Coming Home (Only Time Will Tell #1) (24 page)

It was strange crawling into bed with someone. It’d been years since I’d shared a bed with anyone but in one respect, with it being him it felt strangely normal. Kyle fell straight to sleep the moment his head hit the pillow, snoring into my ear as he cuddled up to my back, wrapping me in his arms, crushing me stupidly tight for someone who was out for the count.

He left fairly early Monday morning, wanting to catch up on work that he’d called off with him taking the unexpected trip. He gave me a kiss on the forehead but before he left we made quick plans to see each other Wednesday; one so he could catch up on everything rather than putting it off and two, so I could miss him a tiny bit. I didn’t want to see him every night and not miss him, I didn’t want to grow old on him quickly. I’d rather cherish moments rather than taking them for granted.

The sound of footsteps drags me out of my thoughts. Nadine walks in the office, a huge smile on her face as she prances over my outstretched legs and sitting at her desk. “I want to know everything. Don’t leave anything out, I want every single detail,” she says before I’ve even had chance to say, “hi”.

“You’re wanting gossip? That’s new.”

She scowls at me disapprovingly and scrunches up a piece of paper just for my head. “Less of the chit-chat. You’ve had a whole weekend with him. Tell me.”

So, I tell her everything. Minus Kody still, though. I also manage to squeeze in a lecture about her wasting trees by throwing balls of paper at me daily.

By the time I’m done and she’s asked her questions it’s lunch time and I’m over the moon about that. I need a break from story telling.

I head out alone to grab a sandwich from the deli down the street.

As I’m waiting in the queue my cell rings. I dig it out my purse, check the screen and answer a little too excitedly. “Hey, you okay?”

It sounds like he’s smiling. “I am now. What you up to?”

“Nothing,” I sigh. “Just grabbing a bite to eat. You at work?”

“Yeah, it sucks. But, like you said the other day, as soon as it’s out the way and I’m all caught up, I can see you without thinking about it. If only they could just build a God damn hotel on their own,” he chuckles.

I swear my heart just swelled at the sound of it. “You know it makes sense. Anyway, I have to go I’m next in line.”

“Okay baby, I’ll probably not talk to you till tomorrow, got a meeting in about ten and I have no idea how long it’s going to last.”

“That’s fine.” It’s not, because my heart just sank after that. “Bye.”

He hangs up as I head to the counter to grab a freshly made tuna sandwich. I take it back to the office and eat at my desk, enjoying the quiet, as I’m sure Nod is. She must be sick of the sound of my voice. I know I am.

As the last hour kicks into gear, I sit back in my chair and just stare into the unknown. I’m finished with my jobs for today and I’m already wishing for some more time off. I look at the three girls concentrating, staring at their monitors and decide upon myself that it’s been quiet for far too long. “I have a question. I never told you where I was going this weekend. I just didn’t turn up Friday, so how did you know what was going on?”

Nod gives me an awkward smile. “Ryan,” she says as she starts playing with the cuffs of her long sleeved white blouse. “He spoke with Kyle on Thursday and he told me about it.”

“You knew and you never thought to give me a heads up?” I scowl. I’m not mad at all, but I want her to think I am.

“No. We didn’t know what he’d do. Last I knew he was going to think about it,” she says, getting on the defensive. “All I knew was that he’d called up sounding all frantic, unsure about letting you go or not. Ry told him to calm down and to stop acting like an idiot. He told him to just let you go and if you decided to stay then there was nothing he could do about it, or if you came back he could talk with you then. We never thought he’d sneak on an airplane and stalk you back there.”

It’s hard not to laugh at her when she’s like this, so I do. “Next time make sure you factor in stalker-ish behavior when you’re thinking about what he’s going to do. At least then you can prepare me for irrational Kyle.”

“Noted,” she salutes.

It’s really cute that he gets panicked like that and feels the need to call Ryan— even if it is a bit girly.

I’m sitting on the couch eating a bowl of soup, watching the television when the computer starts ringing. I get up, discarding my soup on the coffee table while I answer.

It’s my Mom.

“Hi, Mother-bear. What you doing up so late?” The little clock on the desk telling me it’s gone midnight.

“Worked late. Just thought I’d see if you were online.” She yawns into the camera.

“You know, I keep this thing fired up to be on the safe side. If it’s not on, I’m sleeping.”

“I know. A little bird told me we missed you this weekend. Didn’t you think to tell us?” A slight bite enters to her tone.

Shuffling in my chair I reply, “It wasn’t like that. It was a last minute thing and you were already on holiday. I promise the next time I visit I’ll give you plenty of notice.”

“Good! Your Dad was really upset that he missed you. It’s not often he gets emotional but you’re his little girl and he hates not seeing you.”

“I know. I get it. Tell him I’m sorry and that I love him. I love you all while I’m at it.”

She yawns again. “We know you do. That little bird also told me that you didn’t come alone, you got yourself a boyfriend?”

Shaking my head at the screen I tell her, “No, and that damn bird needs shooting,” which makes her laugh. “He’s just a friend, like I told everyone at the party.”

It was bad enough that my family would click on to me and Kyle but I really don’t want to have to tell my parents over the computer. I’m sure they’d understand in the end but it’s going to bring back all the pain they felt. Watching me suffer is bad enough but to lose a grandson makes it a million times harder. I know for a fact they tried to hold themselves together for my benefit even though they’d crumbled inside too.

“Hm hmm.”

“Less about me though, how was your holiday?”

She rubs her hands over her face, I think sleep is coming to her. “It was great. The kids had a great time, your Dad got drunk most nights and your Brother and Rose got new tattoos. Other than that, it was just normal holiday stuff: swimming, the beach, donkey rides…you know how it is.”

That I do. “Was that donkey there that’s always itching?” I ask, remembering a trip we’d taken a couple of years after we’d moved over.

We had all taken a walk along the promenade, as we approached the town center we spotted a bunch of donkeys waiting to go on their next trips out with laughing kids on their backs…except one. He had the name Mickey across his harness and was scratching his neck vigorously against a street sign. I laughed at the time but the poor thing must have been really irritated.

A couple of days later, we did the same walk, this time the kids wanted a donkey ride. I asked my Mom if she thought the donkey would still be itching himself against the post, laughing again about it. When we found them we spotted Mickey immediately, scratching his backside against that same post. At that point I wasn’t sure what I felt sorry for, the itchy donkey or the post shoved up his ass.

“Not sure, we didn’t pay much attention to the donkeys. It was too warm to have a hairy animal between your legs.”

I can’t help giggling. “Is that what you tell dad?” Realizing what I’ve just said, the image pops into my head and I squeeze my eyes shut trying to get rid of the image. “Don’t answer that, I’ve tortured myself enough, I need to gouge my eyes out.”

When I look at the screen my Mom’s sat there shaking her head and suppressing a laugh. “That’ll teach you. Anyway, you’ve bored me enough, I’m ready to call it a night,” she says winking at me.

“Thanks, bitch-bag. You know, if you weren’t my mother and I didn’t love you, I’d hate you for that comment.”

“I know princess. Talk to you soon, I love you to the moon and back,” she smiles.

My chest gets a bit painful, I hate saying goodbye. “I love you, to the moon and back too, and again, just so you know I really love you.”

She waves and blows me a kiss before shutting the call down. I miss her.

Getting up with a sigh, I collect the bowl of soup that looks less appealing now and dump it in the sink.

It’s only eight, but after my Mom’s yawning I feel quite sleepy.

I run myself a hot bath, making too many bubbles as I do. I add a few drops of lavender oil and four handfuls of Epsom salts. I leave it to dissolve and for the room to steam up while I light a few candles and find some relaxing music on my phone to complete the setting.

Getting in, I sigh at the tranquility I gave myself. The sound of the whales destressing me instantly. A homemade spa, just what the doctor ordered.

The lavender works a treat; I must have dozed off and not realized it. The water is almost cold, the music is gone off and I’m as wrinkly as an old woman — what a great look.

I clamber out, wrapping myself in a towel, blow out the candles and grab my cell before going into the bedroom. I lay on the bed, still wet through and just relax. You can never relax enough. Checking my phone, I see it’s almost nine—oops! And I have a text from Kyle.

Kyle: Hi u ok?

Me: Yeah I’m good. U?

I wait a few moments, gripping it in my hand waiting for a reply. I start to think that he’s not going to when it vibrates.

Kyle: Yeah. Missing you though.

Me: That’s sweet. You get everything done?

Kyle: Pretty much. What’s the chance of you coming over tonight?

Me: Slim, I just got out the bath and I’m stupidly tired.

Kyle: Please!! I’m going to bed too so you can just come over and sleep?

Me: Sleep?

Kyle: Honest to God, just sleep, I just want you to come here. I’m missing you like crazy.

I ponder it for a moment. I have missed him too but I’ll be seeing him tomorrow, a few hours ain’t going to kill him. But then again, I slept a hell of a lot better with him beside me. Maybe I could go over…

Me: Fine. Touch me Cooper and I’ll cut your hands off.

Kyle: I can’t promise that. The code for the elevator is 0103.

Jumping off the bed I chuck on some skinny jeans and a cute little shirt before grabbing my purse and running out the door. If I carry on doing this he’ll think I’ve flown there, and nobody wants to seem that eager.

I stick out like a sore thumb in this place. This is very Prada, while I’m Target. But I try and walk with confidence through the foyer.

As soon as the elevator doors open I hop in and punch the code in
—
a number I won’t forget because it happens to be my birthday.
 

How can you miss someone this much? I’m hopping on my feet as it slowly heads up to the apartment. It’s always the same when you want to be somewhere, everything takes fifty million times longer.

Arrrggghhh.

But maybe this time is good. Maybe, this could be the opportunity I need to tell him. We’re not angry or craving each other. We’re going to be together with level heads. I can’t think of any better time to think of telling him. It’d be better now than weeks down the line when we’re too much involved in each others lives. In the next twenty four hours, I’ve got to find a way of getting the right words out of my heart, head and mouth.

The doors open and I walk into…a very quiet apartment, which I guess it would be
if
he’s gone to bed, already delaying the pent up anxiety that’s brewed. Or maybe it’s adrenaline.
 

I kick my converse off and cautiously walk towards his room, waiting for Josie to jump out from behind a door to strangle me. But she doesn’t.

Flicking on the light I head down the hallway to his room, still slightly on edge.