Chapter 7
I don't know how long I stood there in his arms but I knew I felt safe! We were interrupted when the back door opened.
"I got he milk.....ooops! Sorry! Ididn't mean to interrupt anything!"
"Hey bro!" Matt slowly released his grip from around my back.'Please God don't let him let go, not now!' I thought to myself. He didn't leave go totally, he turned to face Jeff but he kept hold of my hand.
"Is everything ok?" Jeff asked, looking me up & down, "You seemed a little jumpy back there in the store!"
Matt gave me a confused sideways glance & I looked at the floor. "I'm fine....thankyou!"
"But you said..." MAtt was stopped midsentance by my cell phone ringing in my pocket! I quickly fumbled to answer it with my free hand.
"Hello?" It was Mick! I quickly let go of Matt's hand & felt very guilty! "I know I didn't call I just...I just forgot.I'm sorry!" I gave Jeff a sly look, I couldn't tell Mick anything while he was there! "Yeah look I'll call you back later ok?............I know but I'm just a bit erm....busy right now!"Jeff smirked, "With the errr....with the kids yeah!" Jeff let out a small laugh & went to put the milk in the fridge. "Yeah...they are very quiet today!....." Jeff walked past me,
"Tut tut tut!!" he said quietly & chuckled!
"It was just Matthew being silly!" I gulped & closed my eyes! Why the hell was I lying??!! "Yes I will....I promise!....You too! Bye!"
I hung up the phone quickly & let out a breath.
"Boyfirend?" Matt asked.
"Yeah!" I sat back down & put my cell on the table.
"I'll erm...leave you two alone then...I have to pack anyways!" Jeff turned before he went out the door & smirked at me!
"Pack?"
Matt nodded. "He's working...gotta be in Seattle tomorrow afternoon!"
"You too?!" (please no!)
"Nope!" he shook his head, "I leave for Washington in 3 days time!"
"Oh right." I said dissapointed.
"Erm....how come you said Jeff wasn't in the store?"
"What?" I said innocently, stalling for time to think of an answer.
"Earlier....you said you hadn't seen Jeff, but he just said he saw you in the store today?!"
"Oh right...oh that! Well I just forgot that's all!"
"Is something going on between you two?"
"Who? Me & Jeff? NO! Don't be ridiculous!" I let out a forced laugh.
"Oh right..." Matt seemed a little unconvinced! & a lot less happier than he was five minutes earlier! "You want another coffee?"
I looked at my watch & then remembered I didn't have the kids - the day was my own so I figured what the hell & Accepted!
I ended up in Matt's company for quite a few hours! We talked about everything & anything & I found myself really starting to like him! Late in the afternoon we took our 4th cup of coffee outside & sat on the porch. It was freezing but it was such a nice place to be!
"It's beautiful out here!" I smiled.
"Yeah.. I like it! Beats being in the city anyday!"
"Tell me about it! My flat is 4 floors up - the only view I have is of other people's rooftops!" I shivered & held my cup in both hands to try & warm them up!
"Do you think you'll go home then?"
"I don't know" I sighed, "I don't want to quit my job but I'll end up having a nervous breakdown if this shit keeps happening to me!"
Matt turned to me & smiled, "You'll be ok, you'll see!"
"Yeah....I guess! Listen Matt thanks for today! I really needed someone to talk to!"
"Anytime I told you! I'd make a pretty good samaratain don't you think?!" he smirked.
"Yeah you probably would!" I smiled. As I looked at him I saw he had beautiful eyes, so dark & deep. He had this way of holding my gaze, even the first time I bumped into him in the hall at Edbrook, he seemed to be able to entrance me!! "Well I guess I really should go before it gets dark!"
"OK....want me to walk you? Or..." he paused, "...I could go & ask Jeff if you want?"
"No I'd rather you did! Please!" It dawned on me he'd only asked me that to see my reaction! He actually thought there was something going on between Jeff & me!! Like we were seeing each other in secret or something!!
"ok but only if you're sure!?"
"I'm positive you big ass!!Now come on or am I going on my own!?"
'You sayin I HAVE a big ass or I AM a big ass?" He smiled.
"Both!" I laughed.
"Ok ok I'm commin! Aww my legs have frozen to the bench - you'll have to come & help me up!!" he grinned.
"Wow...my hero!" I laughed & took hold of his hand & pulled him to his feet. We were half way back to Edbrook before I realised he hadn't let go!
*******
I'd been home about an hour & still the house was empty. Mary had left a note which I'd eventually found, pinned to the door of the refridgerator sayin Steve had taken her, Sarah & the kids to McDonalds! I was making a cup of tea to try & warm me up, the house was freezing - as big old houses always seem to be - when I thought I heard a noise somewhere.
"Get a grip girl!!" I said out loud to myself, determined not to be freaked by floorboards creaking again! I turned on the radio that was on the kitchen counter just it wasn't so damn quiet I could hear my own heart beating! I found a newspaper & sat down at the table to read it & drink my tea. I'd read about 2 lines of the headline story when the door opened behind me.
"Oh hey guys! You have a goo..." I lept out of my seat spilling my tea all over the floor.
"Sorry to scare you! I Knocked but no one answeed....and it's freezing outside!" Jeff laughed.
"What do you want?!" I snapped & edged my way to the other side of the table.
"You left this...." he stepped forward & I took a step back so he stopped. "Your cell...it was on our kitchen table!"
"Oh.....right.thanks. Erm...just put it on the table please."
"Listen....." He stepped forward again & I jumped nervously, my heart was in my mouth. He gave me a confused look & put my phone on the table which was now the only space between us! "we seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot somehow & I err....I get the feeling you don't like me very much!"
"Oh?"
"Yeah, and I thought maybe we could start again? I don't know what it is I've done wrong but I'd like to put it right, if I can?!"
"Get out!"
"Excuse me?!"
"Just go please!"
"What's the pro....."
"NOW! Get out! Leave me alone! PLease!"
"But just tell me what the prob..."
"If you don't go now I swear I'll call the police!"
"Jesus lady! I don't know what the fuckin' deal is here, I'm gone! You can chill out!" He turned toleave but then stopped & turned back to face me, "But I tried ok? Don't forget that!" He walked straight into Mary and the others comming the other way!
"What are you doing here?" Mary asked coldly.
"LEAVING!!" Jeff snapped back at her. And pushed his way past her & into the hall.
"Kids, upstairs & get changed, take Daniel with you Matthew go on!" The kids left.
"Hey Jeff!" Steve said as he walked past him.
Mary glared at Steve!
"Steve." Jeff said & left.
I was standing in the kitchen almost frozen to the spot & shaking all over!
"What did he want?"
"I left my cell phone at his house, he was just returning it!"
Sarah started laughing! "Oooooh! Little miss 'he's not my type!' is finally admitting it & giving in to her natural urges for sexy men!!" she giggled.
"I hope she's not!" Mary snapped & looked to me for some sort of denial.
"Shut the fuck up sarah!" I grabbed my phone & went up to my room.
Ten minutes later Mary knocked on my door & came in. "You want to tell me what that was all about?"
"Not really."
"After all I told you the other day and you go & get yourself hooked up with one of those Hardy's?! Bec I'm dissapointed in you!"
"I'm not hooked up with Jeff Mary believe me!"
"Well why was he here? And what was your cell phone doing at his house in the first place?"
"I'm not in the mood to play 20 questions! I'm tired and...and I just want to wake up & find out this has all just been a bad dream!" I went to the window & inspected the new pane of glass, tracing the edges with my finger.
"Ah...so you are seeing him then?"
"No Mary I'm not! If you have to know then I was at his house yes, but I was with Matt!"
"YOU WERE WHAT!!??" Sarah was standing in the doorway to my room!
"Sarah!"
"You're seeing Matt?!?" her eyes widened! "I don't believe this shit!!"
"Now girls calm down!" Mary said standing between us.
"IM NOT SEEING ANYONE!!! Well apart from Mick & technically I can't even SEE him!!"
"I thought I'd found a friend in you!" Sarah glared at me & then stormed off.
"SARAH!! It just came out wrong! I'm not seeing Matt! SARAH!!!" Mary stood up. "Mary? I'm not seeing him I swear!" she just looked me up & down & left the room.
I don't know how long I stood there in his arms but I knew I felt safe! We were interrupted when the back door opened.
"I got he milk.....ooops! Sorry! Ididn't mean to interrupt anything!"
"Hey bro!" Matt slowly released his grip from around my back.'Please God don't let him let go, not now!' I thought to myself. He didn't leave go totally, he turned to face Jeff but he kept hold of my hand.
"Is everything ok?" Jeff asked, looking me up & down, "You seemed a little jumpy back there in the store!"
Matt gave me a confused sideways glance & I looked at the floor. "I'm fine....thankyou!"
"But you said..." MAtt was stopped midsentance by my cell phone ringing in my pocket! I quickly fumbled to answer it with my free hand.
"Hello?" It was Mick! I quickly let go of Matt's hand & felt very guilty! "I know I didn't call I just...I just forgot.I'm sorry!" I gave Jeff a sly look, I couldn't tell Mick anything while he was there! "Yeah look I'll call you back later ok?............I know but I'm just a bit erm....busy right now!"Jeff smirked, "With the errr....with the kids yeah!" Jeff let out a small laugh & went to put the milk in the fridge. "Yeah...they are very quiet today!....." Jeff walked past me,
"Tut tut tut!!" he said quietly & chuckled!
"It was just Matthew being silly!" I gulped & closed my eyes! Why the hell was I lying??!! "Yes I will....I promise!....You too! Bye!"
I hung up the phone quickly & let out a breath.
"Boyfirend?" Matt asked.
"Yeah!" I sat back down & put my cell on the table.
"I'll erm...leave you two alone then...I have to pack anyways!" Jeff turned before he went out the door & smirked at me!
"Pack?"
Matt nodded. "He's working...gotta be in Seattle tomorrow afternoon!"
"You too?!" (please no!)
"Nope!" he shook his head, "I leave for Washington in 3 days time!"
"Oh right." I said dissapointed.
"Erm....how come you said Jeff wasn't in the store?"
"What?" I said innocently, stalling for time to think of an answer.
"Earlier....you said you hadn't seen Jeff, but he just said he saw you in the store today?!"
"Oh right...oh that! Well I just forgot that's all!"
"Is something going on between you two?"
"Who? Me & Jeff? NO! Don't be ridiculous!" I let out a forced laugh.
"Oh right..." Matt seemed a little unconvinced! & a lot less happier than he was five minutes earlier! "You want another coffee?"
I looked at my watch & then remembered I didn't have the kids - the day was my own so I figured what the hell & Accepted!
I ended up in Matt's company for quite a few hours! We talked about everything & anything & I found myself really starting to like him! Late in the afternoon we took our 4th cup of coffee outside & sat on the porch. It was freezing but it was such a nice place to be!
"It's beautiful out here!" I smiled.
"Yeah.. I like it! Beats being in the city anyday!"
"Tell me about it! My flat is 4 floors up - the only view I have is of other people's rooftops!" I shivered & held my cup in both hands to try & warm them up!
"Do you think you'll go home then?"
"I don't know" I sighed, "I don't want to quit my job but I'll end up having a nervous breakdown if this shit keeps happening to me!"
Matt turned to me & smiled, "You'll be ok, you'll see!"
"Yeah....I guess! Listen Matt thanks for today! I really needed someone to talk to!"
"Anytime I told you! I'd make a pretty good samaratain don't you think?!" he smirked.
"Yeah you probably would!" I smiled. As I looked at him I saw he had beautiful eyes, so dark & deep. He had this way of holding my gaze, even the first time I bumped into him in the hall at Edbrook, he seemed to be able to entrance me!! "Well I guess I really should go before it gets dark!"
"OK....want me to walk you? Or..." he paused, "...I could go & ask Jeff if you want?"
"No I'd rather you did! Please!" It dawned on me he'd only asked me that to see my reaction! He actually thought there was something going on between Jeff & me!! Like we were seeing each other in secret or something!!
"ok but only if you're sure!?"
"I'm positive you big ass!!Now come on or am I going on my own!?"
'You sayin I HAVE a big ass or I AM a big ass?" He smiled.
"Both!" I laughed.
"Ok ok I'm commin! Aww my legs have frozen to the bench - you'll have to come & help me up!!" he grinned.
"Wow...my hero!" I laughed & took hold of his hand & pulled him to his feet. We were half way back to Edbrook before I realised he hadn't let go!
*******
I'd been home about an hour & still the house was empty. Mary had left a note which I'd eventually found, pinned to the door of the refridgerator sayin Steve had taken her, Sarah & the kids to McDonalds! I was making a cup of tea to try & warm me up, the house was freezing - as big old houses always seem to be - when I thought I heard a noise somewhere.
"Get a grip girl!!" I said out loud to myself, determined not to be freaked by floorboards creaking again! I turned on the radio that was on the kitchen counter just it wasn't so damn quiet I could hear my own heart beating! I found a newspaper & sat down at the table to read it & drink my tea. I'd read about 2 lines of the headline story when the door opened behind me.
"Oh hey guys! You have a goo..." I lept out of my seat spilling my tea all over the floor.
"Sorry to scare you! I Knocked but no one answeed....and it's freezing outside!" Jeff laughed.
"What do you want?!" I snapped & edged my way to the other side of the table.
"You left this...." he stepped forward & I took a step back so he stopped. "Your cell...it was on our kitchen table!"
"Oh.....right.thanks. Erm...just put it on the table please."
"Listen....." He stepped forward again & I jumped nervously, my heart was in my mouth. He gave me a confused look & put my phone on the table which was now the only space between us! "we seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot somehow & I err....I get the feeling you don't like me very much!"
"Oh?"
"Yeah, and I thought maybe we could start again? I don't know what it is I've done wrong but I'd like to put it right, if I can?!"
"Get out!"
"Excuse me?!"
"Just go please!"
"What's the pro....."
"NOW! Get out! Leave me alone! PLease!"
"But just tell me what the prob..."
"If you don't go now I swear I'll call the police!"
"Jesus lady! I don't know what the fuckin' deal is here, I'm gone! You can chill out!" He turned toleave but then stopped & turned back to face me, "But I tried ok? Don't forget that!" He walked straight into Mary and the others comming the other way!
"What are you doing here?" Mary asked coldly.
"LEAVING!!" Jeff snapped back at her. And pushed his way past her & into the hall.
"Kids, upstairs & get changed, take Daniel with you Matthew go on!" The kids left.
"Hey Jeff!" Steve said as he walked past him.
Mary glared at Steve!
"Steve." Jeff said & left.
I was standing in the kitchen almost frozen to the spot & shaking all over!
"What did he want?"
"I left my cell phone at his house, he was just returning it!"
Sarah started laughing! "Oooooh! Little miss 'he's not my type!' is finally admitting it & giving in to her natural urges for sexy men!!" she giggled.
"I hope she's not!" Mary snapped & looked to me for some sort of denial.
"Shut the fuck up sarah!" I grabbed my phone & went up to my room.
Ten minutes later Mary knocked on my door & came in. "You want to tell me what that was all about?"
"Not really."
"After all I told you the other day and you go & get yourself hooked up with one of those Hardy's?! Bec I'm dissapointed in you!"
"I'm not hooked up with Jeff Mary believe me!"
"Well why was he here? And what was your cell phone doing at his house in the first place?"
"I'm not in the mood to play 20 questions! I'm tired and...and I just want to wake up & find out this has all just been a bad dream!" I went to the window & inspected the new pane of glass, tracing the edges with my finger.
"Ah...so you are seeing him then?"
"No Mary I'm not! If you have to know then I was at his house yes, but I was with Matt!"
"YOU WERE WHAT!!??" Sarah was standing in the doorway to my room!
"Sarah!"
"You're seeing Matt?!?" her eyes widened! "I don't believe this shit!!"
"Now girls calm down!" Mary said standing between us.
"IM NOT SEEING ANYONE!!! Well apart from Mick & technically I can't even SEE him!!"
"I thought I'd found a friend in you!" Sarah glared at me & then stormed off.
"SARAH!! It just came out wrong! I'm not seeing Matt! SARAH!!!" Mary stood up. "Mary? I'm not seeing him I swear!" she just looked me up & down & left the room.