Second Chance at Love

Chapter 8

The warm sun, the light breeze, feels amazing on my skin. I feel my back pressed upon him. His fingers sliding so softly along my arms. Oh, I miss this feeling. This feeling of never-ending bliss. His warmth, his smell. How I wish this moment didn’t end. Feeling his face getting closer to my neck, slowly kissing each centimeter of my shoulder, moving up to my ear, giving me shivers.

“I’ll never break your heart again…”

Waking up in a startle, I’m breathing heavily.

 What the hell was that dream about?! Who was that behind me? Was it Michael? No, that didn’t sound like Michael. He’s never broken my heart. Who was it then?

Still, in a daze, I feel someone moving behind me. I freeze in place, not moving an inch.

Who the hell is holding me here?!

“Moring beautiful. Or I should say afternoon.” HE says sheepishly.

What the hell!? It’s Mathieu! What is he doing here holding me?

Looking around, I notice were laying on my lounge chair on the porch. We slept outside?! We slept outside! How can I fall asleep outside with him like this? What the hell happened earlier this morning?

Trying to get my brain functioning, I finally remember my outburst from earlier. And how he held me so tightly afterword, promising not to hurt me ever again. Can I believe him? Should I trust him? Was he the one in my dream just now?

I feel him giving the side of my head a kiss, trying to snake his arms around my waist, making me jump and get up too fast, getting dizzy and wobbling back on the lounge chair.

“Are you ok?” He asks me, holding me by my shoulders.

“I’m fine,” I reply to him a little too dryly, getting up again.

Placing my arms around myself, I can’t get myself to look at him. What can I say to him? I’m still feeling hurt. I can’t trust him or invite him back into my life so easily. I have Kaylee to think of too.

Kaylee!

Remembering about last night even, that party, the distressed phone call from Kaylee, the fear on the girl's faces when I got to that party, the trip to the hospitals. I hope they’re all still asleep. Kaylee doesn’t need to see me in some other man’s arms today! She’s got enough worry right now with her friend in the hospital. And the scare she got from last night. She and her friends need some rest.

 I should get in and get some soup ready for when they wake up.

“You should leave, Mathieu,” I tell him, turning to walk inside my house.

“Wait!” He says, grabbing me by the elbow, holding me back from getting inside.

“I need to get inside. The girls might wake up soon. I have to get some food ready. Let go of my arm… Please.” I say to him in a small voice.

I can feel the hurt on him without even looking at him. I don’t even have the courage to look at him. I just can’t. After a moment, he let’s go of my arm.

“I’m sorry.” He says again.

“Yeah, you’ve said that a few times now,” I reply, still not looking at him.

“I truly meant what I told you earlier this morning. I am sorry, and I am not going to give up on you. Not this time! I swear I’ll make it right.” He says, getting down the porch’s stair and heading for his truck.

Hearing his truck getting into gear, I sneak a peek in his direction, only to be caught by him looking straight at me before getting out of my driveway and on the road with a smile on his lips.

Shit! I got caught.

“Mom? What are you doing outside?” I turn around to see Kaylee rubbing her eyes awake.

“I… was just getting some air, BB. Are all of you up?” I ask her, trying to mask my embarrassment of almost getting caught in Mathieu’s arms.

“No, not yet. I had to pee.” She says, looking down at her feet.

“Mom… I am sorry for last night… “She says. I can see a tear starting to fall from her eyes and down her face again.

“Oh sweetie, come here!” I say, walking up to meet her halfway, holding her tightly in my arms.

I caress her back up and down while she sobs into my arms. I don’t like seeing her like this. My little girl.

Michael, what do I do?  I silently pray.

After a little while, Kaylee seemed to have calmed down a bit.

“Want to help me make some chicken and vegetable soup? I ask her, still holding her, trying to distract her a bit.

“Ok. Your soup always warms me up… I think we all need some of your warmth today.” She says, giving me a quick kiss before getting back into the house.

Smiling, I follow her into the kitchen, getting the ingredients out to make some soup. Cooking has become a comforting habit for the both of us. I love the times we spend in here. It makes for great memories. Just like we had with her father.

“Mom, can I ask you something?” She says while cutting up the vegetables.

“Sure sweetie, what is it?”

“Who was that, in the truck that was leaving when I went to find you outside? Was he the same guys from last night? The one that helped you bring us all to the hospital?” She asks, not even bothering to look in my direction.

I stop mid-cut into my piece of chicken.

She did see him leave! s**t! At least she didn’t see him when we were sleeping on the lounge chair.

I never talk about him, about Mathieu, to anyone. Not even any of my high school experience.

What should I tell her?