in my lap.
Francesca continued to stare at me. “I know you’ve been through a lot but pushing away the man who’s been nothing but loyal to you isn’t the answer. It’s normal to be scared, but it’s not normal to be a coward. Make this work and don’t lose him.”
My heart was quickening and my palms were growing sweaty.
“If you don’t want him, someone else will snatch him. If you don’t want that to happen then you need to speak to him. Everything is on the line here.”
I couldn’t forget my last interaction with him. He was so cold—chilling. “Are you sure?”
“Sure of what?”
“Sure that he even wants that…” He kissed some woman on the cheek, flirted with another one in that coffee shop, and then acted as if I didn’t matter to him.
“Rose, I’m absolutely sure. Talk to him.”
I was still on the fence.
“I know you don’t know me, but trust me on this. Go to him and tell him how you feel. The conversation might be strenuous at first, but you guys will make it through. All he wants is for the two of you to get back together.”
“I don’t understand why he wants me so much…” I knew why I wanted him—because he was perfect. But I was damaged goods.
“You do, Rose.” She gave me a knowing look. “You do.”
***
After I showered and removed the bits of popcorn from my hair, I showed up on his doorstep. It wasn’t nine just yet, but in just a few minutes it would be. I stared at his door as I had a hundred times already. Last time I was here the conversation didn’t go over well.
Hopefully, that wouldn’t happen again.
I knocked on the door then swallowed the lump in my throat.
Nothing but silence ensued inside. I waited for something to happen, for the sound of moving footsteps, but they never came. Even though it was clear he wasn’t home I stayed on the doorstep. I could call him but I didn’t want to have this conversation on the phone. I could wait until he came home but how long would I be standing outside?
“I was impressed when you caught the piece of shrimp in your mouth.” A woman’s voice drifted from the end of the hallway.
“Well, I practice.” Kyle chuckled at his own comment.
“I had a great time tonight.” When they rounded the corner they were holding hands. It was a pretty blonde girl with heels I could never pull off. She was close to his side, invading every inch of his personal space.
I felt sick to my stomach.
I wanted to run and hide but there was nowhere for me to go. On my side there was a dead-end. The only way out was to pass by them, but there was no way I could do that without being seen.
“I had a great time too.” Kyle guided her to his door then stopped when he spotted me standing outside. He couldn’t hide the surprise stretching across his face. His eyes were full of confusion, and he looked awkward and out of place.
I remained rooted to the spot, wishing I would just die in that moment.
His date eyed us back and forth, unsure what was going on.
“Rose…what are you doing here?” Kyle dropped her hand and took a step away from her.
“I…” I eyed the woman with him, so painfully beautiful it made me look plain in comparison, and then I felt the fear grip me by the throat. I couldn’t say what I came here to say. Now it was too difficult—impossible. I missed my chance. “I came here to tell you I need more time with the design.” It was the lamest excuse ever but it was all I could think of at the moment.
“Okay…” He glanced at his date then turned back to me.
“But I’ll get it done as soon as I can…have a good night.” I pushed past the girl and headed down the hallway, trying to get away from both of them as quickly as possible. I rounded the corner then leaned against the wall, feeling the tears burn deep in my eyes. Seeing him with someone else, officially moved on, was the most painful thing I’ve ever seen.
“So…who was that?” the woman asked.
Kyle’s voice was still
Francesca continued to stare at me. “I know you’ve been through a lot but pushing away the man who’s been nothing but loyal to you isn’t the answer. It’s normal to be scared, but it’s not normal to be a coward. Make this work and don’t lose him.”
My heart was quickening and my palms were growing sweaty.
“If you don’t want him, someone else will snatch him. If you don’t want that to happen then you need to speak to him. Everything is on the line here.”
I couldn’t forget my last interaction with him. He was so cold—chilling. “Are you sure?”
“Sure of what?”
“Sure that he even wants that…” He kissed some woman on the cheek, flirted with another one in that coffee shop, and then acted as if I didn’t matter to him.
“Rose, I’m absolutely sure. Talk to him.”
I was still on the fence.
“I know you don’t know me, but trust me on this. Go to him and tell him how you feel. The conversation might be strenuous at first, but you guys will make it through. All he wants is for the two of you to get back together.”
“I don’t understand why he wants me so much…” I knew why I wanted him—because he was perfect. But I was damaged goods.
“You do, Rose.” She gave me a knowing look. “You do.”
***
After I showered and removed the bits of popcorn from my hair, I showed up on his doorstep. It wasn’t nine just yet, but in just a few minutes it would be. I stared at his door as I had a hundred times already. Last time I was here the conversation didn’t go over well.
Hopefully, that wouldn’t happen again.
I knocked on the door then swallowed the lump in my throat.
Nothing but silence ensued inside. I waited for something to happen, for the sound of moving footsteps, but they never came. Even though it was clear he wasn’t home I stayed on the doorstep. I could call him but I didn’t want to have this conversation on the phone. I could wait until he came home but how long would I be standing outside?
“I was impressed when you caught the piece of shrimp in your mouth.” A woman’s voice drifted from the end of the hallway.
“Well, I practice.” Kyle chuckled at his own comment.
“I had a great time tonight.” When they rounded the corner they were holding hands. It was a pretty blonde girl with heels I could never pull off. She was close to his side, invading every inch of his personal space.
I felt sick to my stomach.
I wanted to run and hide but there was nowhere for me to go. On my side there was a dead-end. The only way out was to pass by them, but there was no way I could do that without being seen.
“I had a great time too.” Kyle guided her to his door then stopped when he spotted me standing outside. He couldn’t hide the surprise stretching across his face. His eyes were full of confusion, and he looked awkward and out of place.
I remained rooted to the spot, wishing I would just die in that moment.
His date eyed us back and forth, unsure what was going on.
“Rose…what are you doing here?” Kyle dropped her hand and took a step away from her.
“I…” I eyed the woman with him, so painfully beautiful it made me look plain in comparison, and then I felt the fear grip me by the throat. I couldn’t say what I came here to say. Now it was too difficult—impossible. I missed my chance. “I came here to tell you I need more time with the design.” It was the lamest excuse ever but it was all I could think of at the moment.
“Okay…” He glanced at his date then turned back to me.
“But I’ll get it done as soon as I can…have a good night.” I pushed past the girl and headed down the hallway, trying to get away from both of them as quickly as possible. I rounded the corner then leaned against the wall, feeling the tears burn deep in my eyes. Seeing him with someone else, officially moved on, was the most painful thing I’ve ever seen.
“So…who was that?” the woman asked.
Kyle’s voice was still
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