All day at work Michael kept thinking about Kyle's words. He knew Maria wasn't the kind of woman to just have flings. She wasn't like that. She would only be with a man if she thought the relationship was going somewhere. Michael thought about the way he had been acting and his feelings toward Maria. He knew he could never be with her but he would be damn if he was going to sit back and watch her get hurt.
After work Michael stopped by Louie's Bar. "Maria I need to talk to you," he said coming up from behind her.
After all these years Maria still had to catch her breath whenever she saw him. The years had done him good. "What is it Michael?"
"It's about Kyle. He's no good for you."
"What?"
"You have to stop seeing him. He'll hurt you."
"Look Michael what right do you have to tell me what to do?" Maria was furious. After all these years she was finally getting on with her life and now he was interfering and trying to ruin it.
"Kyle's just using you."
"Kyle likes me. Why is it so hard for you to believe that other guys can see me that way? That they might actually like to be with me in more than just a friendship way. Other guys find me attractive believe it or not."
"I don't doubt that. Its just Kyle's my friend and he uses woman."
"He may have in the past but how do you know I'm not different? Look I deserve to be happy and you need to stay out of it."
"I can't do that. I care about you to much."
"If you care so much about me then stay away from me. I know we were friends once but that doesn't mean you can tell me who to see and not to see."
"I still want to be you're friend Maria."
"I don't need you Michael," Maria said turning away before he could see the tears fall from her eyes.
Michael watched her back as she walked away. He never meant to hurt her. "I'm sorry Maria, but I love you," Michael whispered as he tuned and walked out of the bar.
*Why did Michael have to come back into my life now? I do need Michael but he never loved me and he never will. What if he's right about Kyle? What if there's no one that will ever see me as more than a friend. Why can't anyone love me?* Maria asked herself.
After a long horrible day of work Maria finally arrived home and slipped into a nice warm bath with Vanilla scented bath beads. As she lay down to relax she heard the phone ring. She reached for the cordless phone she kept next to her just in case something like this occurred.
"Hello?" Maria answered.
"Hi Maria, it's Kyle."
"Hi."
"Look I was wondering if you were busy tonight."
"I kind of had a bad day at work and I don't really feel up anything."
"I could come over and make you feel better," Kyle smirked.
"Thanks for the offer but I need to take some aspirins, go to sleep and forget this day ever happened."
"What's wrong?" Kyle asked.
"I was yelled at by my boss, I had several men try to feel me up, a child threw up all over me, I have cramps, and Michael stopped by to see me today."
"What did Michael have to say?"
"He told me to stay away from you and that you hurt me."
*That S.O.B! He's not going to ruin things between me and Maria,* Kyle thought. "I'm sure Michael just think he's looking out for you. He just wants everyone to be as happy as him and Jenny are," Kyle lied.
"So him and Jenny have a good marriage?" Maria asked ashamed that she wished the answer was no.
"Yes, I've never seen Michael so in love with someone before. He's really crazy about her and she would do anything for him."
"I've got to go," Maria said wiping away a few of her tears that slipped.
"Alright but Maria I really do want to see you again."
"That would be nice," Maria said smiling through her tears.
After she hung up the phone Maria slipped her head underneath the bubbles trying to clear her mind. If she wasn't sure before she was sure now. Michael was happily married to a wonderful woman and she would never again be in his life. Maria made up her mind then that she wasn't going to look back anymore. She was going to move things ahead with Kyle and she was going to live in the now, not the past. Michael was the past and Kyle is the future.
Part 14
The weeks had passed by and Maria was happier than she thought she would ever be again. Kyle was really good to her and she enjoyed spending time with him. She knew that Kyle was defiantly someone she could fall in love with in time. That's why she was disappointed when he called to break a date.
"I'm sorry Maria, it's just my sister is here from out of town and she wanted some alone time with me. I will make it up to you I swear," Kyle promised Maria.
Maria was already dressed for their date in a green satin dress that clung to her curves. "It's alright I understand. Tell your sister I said hi."
"Thanks Maria. You're the best."
Maria hung up the phone and looked at her dress. She had bought it just for tonight. Kyle was taking her to a special restaurant to celebrate the fact they had been together for a month. Kyle told her it was the longest relationship he had ever been in which proved Michael was right he had been with many different women. But things were changing. Maria was breaking through his wall.
*Well I have this beautiful dress on I just bought I might as well not waste it,* Maria thought. She decided to go to a bar/restaurant located by the local casino. She walked into Fast Eddy's and ordered herself a drink and some food. Maria was proud of the looks the other men gave her as she walked in the room. Maria was finally starting to feel more confident about herself. After eating her dinner Maria was surprised to see Kyle walk in with another woman. *That must be his sister. She's awfully pretty.* Maria started to get up to go say hello to Kyle and his sister but she remembered him saying they had wanted some alone time and she decided against it.
As Maria finished her drink she was surprised to see Kyle and his sister get up to dance. She was shocked by how close they were. Maria and her brother never got along very well and she always felt he hated her. It was nice to see two siblings getting along so well. The waitress came by Maria's table and handed her the bill. Maria leaned down to open her wallet to pay. She started to get up and leave when she noticed Kyle and the woman who was supposed to be his sister kissing. Maria was hurt and angry. She walked over to the couple putting all of her pride aside. When she reached the couple they didn't even seem to notice her there.
"So this is why you canceled our date?" Maria said to Kyle.
Kyle heard Maria's voice and broke the kiss he was involved in. Kyle felt an instant pang of regret after seeing Maria's hurt face.
"Maria you don't understand."
"I understand perfectly. Michael was right about you. I actually thought you cared about me. I started to feel things for you. How could I be so stupid? A leopard can't chance their spots I should have known." Maria started to walk away keeping her tears at bay.
"Maria wait!" Kyle yelled running after her. He tugged her arm when she wouldn't stop.
"Let me go!"
"Look Maria I do care for you."
"Yes, I could tell," Maria laughed sarcastically.
"Maria it's true. Look this whole thing started out as a fling..."
"That's it I'm going..." Maria said starting to leave again.
Kyle ran in front of her blocking her. "Listen Maria. This all started out as a fling to me but the more I got to know you the more I liked you. I started to feel things for you that I never have about anyone else."
"So then what are you doing with her?" Maria asked pointing toward the other woman with her head.
"I got scared. I'm new to this relationship kind of stuff. I'm not looking for marriage."
"I never asked you too."
"I know. I was stupid. Tonight was a mistake. I'm just scared of my feelings for you, but I don't want to stop seeing you." Kyle thought he had won Maria over when he saw Maria stop to think.
"I don't know whether to believe you or not and we can't have a relationship when I don't trust you."
Maria started to walk away again and this time Kyle let her go. Kyle didn't realize until the moment he had lost her how much he loved her. He finally understood why Michael was so in love with her.
Maria grabbed another drink before she left. After a few she started to leave. She almost reached the front of the restaurant when she saw Michael at the table she was walking by. He looked up at her. Michael was shocked to see Maria there. He was in awe of her beauty but could tell something had upset her.
"What's wrong Maria?"
"Like you don't know! You and Kyle probably set this all up to have a laugh at my expense."
"What are you talking about?"
"Kyle's your friend. You know damn well he's seeing another woman. I just saw them kiss."
"I promise Maria I didn't know. Kyle and me haven't exactly been on speaking terms. I'm sorry he hurt you."
Kyle watched Maria walk away. He saw how upset she was and decided to go make sure she got home all right. She could yell at him all she wanted but he wasn't going to let her drink and drive. He had seen her stop at the bar and knew with Maria's body weight the alcohol would soon catch up to her. He finally caught up with her and was shocked to see Maria talking to Michael.
"What are you doing here?" Kyle asked Michael. He never expected the fist that collided with his face.
"What the hell was that for?" Kyle yelled.
"I knew you would hurt her. Stay away from Maria!"
Kyle got up and reached up to touch his split lip that was bleeding from the punch Michael inflicted. "You have no right to interfere Michael! This is between her and me!" Kyle yelled.
Maria heard the men arguing but was having trouble standing. The alcohol had finally caught up to her. Kyle noticing Maria falling to the floor rushed over to her.
"What's a matter baby?" Kyle asked putting his arms around her.
"I don't feel good. I need to go home."
Maria tried to get up but she was too weak. "I'll take you home," Kyle said.
"The hell you will. You're the reason's she's upset. I'll take her."
Kyle started to protest but from the look on Michael's face he knew not to say another word. He would win Maria back somehow.
Michael held on to Maria as he helped her to his car. After putting Maria in the car Michael quickly made a call on his cell phone.
"Hello."
"Hey, Jenny it's Michael. I stopped by Fast Eddy's to grab a bite to eat after work and a friend of mine got kind of drunk so I'm driving them home. I'll be a little late. I just didn't want you to worry."
"Thanks for calling Michael. I love you."
TBC...
After work Michael stopped by Louie's Bar. "Maria I need to talk to you," he said coming up from behind her.
After all these years Maria still had to catch her breath whenever she saw him. The years had done him good. "What is it Michael?"
"It's about Kyle. He's no good for you."
"What?"
"You have to stop seeing him. He'll hurt you."
"Look Michael what right do you have to tell me what to do?" Maria was furious. After all these years she was finally getting on with her life and now he was interfering and trying to ruin it.
"Kyle's just using you."
"Kyle likes me. Why is it so hard for you to believe that other guys can see me that way? That they might actually like to be with me in more than just a friendship way. Other guys find me attractive believe it or not."
"I don't doubt that. Its just Kyle's my friend and he uses woman."
"He may have in the past but how do you know I'm not different? Look I deserve to be happy and you need to stay out of it."
"I can't do that. I care about you to much."
"If you care so much about me then stay away from me. I know we were friends once but that doesn't mean you can tell me who to see and not to see."
"I still want to be you're friend Maria."
"I don't need you Michael," Maria said turning away before he could see the tears fall from her eyes.
Michael watched her back as she walked away. He never meant to hurt her. "I'm sorry Maria, but I love you," Michael whispered as he tuned and walked out of the bar.
*Why did Michael have to come back into my life now? I do need Michael but he never loved me and he never will. What if he's right about Kyle? What if there's no one that will ever see me as more than a friend. Why can't anyone love me?* Maria asked herself.
After a long horrible day of work Maria finally arrived home and slipped into a nice warm bath with Vanilla scented bath beads. As she lay down to relax she heard the phone ring. She reached for the cordless phone she kept next to her just in case something like this occurred.
"Hello?" Maria answered.
"Hi Maria, it's Kyle."
"Hi."
"Look I was wondering if you were busy tonight."
"I kind of had a bad day at work and I don't really feel up anything."
"I could come over and make you feel better," Kyle smirked.
"Thanks for the offer but I need to take some aspirins, go to sleep and forget this day ever happened."
"What's wrong?" Kyle asked.
"I was yelled at by my boss, I had several men try to feel me up, a child threw up all over me, I have cramps, and Michael stopped by to see me today."
"What did Michael have to say?"
"He told me to stay away from you and that you hurt me."
*That S.O.B! He's not going to ruin things between me and Maria,* Kyle thought. "I'm sure Michael just think he's looking out for you. He just wants everyone to be as happy as him and Jenny are," Kyle lied.
"So him and Jenny have a good marriage?" Maria asked ashamed that she wished the answer was no.
"Yes, I've never seen Michael so in love with someone before. He's really crazy about her and she would do anything for him."
"I've got to go," Maria said wiping away a few of her tears that slipped.
"Alright but Maria I really do want to see you again."
"That would be nice," Maria said smiling through her tears.
After she hung up the phone Maria slipped her head underneath the bubbles trying to clear her mind. If she wasn't sure before she was sure now. Michael was happily married to a wonderful woman and she would never again be in his life. Maria made up her mind then that she wasn't going to look back anymore. She was going to move things ahead with Kyle and she was going to live in the now, not the past. Michael was the past and Kyle is the future.
Part 14
The weeks had passed by and Maria was happier than she thought she would ever be again. Kyle was really good to her and she enjoyed spending time with him. She knew that Kyle was defiantly someone she could fall in love with in time. That's why she was disappointed when he called to break a date.
"I'm sorry Maria, it's just my sister is here from out of town and she wanted some alone time with me. I will make it up to you I swear," Kyle promised Maria.
Maria was already dressed for their date in a green satin dress that clung to her curves. "It's alright I understand. Tell your sister I said hi."
"Thanks Maria. You're the best."
Maria hung up the phone and looked at her dress. She had bought it just for tonight. Kyle was taking her to a special restaurant to celebrate the fact they had been together for a month. Kyle told her it was the longest relationship he had ever been in which proved Michael was right he had been with many different women. But things were changing. Maria was breaking through his wall.
*Well I have this beautiful dress on I just bought I might as well not waste it,* Maria thought. She decided to go to a bar/restaurant located by the local casino. She walked into Fast Eddy's and ordered herself a drink and some food. Maria was proud of the looks the other men gave her as she walked in the room. Maria was finally starting to feel more confident about herself. After eating her dinner Maria was surprised to see Kyle walk in with another woman. *That must be his sister. She's awfully pretty.* Maria started to get up to go say hello to Kyle and his sister but she remembered him saying they had wanted some alone time and she decided against it.
As Maria finished her drink she was surprised to see Kyle and his sister get up to dance. She was shocked by how close they were. Maria and her brother never got along very well and she always felt he hated her. It was nice to see two siblings getting along so well. The waitress came by Maria's table and handed her the bill. Maria leaned down to open her wallet to pay. She started to get up and leave when she noticed Kyle and the woman who was supposed to be his sister kissing. Maria was hurt and angry. She walked over to the couple putting all of her pride aside. When she reached the couple they didn't even seem to notice her there.
"So this is why you canceled our date?" Maria said to Kyle.
Kyle heard Maria's voice and broke the kiss he was involved in. Kyle felt an instant pang of regret after seeing Maria's hurt face.
"Maria you don't understand."
"I understand perfectly. Michael was right about you. I actually thought you cared about me. I started to feel things for you. How could I be so stupid? A leopard can't chance their spots I should have known." Maria started to walk away keeping her tears at bay.
"Maria wait!" Kyle yelled running after her. He tugged her arm when she wouldn't stop.
"Let me go!"
"Look Maria I do care for you."
"Yes, I could tell," Maria laughed sarcastically.
"Maria it's true. Look this whole thing started out as a fling..."
"That's it I'm going..." Maria said starting to leave again.
Kyle ran in front of her blocking her. "Listen Maria. This all started out as a fling to me but the more I got to know you the more I liked you. I started to feel things for you that I never have about anyone else."
"So then what are you doing with her?" Maria asked pointing toward the other woman with her head.
"I got scared. I'm new to this relationship kind of stuff. I'm not looking for marriage."
"I never asked you too."
"I know. I was stupid. Tonight was a mistake. I'm just scared of my feelings for you, but I don't want to stop seeing you." Kyle thought he had won Maria over when he saw Maria stop to think.
"I don't know whether to believe you or not and we can't have a relationship when I don't trust you."
Maria started to walk away again and this time Kyle let her go. Kyle didn't realize until the moment he had lost her how much he loved her. He finally understood why Michael was so in love with her.
Maria grabbed another drink before she left. After a few she started to leave. She almost reached the front of the restaurant when she saw Michael at the table she was walking by. He looked up at her. Michael was shocked to see Maria there. He was in awe of her beauty but could tell something had upset her.
"What's wrong Maria?"
"Like you don't know! You and Kyle probably set this all up to have a laugh at my expense."
"What are you talking about?"
"Kyle's your friend. You know damn well he's seeing another woman. I just saw them kiss."
"I promise Maria I didn't know. Kyle and me haven't exactly been on speaking terms. I'm sorry he hurt you."
Kyle watched Maria walk away. He saw how upset she was and decided to go make sure she got home all right. She could yell at him all she wanted but he wasn't going to let her drink and drive. He had seen her stop at the bar and knew with Maria's body weight the alcohol would soon catch up to her. He finally caught up with her and was shocked to see Maria talking to Michael.
"What are you doing here?" Kyle asked Michael. He never expected the fist that collided with his face.
"What the hell was that for?" Kyle yelled.
"I knew you would hurt her. Stay away from Maria!"
Kyle got up and reached up to touch his split lip that was bleeding from the punch Michael inflicted. "You have no right to interfere Michael! This is between her and me!" Kyle yelled.
Maria heard the men arguing but was having trouble standing. The alcohol had finally caught up to her. Kyle noticing Maria falling to the floor rushed over to her.
"What's a matter baby?" Kyle asked putting his arms around her.
"I don't feel good. I need to go home."
Maria tried to get up but she was too weak. "I'll take you home," Kyle said.
"The hell you will. You're the reason's she's upset. I'll take her."
Kyle started to protest but from the look on Michael's face he knew not to say another word. He would win Maria back somehow.
Michael held on to Maria as he helped her to his car. After putting Maria in the car Michael quickly made a call on his cell phone.
"Hello."
"Hey, Jenny it's Michael. I stopped by Fast Eddy's to grab a bite to eat after work and a friend of mine got kind of drunk so I'm driving them home. I'll be a little late. I just didn't want you to worry."
"Thanks for calling Michael. I love you."
TBC...
