As Gabby had promised him, she was showing him downtown San Juan. She walking out in front of him, stopping for a second to let him catch up.
Matt felt a bit confused. She had taken his hand while they were on the porch yesterday, but today she seemed standoffish once again.
Walking through San Juan, she was pointing out some points of interest, but he couldn't keep his mind on it. All he could think about was her holding his hand yesterday, only for them to awkwardly split up again.
Very carefully, he tried to slip his hand around hers, but as soon as he tried to do so, she pulled her hand away.
''Want ehm – want to go to the restaurant?'', she said as she stopped walking.
''I am not really hungry, to be honest,'' Matt admitted. He wasn't hungry, his stomach still upset but also because he wasn't feeling good about tonight and being with Gabby right now. Especially not with all the mixed feelings that he was getting.
''Alright…'', Gabby said, clearly not feeling great about their meeting tonight either.
''Maybe it is good if we have some time apart, I mean, these last few days have been a lot for us both.'', As Matt said it, his stomach was sinking, he was not sure what to feel. He was happy to see Gabby it also didn't feel good. As nice as she was to him, he felt that she was holding back and it wasn't sure if it was because she didn't dare to say how much she still cared, or it was because she didn't want to reject him fully.
''That might be better, you are still coming Saturday, right?'', Gabby asked as she was referring to the volunteering she had invited him to.
''Yeah, of course,'' Matt nodded. That in three days, but he knew it was probably for the best if they had some time apart. Without saying much else, both of them walked to their own car, going their own way.
Two days later, Gabby sat on the edge of her bed. In her hands was her wedding ring, that she had taken off but carried with her as she had gone here.
Seeing Matt, the last few days had been a rollercoaster.
Fumbling around with the ring in her hands, she tried to make sense of all the feelings that she had for Matt. But it wasn't easy cut out. She loved him, but she wasn't sure if it would work out. Even more so, she wasn't sure that even if she did love him enough, they couldn't make it work without having to sacrifice her dreams.
She was so happy he was here, but seeing Matt again she had realized how much she had missed life with him. As happy as she was to see him, she was also worried about what she was feeling. She was happy here, but she knew that Matt would never be a part of this life.
Missing Matt so much, she knew that things didn't have to be over between them. They still cherished each other and the more time she spend with him, the more she felt herself falling in love with him again. But she knew that to be with him, she would have to give up her life here again and the dream that she was building.
She still loved him and seeing him again had ignited that spark. But the thing she was most scared about, was falling in love with him again.
In the hotel parking lot, Matt had been allowed to use two of the parking spots for his construction work.
Yesterday he had gone to the beach, trying to enjoy his holiday but it wasn't his thing. Instead, he had come up with a small project to tide him over during the time here. He had gone to the hardware shop and had picked up everything he needed to fix Gabby's shower. No matter how the next few days would go, he was determined to help her out with her. It was the least she deserved.
But while he was there he got another idea, something he could help her and her work with and something that he hoped he could show with that he really cared about her and her dreams.
He was seeing Gabby again tomorrow, he was worried about seeing Gabby again. He was sure that the time apart had done the both of them well. But it didn't mean that he was any less nervous about it.
To be honest, more and more he felt that Gabby was getting to reject him But instead of ripping the band aid of, she was stringing him along.
Taking a step back and looking at his project, he just hope that he got to give this to her.
The following day, he drove to her house as he was going to pick her up land drive to the meeting spot together. He didn't get his project done, but on the other hand, he was going to be here for another nine days.
She sat beside him in the car as he was driving. They drove the building that the relief workers used where they were putting boxed and crates together with food and water to give out, as well as clothes and some toys for the kids. They joined, Gabby putting the crates together as he was carrying over to the two trucks they were taking.
As all the supplies were loaded into the truck and they got ready to leave, they were chatting with a girl from Atlanta that had joined the project at the same time as Gabby.
''So, how do you guys know each other?'', she asked, curious.
''I am a friend of hers, from Chicago.'', Matt explained. Gabby looked a bit surprised that he didn't mention that they were actually married, soon to be divorced once they signed the papers. But he gave her a small nod with a smile, neither of them wanting to get into it. She appreciated it, as she knew it was especially hard for him.
They got in the trucks and drove to the village. Matt was showing her some pictures on his phone of the recent CFD barbecue and it was nice to see something from home. Arriving in the village, she grabbed the first aid kit to make a round for first aid. There wasn't much to be done and instead, her eye fell on Matt, whom was running around with supplies, carrying them into people's homes even1 and he looked excited.
Looking as he was standing there, handing out the packages they had made this morning, she felt her heart flutter. He was smiling, chatting with one of the men from the village with the very limited Spanish he knew and she knew that although he loved helping people, this was a lot on him. He had always been somebody that enjoyed the simple things in life and helping people. But she knew that leaving Chicago was something that took a lot of him.
''You okay?'', he asked as he woke up her from the thoughts as he lifted another crate of water bottles from the truck.
''Yeah, yeah.'', she smiled, grabbing another crate and walked with him.
It was a long day and the more Gabby looked at Matt, she realized that he still had her heart and that feeling was only growing. It was already evening by the time that he was driving her home.
He parked alongside the fence behind her jeep again. Looking aside, she got ready to get out of the car.
''Want to come in for a last beer?''
He wasn't sure, although he wanted to spend as much time with Gabby as he could. But given that she was inviting him, he did want to come in.
Walking with her, it slowly started to rain. Only a minute later, the downpour slammed down on the corrugated roof.
Grabbing a beer for herself and a nonalcoholic for Matt, she walked out to the porch where Matt was holding his hand out, clearly in awe at the torrential rain.
''Nature's shower!'' She said as she walked out in the rain, enjoying it after the hot day. She stretched her hand out, inviting him out in the rain as well.
''Nah, I am alright.'', he laughed.
''I still don't have a working shower,'' she laughed as she was standing in the rain, enjoying the water streaming down onto her after the long hot day of volunteering.
''I will get to it tomorrow,'' he promised with a smile.
''I know,'' she laughed as she got out of the rain, sitting down beside him again.
''This is going to make me despise those Chicago winters,'' Matt said as he took a sip of beer.
''You are always welcome here.''
''Depends on if you stay here, of course.''
''I am not sure yet,'' Gabby said as she looked into the rain. It was such a large downpour that they couldn't even see the lights from the airport. They were quiet for a bit, neither of them knew what to say.
''I should be driving back soon. I will come tomorrow for the shower,'' he told her as he got up. Looking out into the torrential rain, he wasn't looking forward to his run to the car through the rain, but he wanted to get back to the hotel before it would get even worse.
''You can stay if you want,'' She smiled, laying her hand on his arm. Surprised, Matt turned around.
''Gabby, are you sure-''
Before he could finish his sentence, her hands were around his face as she kissed him.
Seeing him today, smiling and helping, she realized again what a lucky person she was to even have met him. It wasn't just the fond memories she had of their years together, but seeing him today made her realize why she had fallen in love with him in the first place.
She had been so angry when she had gone here, for the fact that he wouldn't come with her and wouldn't be with her as she chased her dreams. Now she realized that he fully respected her and supported her, and she couldn't blame him for not sharing the same dream as she had. As much as she had been angry at him, she knew that he was right for staying in Chicago if that was what made him happy.
So many times he had been selfless, he had his heart in the right place.
Breaking up their kiss, she let go of him. Looking in his blue eyes, she realized that the one thing had happened that she already had been worried about.
She was falling in love with him again.
Happy new year! Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know what you thought of this chapter and until next chapter!