This Delicate Thing We've Made: Falling at Your Feet
Chapter 3: Waking the Monster
~Kelly~
The next morning, I was really wishing I had the day off. I honestly didn't know how I was going to face Matthew after basically having admitted to him that I have feelings for him. I guessed the only thing I could do was pretend nothing had changed; pretend I hadn't told him how I really feel. I just hoped he would forget what I had told him. Or at least also pretend that I had never said it.
I dressed for work, and made sure my children were dressed and fed before their father arrived to pick him up.
I hated having to see my ex. I wondered what I had ever seen in him. Things would have been so much easier if Matthew and I had both been single upon meeting each other. Who knows? Maybe he and I would have fallen in love with each other and been married by now.
I shook my head at the thought. I wasn't doing a good job of ignoring my feelings for Matthew. Besides, if I had never met Daniel, I wouldn't have my two beautiful children.
There was a knock on my door.
"Daddy!" Hermés said with excitement. He slipped off his chair and started to run to the door.
I quickly yet gently grabbed his arm. "Did you finish your breakfast?"
Hermés nodded. "Yes, Mommy. Can I please go see Daddy now?"
I nodded. "Go ahead."
I headed over to Helena and fed her the rest of her food. Then I took a wet cloth and washed her face and hands off before taking off her bib and helping her out of her high chair.
"How is the handsomest boy alive?" Daniel, my ex-husband, asked in the background.
I carried Helena into the living room and saw that Daniel had picked Hermés up and was grinning at him.
Hermés grinned back at him. "I'm fine. Can we go to the zoo today?"
Daniel chuckled. "The zoo? But it's a little cold out today. How about we go to the aquarium instead? We'll go to the zoo when it gets a little warmer."
Hermés thought about it for a moment before smiling. "Okay."
Daniel grinned, then kissed his cheek. "That's my good boy."
I smiled as I bundled Helena up. Well, at least he was a good father if nothing else.
Once Helena was ready, Daniel set Hermés down, then took Helena from me. "Good morning, Baby Girl. How's my pretty princess?"
Helena smiled. "Hi, Daddy!"
Daniel kissed her. "Do you have the stroller?" he asked me.
I nodded, then went into the other room and came back out with the folded up double stroller. "I'll bring it out for you."
He nodded. "Thanks."
Once everything was situated, I kissed my children and told them goodbye, promising to see them in the morning. I hated when Daniel got to keep them over night, but it was what it was. I was just glad I got to keep my children more often than he did.
Once they were gone, I touched up my makeup, then headed out to work.
I couldn't put it off any longer unfortunately.
~MK~
~Matthew~
I lie in bed with a sigh as I listened to shower running. Leyla was taking a shower before work. At least she had to work today and wouldn't be coming to work with me to witness another embarrassing spectacle.
According to the script, there was so sex scene today—thank God. Still, after Kelly had practically flat out admitted her feelings for me, I figured it was best Leyla wasn't there anyway.
Last night, as I knew we would, Leyla and I had had a hot night. The outfit she had bought and the lingerie underneath—wow. We had gone at it until I no longer had the energy in me. She had more energy than me, actually.
I smirked at the thought, but as soon as the smirk came, it left. It left because I remembered thinking how, though Leyla looked incredibly sexy in her outfit and lingerie, Kelly had looked even more sexy in her lingerie. Kelly was definitely more beautiful than Leyla, so maybe that had something to do with it.
Or the fact that you're in love with Kelly.
I shook the thought from my head. Love? I wasn't even sure I was in love with Leyla, let alone with Kelly.
Even so, after Kelly admitted her feelings to me, it kind of changed things. Now I found myself thinking of Kelly even more and about what it would be like if she and I were to date. I knew it was a crazy thought. I had a girlfriend. Still, it was fun to flirt with the idea.
The shower water turned off, and a moment later, Leyla came into the room wrapped in a towel. She searched for her clean clothes and found them. She slipped her underwear on underneath her towel, then dropped her towel and put her bra on.
She smiled when she saw me admiring her body. "I thought you were going to join me in there."
I smiled weakly. "I'm sorry. I had something else on my mind."
She pulled on a shirt and buttoned it up. "Something or someone?"
I looked at her in confusion. How did she know? "Huh?"
Leyla smirked, and slipped on her jeans. "Last night, in your sleep, you called out Kelly's name."
I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion. "I did?" I didn't even remember dreaming about her.
Leyla nodded. "It's not exactly what a girlfriend wants to hear—another woman's name—from her boyfriend while he sleeps." She zipped and button her jeans, then slipped on her stocking socks.
I sighed. "I'm sorry, Leyla. I honestly don't even remember dreaming about her. She must have just been on my mind because of our scene together."
Leyla smirked, and sat down at the end of the bed. "I can see why after all that simulated love making—not to mention your exposing her."
I blushed. "That's not what I meant. I just meant, after working with her all day, it's not unusual for her to be on my mind. Besides, exposing her was a complete accident."
Leyla raised an eyebrow. "Was it?"
I nodded. "Of course it was! Why wouldn't it be?"
"I just see the way you look at her sometimes," Leyla said with a sigh. She looked away.
I took her chin in my hand, and forced her to look me in the eyes. "Hey. I thought you said you knew it was only acting."
Leyla nodded. "I do know that. I'm talking about when you two are not in character. You're incredibly close. I just wonder how close sometimes."
I laughed, more out of nervousness than anything. "Leyla, I'm not cheating on you with Kelly, if that's what you're asking. Kelly and I are just close from working together for four years. That's all. We adore each other as friends, yes, but that's as far as it goes." Even as I said it, I knew I wasn't being a hundred percent straight with her. Still, there was no use in telling her the full truth when nothing was going to happen between Kelly and I.
"Well, do you think Kelly likes you in that way?" She trailed her finger slowly up my thigh.
Again, I laughed nervously. If she only knew... "No. She said herself once that we do it so much at work, we don't need to do it at home."
Leyla raised an eyebrow. "Do it? Do what exactly?"
"Act out bed scenes?" I asked with a smile. I said it in a joking matter. "She didn't mean it that way. It was just a weird way of putting it." This conversation was making me far too nervous.
Leyla snickered. She gently slapped her hand over my thigh. "Relax! I was only joking. I trust you." She kissed my lips.
I wrapped my arms around her. "I suddenly have my energy back." I wriggled my eyebrows up and down at her. I was just happy the previous conversation was over.
She smiled. "I have to work, and so do you." She kissed me, her hands over my cheeks. "I'll see you when I get home." She then slipped on her shoes, grabbed her purse, and headed down the stairs.
"Bye. Have a good day," I called after her.
"You too!" she called back.
I heard the front door close moments later.
I sighed. I needed to shower before heading off to work with Kelly. And I knew I'd most likely need shower—a cold one—after I saw her as well.
~MK~
~Kelly~
Work went surprisingly well. It hadn't been as hard seeing Matthew as I had thought it would be.
"Hi," he had said with a smile. "Today should be a little easier for the both of us. We just have to deal with Serena drama," he joked.
I smiled. "There is a kissing seen though."
"Don't worry. I'll be careful not to expose your teeth," he joked.
I laughed, and playfully swatted his shoulder. "Aw, no tongue then?" I said in mock upset.
"Well, if you want it, I can give it to you. I can't blame you. I have been told before what I wonderful tongue I have. In fact, maybe I should quit acting and become a tongue model instead. What do you think?" He stuck out his tongue.
I laughed. He was such a nut sometimes.
"Or, better yet, I can be a tongue stunt double!" he continued.
Again, I playfully swatted him as I laughed even harder. "Stop that or you'll make me pee my pants."
"Oh, how charming that would be! I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off you then," he teased.
We were both laughing by then.
"All right, you two break it up. I have to shoot you now," the Norman, the director said.
I turned to him. "Our acting isn't that bad, is it?"
This set met and Matthew off again, and he and I grinned at each other. I was glad that he had broken the ice with jokes. Now things didn't have to be so awkward between us.
Our scenes had gone well, and afterwards, when Matthew suggested we go get lunch together since Leyla was still working and we did get out right around lunchtime, I had no hesitation in agreeing.
As we ate, I couldn't help but think how comfortable I felt with Matthew. He had made my embarrassment and uncomfortableness melt away just by breaking the ice. I was grateful to him for not bringing up the day before. The only problem was, it made me love him more.
Love? There was that word. I knew I loved him. There was no doubt in my mind about that. Was I in love with him? Quite possibly.
He smiled at me when our check came, and gave me a wink as he said, "It's on me."
"You don't have to do that, you know. I'm more than capable of paying my own way," I said, with a bat of my eyelashes. I wasn't batting my lashes to be seductive; it was just my way of expressing myself, really. Actually, I was rather proud of myself for getting through the day without lusting over him.
He nodded, and held up a hand. "I know you are. I want to pay though. I owe it to you after the screw up I made yesterday."
I blushed at the memory. "You don't owe me a thing. It was an accident."
It was his turn to blush. "Actually, it was but it wasn't."
"Huh?" I knew it wasn't very ladylike to say that, but I was confused.
"When I accidentally touched you, it wasn't so accidental. I thought about touching you, so I did. I hadn't actually meant to go through with it, but I did anyway, and I'm sorry." He looked down in shame.
"Why?" I asked, dumbfounded.
He blushed, but found it in him to look me in the eyes anyway. "You're a beautiful woman, Kelly. To say I haven't had any impure thoughts about you would be a lie."
"But I thought we were just friends," I stated.
He nodded. "That we are. But I can guarantee you, there is no guy that hasn't at least thought about a female friend as something other than just a friend. It just happens. It doesn't really mean anything more."
My face fell a bit. I don't know why. I knew Matthew and I were just friends. I guess just hearing him say that his feelings for me didn't mean anything... Well, it hurt! I guess maybe saying that he had feelings for me was a bit of a strong way of putting it.
He paid the bill and left the tip, then we exited the restaurant together.
"I'm really glad we're friends, Kelly. Having met you and now your friendship is the biggest perk of being on the show," Matthew said as we walked together.
I smirked. "Really? For me, I would say it's the money."
He placed a hand over his heart. "Harsh!" he joked.
I laughed, and gently nudged him. "Na! I feel the same way about you. Meeting you and becoming so close with you, it's better than anything money can buy."
He stopped me, then pulled me into an embrace. "Thanks, Kelly. That really means a lot to me."
"It's the truth," I murmured, inhaling the sweet smell of his cologne. It felt so right being with him—so comfortable. I knew there was nothing I could do about my feelings for him that were suddenly rushing back to me, but at least I had that moment. I had mine and Matthew's special moment together like so many others that we had shared.
"Hey, guys. I found you!"
Matthew and I both turned our heads toward the sound of the familiar voice. It was Leyla.
Matthew quickly pulled out of our embrace.
I inwardly sighed. So much for our special moment.
~MK~
~Matthew~
I knew I shouldn't have pulled away from Kelly so quickly. All it did was make me look guilty.
"Leyla, what are you doing here? Not that I'm not happy to see you." I put a hand around her waist and kissed her cheek.
She smiled. "Well, I got out of work early, and stopped by the studio to walk you home. I found out you and Kelly went to lunch, and figured you might be here since it's your favorite place."
"You know me that well? I asked with a smile.
Leyla blushed. "Well, that and the fact that Penn said he thought he overheard you two mention going to this place."
I nodded. "Cheater!" I teased.
She playfully stuck her tongue out at me. "I only half cheated."
"Well, I'll let you two be. I have some errands to run. Good seeing you, Leyla. Maybe next time we'll have longer to chat," Kelly said, kissing Leyla on the cheek.
Leyla nodded. "You too, Kelly, and I'd like that."
Kelly smiled at me, and gave me a polite nod. "See you later."
I nodded. "See you later."
Then, she walked on ahead of us.
I couldn't help but notice how weird that had been. Usually, she'd kiss my cheek as well, and say more of a goodbye than just "See you later."
"You can't honestly tell me you don't have a bit of feelings for her," Leyla suddenly said to me.
I looked at her in surprise. "Hm?"
"I know you have feelings for her," Leyla stated.
I blushed. "I do not!"
"Then why are you blushing?" Leyla crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot.
"I'm just embarrassed at the idea that Kelly and I would ever be anything more than friends!" I said, hoping my tone didn't show my nervousness, and therefore the fact that I was lying.
Leyla rolled her eyes. "Don't insult my intelligence, Matt. I know you have feelings for her. I'm not blind. I've seen the way you two look at each other and act around each other. After our talk this morning, you almost had me convinced that there was nothing going on between you two. But, just now? Seeing you two embrace like that? Well, now I know."
"Leyla, we're just friends," I tried, but it was weak, and I knew she knew it.
She glared at me. "Lying is only making it worse, Matt."
I sighed. "Fine. I do have feelings for her, all right? But I have feelings for you too. I just like you both for different reasons. You and Kelly are two entirely different people," I said calmly.
Leyla snorted. "You can say that again!"
"You and Kelly are two entirely different people!" I joked.
Again, Leyla glared at me, her foot still tapping, and her arms still crossed over her chest.
"Not funny?" I asked
She shook her head. "No. So, are you going to break it off with me?" she asked.
I raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?"
She sighed. "Do you love me?"
I nodded. "Of course I do!"
"And do you love Kelly?" she asked next.
I sighed.
"Answer the question, Matt," she barked.
I sighed, then looked down at the street, hoping no one was listening to our conversation. I especially hoped the media wasn't listening. Then, I looked to the ground, unable to meet Leyla's eyes as I said it. "Yes." I looked back up at her. "So, are you going to leave me?" I didn't want her to, but, at the same time, my feelings for Kelly were what they were.
She uncrossed her arms, and stopped tapping her foot. "No."
I raised an eyebrow. "No?"
"No," she confirmed. "I'm just going to let you do what you want with Kelly until you decide whom it is you love more."
I felt my heart start to pound, and my stomach start to flutter. Did I just hear her right? I can date them both? "What's the catch?"
"The catch is, if I want to sleep with another guy, I can. I don't have anyone in mind, and I'm not going to sleep with just some random guy I meet at a bar or anything. I'm not even saying I will sleep with anyone else. I probably won't. If I did, it would probably just be a little fun with a friend if even that. But, I can go out with guys, and I don't have to answer to you. It stops if and when you stop seeing Kelly."
"So, it will be kind of like seeing other people," I stated.
Leyla nodded. "If you care to put it that way. But, if I find out you've been messing around with anyone other than Kelly, then you and I are through. This is just to decide between me and Kelly. There will be no other party involved."
"Okay, but then you can't become serious with any other guy. If I decide not to be with Kelly, and I choose to be with you, I want you to still be available," I said.
Leyla nodded. "Like I said, I might not even take advantage of our deal. But, if I do, it will just be with a friend, or someone I know who agrees on nothing meaningful. Just fun."
"You're like the coolest girlfriend in the history of girlfriends for allowing this. You know that, don't you?" I asked.
She sighed, and her arms went back over her chest. "I'm doing this for myself—not you. If I'm going to be with a guy, I want to make sure he is completely into me and only me. If I do choose to test the waters with other guys, it's only to have a little fun. If you can have your fun, then why can't I?"
I nodded. I wasn't quite sure if I liked the thought of her with other guys, but the chance to explore my feelings for Kelly was too good to pass on.
"So, what about you and I? Are we still dating during all of this?" I asked.
Leyla nodded. "Of course! You're deciding between the two of us, and you can't do that with only one of us in the picture. When Kelly's busy, you'll hang with me, and when I'm busy, you'll hang with Kelly. Got it?"
I nodded. "And, I can stay overnight with Kelly if I wanted?"
"You may stay with whomever you want to stay with at night as long as it is Kelly or myself," Leyla confirmed. "And I can stay with whomever I choose to."
I grinned. "Shall we shake on it?" I extended my hand to her.
She shook her head. "We shall kiss on it." She pulled my hand so that I was body to body with her. "You're still mine after all."
We kissed on it, and then waked arm in arm back to my place to do more than kiss on it.
It was a weird situation, I know. But, having Leyla and Kelly? Oh, that was most definitely a situation I was willing to put up with!
