“What are you doing here?”
“Kendra, I was very rude last night.”
“You can say that again.”
“I was a dick. I wanted to show you how sorry I am.” He holds the flowers out to me, and I clutch them gently. No one has ever brought me flowers before. I guess it comes with never having had any boyfriends. Where am I supposed to put these anyway? In the kitchen? This is exactly the sort of impractical thinking that shows how different our lives are.
“Well, you said it, so thanks for the flowers,” I answer curtly. I don’t have any intention of letting this guy hurt me twice in only twelve hours.
Matthew rubs the back of his neck. “Let me make it up to you, please? We started off on the wrong foot. Marjorie has a way of bringing out my nasty side, I’m afraid. It’s one of the many reasons we aren’t together anymore.”
I realize that Brianna is still standing beside us, watching us like characters on her TV. Why doesn’t she just get herself a bowl of popcorn? Matthew and I both look at her, and she obliviously stares back at us waiting for us to continue. “Brianna, come on.” I urge her to give us some privacy. I mean I love the girl like my sister, but she needs some boundaries. She sighs exaggeratedly and oh-so-slowly puts some distance between herself and us.
Turning my attention back to Matthew, I find my voice. “Look, you can’t blame your behavior on Marjorie. No matter how terrible she is, it’s no excuse.”
“Well, she is that,” he murmurs.
“Thank you for the flowers and the apology. I really need to get back to work now.”
“I want to take you out. I can’t stop thinking about you, and I know I don’t deserve anymore of your time, but I can promise you that if you let me take you out we can really get to know each other. The guy you saw last night isn’t the full picture, Kendra, and there’s something about you that makes me want to share more.”
“Awww, Kendra! Do it!” Brianna interrupts from the 12-foot gap she’s inched between us. I give her the look, and she backs off a bit more.
I want to get to know more. However, I don’t have time for games, and I can’t help but feel that he’s playing me for a fool. I shouldn’t go out with him after he disrespected me, but the idea of refusing him hurts more than that. “Ok,” I finally concede. Matthew smiles broadly.
“Yay!” Brianna squeals from 15-feet away. Seriously?
“I’m going to be in the city for a bit. Can I take you out tonight?”
Tonight? I need time to get ready, and I still have schoolwork. I can’t do it. “No, I’m sorry that’s impossible.” I watch clouds roll in over his brilliant blue eyes. “I can do tomorrow though,” I offer.
“Tomorrow it is. Are you free in the afternoon?”
“Uh, yeah, I guess so.”
“Great. I’ll pick you up at 3 o’clock then.” He smiles and leans in before I can even think and gives me a quick kiss before walking away so fast that it’s almost like he evaporates into the air.
“Oh my god, you kissed Matthew fucking Blackwell!” Kendra yells loud enough that I’m sure everyone in the kitchen heard her.
“Shhh. Jeez, Brianna, cool it.”
“Oh listen to you, Miss calm, cool and collected over here. Tell me you aren’t just a fucking puddle right now. Oh my god, he’s so hot.” She isn’t wrong, I’m melting from his brief touch. “So, tell me what happened? Where are you going? This is so exciting!” She jumps from foot to foot.
Honestly, I’m not really sure what’s going to happen, but I can’t wait to find out.
Chapter 5: The Date
Who goes on a date at 3 o’clock in the afternoon? Children who go on playdates and seniors who don’t want to be late for their 4 o’clock supper. I can’t imagine what he has planned for us, but as long as we don’t run into Marjorie it’s bound to be better than our last date. The photograph of them on his mantle flashes in my mind. I’m not sure I totally buy his reason for keeping it up on display like that. As much as I don’t like her, I can see how she would get mixed signals from that. I can see why she can’t get over him, there’s something about him that sucks me in like a black hole.
I’ve never cared about any man like this, and I don’t think that’s only because of my lack of experience. It’s more than that. Matthew’s gaze makes me feel like the eye of a hurricane, perfectly calm in the center of mind-bending chaos. I only hope falling for him doesn’t turn out to be just as damaging.