A Bitter Coincidence

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Skylar’s (P.O.V.)

I sighed at my desk at work, I just came out of a heavy progress meeting with the headmaster about a student who is struggling and just finished talking to the art department about projects and the end of year show. It’s a Friday evening now and I’m still in work, finishing up on documents. For the last three days, Sam and I have been texting and calling each other as much as we could. It’s been the slowest week for me and I couldn’t wait to see him this weekend. I checked my phone for the hundredth time and I still hadn’t received a message from Sam since this morning, he should be back by now as it was a little after 6pm.

After finishing up my work and logging off, I grabbed my things and made my way to the underground. My first week back at work was exhausting and I couldn’t wait to fall into bed. I was day dreaming of sleep so hard I didn’t see the hard body I ran into and almost gave the floor a hug had that person not caught me. I looked up into my favourite chocolate eyes that snatched my soul out of my body and gave him a small smile.

“Well, this feels familiar.” I quipped.

“ Hi, angel.” Sam breathlessly said and tugged me into his chested, enveloping me with his arms and scent. A smell, a mixture of citrus and pine that I missed dearly over the last 4 days. I closed my eyes and breathed him in, tightening my arms around him. We were like that for a few minutes when I leaned back to look up at him. I went onto my tip toes to kiss him and he met me half way. The jolt of sparks that went through my body, energised me and it was like the rainbow came out and birds were singing. His tongue traced my lower lip and I opened up to him, inviting him in. He moaned and pulled me in tighter to his chest, my hands coming around to hold his cheeks. I placed my tongue in his mouth and he sucked and bit it, the feeling of warmth and wetness in between my legs.

“Hi.” I whispered. “What are you doing here?”

“Picking you up. You said you were gonna stay a bit later and I wanted to see you.”

“When did you get back?”

“Around 3 ish. We had a meeting pop up and we needed to stay a little longer.”

I nodded and smiled at him, “You’re here now.”

“I’m here now.” He echoed. “And you’re coming with me.” He tugged my hand towards his car and within minutes we were on our way to his apartment.

“How was Glasgow?” I was eager to hear anything from him at this point. He still held my hand on his lap, whilst driving. He was running his thumb continuously over the back of my hand.

“Really productive. We signed for a new hotel to be built, marketed our design for a new music company and they signed it to us. We own some whisky distilleries a bit further up in Scotland and went to check on them.

“I’m pleased it went well for you and Seth. I bet you’re happy to be home.” He smiled at me, brought my hand up to his mouth and kissed my palm and then set it back onto his lap. “Got anything planned for tonight?”

“Oh nothing, just treating my girlfriend with some dinner and maybe a bubble bath and a film.” He winked my way, the butterflies in my stomach going crazy. Expect the part of the bubble bath, which got my pulse speeding up with apprehension. My face must have faulted because Sam commented on it. “What was that thought then?”

“Nothing, just that you should probably drop me off home so you can do all that with your girlfriend.” I replied sarcastically. He chuckled and squeezed my hand. “I like that plan.”

“Good. We also need to talk.”

I frowned at him, “not the greatest start to the night. Are you fed up of me already?” I joked, but secretly wasn’t.

“No! of course I’m not. What I meant we need to finish our conversation from Monday Sky. I want to talk to you. I want to explain and share my story.” He stopped at a traffic light and turned to look at me. “I want you to talk to me too. To tell me about what you’re struggling with, don’t think I haven’t notice sunshine.” He turned back to the road. I knew my zero confidence in my appearance and myself would eventually be noticed by Sam. I wanted to be everything he could have in a girlfriend, I wanted to be with him in every way possible. For that to happen I needed to put my big girl panties on and be brave.

“Deal. Talk first, food later.”

After arriving at Sam’s apartment, Sam went upstairs to do something quickly, while I waited for him in his living room. I went over to the floor to ceiling windows, looking out towards the city. The view was incredible; the sky was turning shades of orange and pink, indicating that it was night time soon, the sun beaming low on the east. Closing my eyes, I could imagine myself sitting here, drawing, listening to classical music. I heard a cough in the room and looked over at a smiling Sam standing at the entrance to the living room, arms crossed over his work shirt, his tie hanging loosely around his neck and those forearms on show. I blushed, sensing he’s been standing there longer that I wanted.

“I was just imagining this would be a great spot to draw and relax during a sunset.”

He came over to me, wrapped his arms around my stomach, fusing my back to his chest. He kissed the top of head, “I’ve been meaning to put a chair in this spot. I like this window and the view is what sold this apartment to me. I guess I haven’t had much time to enjoy it.”

“You can now.” We were silent for a few minutes, both enjoying the setting sun and silence. He spun me around and eyed me, tucking loose hair behind my ear.

“Sit over on the couch, I’ll get us a drink and we’ll talk.” I just nodded and did as he asked. By the time he came back I was a bundle of nerves. “I’ll start.” He stated. Sam stood up and paced in front of me, I could hear the cogs turning in his brain.

“Sam, take your time. Start somewhere easy.” I encouraged him.

He blew out a breath, “my dad was a great man, he worked hard and moved here when he was 21 to bring his father’s business to England. Henry literally made it what it is now, Seth and I have just maintained it. My dad had a short temper and was impatient, but he was kind to everyone, he showed us gratitude and taught us to be loyal and caring to others, no matter who they were or what they did. He worked so hard on not just his company but his family too, harder than anyone I know.” I smiled up at him for support. “He met my mum whilst she was working as a clerk at the cinema, about a year after he moved here and from then both said it was love at first sight. He didn’t care that my mum came from a poor background or didn’t have decent job. They were married a year after and did everything together, they were truly happy and even happier when they finally had children. When me and Seth were born, it was a great thing in the family, this meant my dad could someday pass the company along. Then a few year after me, Grace arrived and to say my parents were shocked would be an understatement, she wasn’t expected but no less loved. She brought an even softer side to Dad.

“When I came into my teenage years, I realised I loved marketing and I wanted to study it at university. I made the decision I wanted to work my way through other companies instead of working for Dad. I felt horrible, that company was my Dad’s baby and from a young age, I remember him telling me and Seth that we would own it one day. And you know what he did Sky, when I told him what I wanted to do?” he asked.

“What?”

“He gave me a hug and told me to reach my dreams. That he was proud with whatever I chose to do, he wouldn’t give a s**t if I was a binman or a chef. When I was fifteen, Dad got sick, he had a heart attack and it was pretty bad, and for a while we all wanted to spend time with each other, but eventually Seth grew up and Grace was an eight years old going on thirteen. I wasn’t the most welcoming teenager and becoming a young adult, I got worse. In university, I drank a lot and slept with a lot of women, I missed family events, birthdays, even a Christmas because I wanted to party with my friends…” Sam trailed off. He was sitting on the arm chair opposite me, his elbows on his knees, his face in his hands. I wanted to hold him but didn’t dare move, fearing he was getting to the hardest part of the story.

“I was home for the summer, I had just finished my second year of university and I was getting ready to go on holiday with a few mates. My mum had organised a party at our house a week before I should have left. She invited everyone and anyone, Dad was in his element, hanging out with his friends and family. He finally seemed to be getting better and Mum was too, she was less stressed and a lot happier. During the part, I went into the house and by this point I was pretty drunk. My friends and I were messing around some cigarettes and we needed a light, to which we used the gas stove to light them. I forgot to turn the stove off and after an hour or so I noticed from the back yard that the kitchen was orange. There was so much smoke Sky, I thought if I got to the fire I could put it out. I didn’t want us to lose the house or our belongings so I ran inside. Some people from the party, called the fire stations and police.

By this point I must have been inside too long because I couldn’t breathe probably, I remember coughing and trying to put out the fire with tea towels, I even took off my shirt. I knew I made so many mistakes and I just wanted to fix this one. I wasn’t aware of what was happening around me, but part of the ceiling in the kitchen, a beam I think, burnt off and fell on top of me. It knocked me out cold, but from what I was told, my dad came into the kitchen to get me. He tried to move the beam but it was too heavy and the fire grew and got hotter. He lost consciousness after a bit and the emergency services arrived too late.”

Sam looked me in the eyes, showing so much despair and anger. “He died, right there in the kitchen Sky. Next to me. They say he died from all the smoke and heavy lifting he tried to do, that he put a strain on his heart and it gave out. He tried to s-save me and he ended up dying because I was reckless and st-stupid. The emergency found me barely breathing, apparently I had a damp towel across my face that help me from not breathing in too much smoke but my torso and back was covered in burns and a leg broke from the beam. I was in intensive care for months, going through skin grafts and operations. I needed to be on a ventilator for a while to help my lungs, and I needed physical therapy for my leg. Not to mention therapy about what happened that day, with- with my- Dad’s death.” He stuttered and was breathing harder in his hands. I walked up to him and kneeled in front of him, placing my hands on his knees. He breathed in deep and brought his head up, looking at me straight in the eyes.

“Mum, Seth and Grace were devasted about what happened. I swear I’ve never known Mum to cry so much, even before Dad had his heart attack. Grace barely knew him, she was just a teenager when he passed. I felt awful, I hate the fact I survived and he didn’t. He saved me, Sky. He put that wet towel over me, tried to move me but he still saved me and I was a moody teenager who didn’t want to spend time with their parents. Although Mum, Grace or Seth don’t blame me, I still feel like they should or know that if it wasn’t for me, Dad would still be here.”

“Sam, it was an accident. I’m so so sorry you went through that, losing a parent is awful. You went into that house to put out that fire, you knew you made a mistake and you tried to help. You can’t keep blaming yourself for that.” I had tears in my eyes. I wanted to cry so bad for this man in front of me.

“I blame myself every day, Sky.” He whispered and choked back a sob. I leaned up and wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him close.

“Your dad did what any parent would do. He went into that fire to save you and that’s exactly what he did. What happened wasn’t your fault, you didn’t set out for anyone to get hurt, Sam.”

“It still caused my Dad’s death. The scars are a reminder of that day. I’m doing the best to move on. To make him proud, but I still have nightmares sometimes. Dreams where he says he blames me, hopes I would fail.”

“They’re just dreams, they don’t mean anything. I think it’s your subconscious thinking of your Father and what you think he would say to you. What are you doing to make him proud?”

“After I recovered enough to go back to university, I finished my last year and then went to work for Dad’s company. Seth had been running it by himself for over two years before I suggested I join. The family was confused at first, remembering that wasn’t my original plan but I needed to be close to dad. And here I am, if it wasn’t for Seth, the company would have been finished by now, he worked so hard for it and knew exactly what to do. Grace wanted to go into nursing and Mum couldn’t argue with that. I like working at the company and Seth still lets me take rein on the marketing aspects and designs. I work my ass off for the company my Dad built.”

“I know, I see it all the time. He would be so proud of where you are Sam. I bet he would want you to move on from the accident, to find purpose and happiness. You didn’t kill him. Do you hear me? You. Did. Not. Kill. Your. Father. It was an accident, a mistake. The only thing you can do is learn from it.” I moved my hand to his face and stroked his cheek, loving the feel of his stubble. His head leaned into my palm, causing my heart to flutter.

“I don’t deserve you.” He stated.

“Wrong. I think it’s that I don’t deserve you. But we’ll get to that another time, probably a few months from now when you have more of an idea of what kind of girlfriend I am. You might end up telling me to take a hike.” I joked. He just shook his head. “What about the scars? You said no one has touched or seen them since he hospital?”

“After I physically recovered, I wanted to forget the pain, mental and physical. I…” He looked at me strangely. I raised an eyebrow at him. “I went a tad crazy in the hooking up department for a few years. There wasn’t anything romantic on either parts, girls wanted me for my looks and money, and I needed a release. The first time, the woman I was with looked disgusted with my burns, she actually told me to keep my shirt on. From then, that’s what I did and I made sure no one touched me either, at least not my top half.” I scrunched up my nose in disgust. Hating the fact woman before me have touched this beautiful man, which was stupid because he was practically s*x on legs.

“They’re stupid women. They obviously didn’t realise what they had.”

“It wasn’t always them, Sunshine. I kept them at a distance because I believed I couldn’t be happy.”

“Do you believe it now?”

He stared at me, long and hard. “When I look at you and hold you in my arms, yes, I do believe.”

I smiled at him, “good answer.” Sam chuckled. “Are you okay now?”

He nodded and shrugged his shoulders at the same time, “as much as I can be at the moment. Thank you for listening to me.”

“Anytime. I mean it, if we not together and you wake up in the middle of night and need a chat, phone me. Need me to meet you anywhere, I’m there. I’ve never been in a relationship before Sam. I don’t know how to act or what to do half the time, but know that I’ll be there for you first and foremost as a friend. Your best friend, if you’re lucky.” I winked at him.

“How? How have you never had a boyfriend?”

“I guess it’s my turn to talk now?”

All Sam did was nod and I stood up and went to the couch opposite. Thinking of where do I start in my story.