiling. I felt drowsy all of a sudden.

She took a step towards me.

"Sh- Sheridan?"

My eyes prickled and I gulped, feeling ever so nervous.

"H- Heather-"

Before I could say anything else, Heather literally threw herself at me. Sobbing and kissing me all over the face. I didn't know how to react at first but when she put her lips on mine, I snapped out of it.

Heather started kissing me and I immediately gave in, wrapping my arms tight around her. She held on to me, kissing me with a passion that sent shivers down my spine. I kissed her back with the same craving and passion. Goosebumps covered my skin and I felt like it was our first kiss.

Well, it was.

Now she was missing me, Sheridan Wesley, and not Ace Stonewall.

After long seconds of kissing until we were breathless, Heather pulled away.

"Sheridan! Oh my gawd! Sheridan, it's you," she cried, holding my face in her hands, my forehead against hers and her eyes staring straight into mine.

She was sobbing and yet smiling through her tears.

"Sheridan, you're not dead. Oh my gawd," she sobbed softly.

"No, I'm not dead. I- I'm so sorry I didn't tell you. I'm so sorry I couldn't get to you for years. S- so much happened and-" I took a moment to breathe.

My heartbeat was racy, there was a lump in my throat as I held back tears. My eyes were watery and I felt s wave of emotions, making me lose my words for a while. Was this real? Was this happening?

"I love you," she sobbed, "I LOVE YOU!" she exclaimed happily and jumped on me again. I hugged her tight, like my life depended on her. A tear finally rolled down my cheek.

"I love you too, Heather. More than you think."

"Why didn't you tell me when we started dating?" she asked softly, raising her head.

"It's a long story," I mumbled, kissing her again. We kissed for another sweet while and then parted.

"We have the whole night," she replied, cupping my face and caressing its sides.

She smiled at me with teary eyes and I smiled back. Our foreheads touched and there was a moment of silence. We stared into the other's soul.

"Please, kiss me again, Sheridan."

I did not need to be told that twice.

I kissed her. I kissed away all those years we lived, far away from each other She wrapped me tight in her arms. We were gone and lost in the passion of our kiss.

So lost that I didn't realise when my towel loosened and fell from my waist.

I stepped back in surprise.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I-"

"Don't be," she cut quickly. And before my eyes, she threw her bag to the corner of the bathroom and proceeded to take off all her clothes, including her underwear, leaving us both naked in the middle of my bathroom.

We stared at each other until she spoke.

"Get in," she said softly and began to carefully push me back into the shower cabin. Then, she joined me.

I turned on the cold water and we continued our passionate kissing and caressing.