Shadows (11 page)

"I'm sure they won't mind. So…how's the new
boyfriend?"

"Good. I just wish we would have met under
better circumstances."

"Well, didn't you technically meet at the
laundromat?"

"Yes, I suppose technically that's what
happened."

"Then you did, but some really shitty stuff
happened afterwards."

I roll my eyes at her. She has such a way with
words. "So, where is Paul today?"

"He's rearranging his schedule at the office.
He's taking the next week off for me to help me pack. Where's
Theron? I was certain he was going to show up looking for you. He
seems very intense around you."

"He should be here in a few minutes. I texted
him before I came out here. Kayla, I feel so drawn to him. Is that
bad?"

She opens her mouth to say something, but
she's interrupted when Michael walks out to say goodbye. He hugs
both of us trying his best to smile at us and heads to his car.
Watching him walk away, I notice Theron pull up in his car. I
decide right then, I want to name his car Badass. I so badly want
to drive it. I give Kayla a hug, but I have a hard time letting
go.

"It'll be okay, Eve. We have each
other."

"I know." I open my door and slide into the
soft leather seat. "See you later."

"Eve?"

"What?"

"It's not bad if the other person feels the
same way. I just want you to keep that in mind, okay?"

“
Okay.” I close my door. I text my
family and Anne on the drive back to Theron's place. He never asked
me where I wanted to go, but he didn't need to. I would have chosen
his place anyways.

Chapter 6

M
att's service was on
Saturday. It was small private ceremony. Matt's ashes will be
spread at their family's cabin in Colorado. He spent every summer
there when he was little. For the past couple of years, he would go
there with his dad and brother on a fishing trip. Matt loved it
there and I'm sure he will be happy with it as his final resting
place.

I haven't been back to the apartment. I don’t
want to go. My mom thinks I should go say my goodbyes to it, but I
already have. I did that on Saturday. Robert and my dad are headed
over to pack my belongings today. They are taking everything to my
parent's house. My dad said I can store what I don't need in his
garage.

I'm lying in Theron's bed with the blankets
over my face. I can hear my phone vibrating on the nightstand. Not
having the urge to talk to anyone, I ignore it. Theron has been
amazing. He has been taking care of me through this entire mess. He
even texted Robert and my dad to set up times to have my stuff
packed and moved. My appetite is finally picking up, but my only
forms of sustenance are coffee and ice cream. I'm not sure why
Theron hasn't kicked me out yet. There are tissues covering the
bed. I'm being such a slob, but I don't care. I'm completely
drained from crying and trying to cope with all of this.

I can hear Theron walking down the hall. I'm
sure he's coming to check on me. I feel him sit beside me. He
attempts to pull the covers back, but I hold on tight.

"Beautiful, I know you are in there. I've let
you lay here for days with your tissues and ice cream. It's time to
get up babe. You need a shower. You'll be amazed by how much better
you will feel under the hot water."

"No. I'm not coming out. I like it under
here."

"And I like you, but you are starting to
smell, babe."

Pulling the covers down from my face, I give
him a dirty look and he laughs at me. "Don't laugh at me. You’re
being a jerk!" As soon as I said it, I regretted it. "I'm sorry.
You’re not really a jerk, besides I can't smell that bad. I took a
shower early Saturday morning."

"Beautiful, it’s Wednesday. I'll start the
water and grab you a change of clothes." Standing up, he walks into
the bathroom. It's Wednesday? I still can't smell that bad. Sitting
up, I smell my shirt. Gross! I do smell that bad. I must look
awful, because when Theron walks out of the bathroom, he gives a
look of pity. "I promise you'll feel better. Maybe after the shower
we can the leave the room today. Gram may stop by in a bit. She's
worried about you."

"Worried about me? Why?"

"You have officially been living under
blankets and only emerging to use the bathroom. I think she's
afraid I've kidnapped you." He laughs as he leaves the room. I hear
him yell from the hall, "Shower, Eve, I love you, beautiful, but
you smell."

What? He couldn't have said what I thought he
said. Maybe a shower will help me wake up since I seem to be
hearing things. I don't look in the mirror. I don't want to see the
horrid creature I have become. The water is hot and it feels so
good. He has turned it on so the sides are spraying out jets of hot
water on me, while a waterfall showers me from above. This shower
is absolute heaven. Everyone needs a shower like this.

I step out of the shower and wrap myself up in
a towel. Using a hand towel to wipe some of the steam off the
mirror, I see my reflection. I don't look any different, but I feel
different. I still feel hurt, empty, and broken. I pull on some
clean yoga pants and long sleeve shirt. I dry my hair while
wondering how long I'm going to feel like I'm missing a part of
myself. Needing to face the world, I head to kitchen for
coffee.

I start the single cup coffee maker. I wish I
had one of these. It's so convenient. Theron is sitting on the
couch watching a baseball game. Walking up behind him, I softly
place a kiss on his cheek, "Who's playing?"

"It's the Cubs against the
Brewers."

"Isn’t it a little early for
baseball?"

"No. This is preseason. Do you see all the
green grass and sunshine?"

"Yes."

"They are playing in Arizona. Opening day is
Monday. I have tickets to their home opener against Pittsburgh. Do
you want to go?"

"I don't know. When is it?" It's not like I
have any plans, but I should start working again. I'm sure Sharon
has her hands full with my accounts.

"April twelfth. They play the Reds in
Cincinnati first. Then the Rockies in Colorado. I never miss their
home opener. I have the best seats"

"What, behind home plate?"

"Okay, well I guess more it's more like I have
good seats." A huge grin spreads across his face. "I've got
bleacher seats."

"In what world are bleacher seats good,
Theron?"

"Have you ever been to Wrigley
Field?"

"No. I’ve never been to any game
before."

"What? Never? Are you serious right now?
Beautiful, you are missing out. Now you have to come. I won't take
no for an answer."

I lean over him wrapping my arms around his
neck, and whisper into his ear, "Okay, I'll go." I kiss the top of
his head and walk away towards my cup of freshly brewed
coffee.

"I can't function without my first cup of
coffee." I turn around and see his gram taking a seat at the
island. She's wearing a gorgeous black and cream floor length
skirt, and a cream blouse. She always looks so different from one
day to the next.

"Good morning, Isa. Would you like a
cup?"

"That would be lovely."

I start on her cup of coffee as Theron walks
over and kisses her on her cheek. I feel arms wrap around my waist.
He buries his head in the curve of my neck and breathes in
deep.

"You smell so much better."

"Gee, thanks. You don't smell too bad either.
What are our plans today?"

"It’s completely up to you. I'm just happy you
left your blanket fort." He gently kisses me on my neck sending
goosebumps down my back. "I'm going to take a shower. Why don't you
think about what you want to do for lunch, okay? Your dad is
already at the apartment. He said he will take care of everything.
Paul is there finishing up with Kayla's things today too. We need
to talk about somethings, but after I shower okay?"

I nod my head. It's the first time I haven't
cried in days. I'm afraid if I speak I'll start and I won't be able
to stop. Handing Isa her cup, I take a seat beside her.

"Oh my lovely, I'm so sorry you're hurting
like this. I want to give you some advice someone gave me after my
husband passed on. Time does not heal all wounds. You can't fix a
broken heart when a piece is missing. We learn as time passes how
to live without that missing piece. It will get easier, but it's
only because, as life moves forward we gain more pieces to love. It
never replaces the one we lost. It can't, those are irreplaceable.
They do, however, make it worth living." She stands and kisses the
top of my head. "Oh, and Eve, I'm glad Theron found you again." She
smiles closing the door behind her.

I swear I felt the floor fall from beneath me,
but I am still sitting on the barstool. I haven't moved an inch.
Found me, again? Maybe she's confusing me with someone else. I
think I would have remembered meeting Theron before. I have this
uncomfortable feeling coming over me. I can't handle anything else
right now. Needing to focus on getting through today without adding
any other complications, I grab my phone and sit on the couch.
Unlocking my phone, I notice I have several missed calls and texts.
Thankfully no voicemails. I send Kayla text.

Hey, u ok?

I'm good. Just finishing up here.
Robert said u don't want anything but your bedroom packed.
Y?

I don't need it. I just want my
books.

Ok. Matt's dad left something in a
box for u. What do u want with it?

Idk. Give it to my dad I
guess.

Ok. How's your boy toy?

He's not my boy toy.

If he's not a toy you're not using
him right.

Omg. U did not just say that. Got
to go ttyl.

I can hear Theron moving around in the
bedroom. I start thinking of what I need to do today. I make a
mental note to get to my parent's today. I know I've taken the week
off work, but maybe getting back in to my normal routine will help.
Realizing I'm chewing my cheek again, I make a mental note to break
that habit before I don't have any cheeks left. I'm sending a quick
text to Anne letting her know I'll be at the office in the morning
when I hear or rather I sense Theron come up behind me. I love how
my body reacts to his presence.

"What kind of decisions have you made? Will we
be leaving the house for lunch or staying in?" Sliding his arms
around my waist, he kisses the back of my head. My body is
instantly warmed and relaxed.

"Um, well, I haven't actually thought about
the food part. I should get over to my parents' today
though."

Sighing, he sits next to me. He spins my body
so we are face to face and holds my hands in his. “Is it because
you want to go through your things?" I shrug my shoulders. "Is it
because you feel you need to leave?" I stare into his eyes, but I
don't have an answer for him. "Did I do something, or did Gram say
anything? I thought I was doing a good job taking care of
you."

"You are. It's not that. You are taking
wonderful care of me and although I'm enjoying the attention, I
just thought you might want your space back. I mean we've only just
met, you don't know me." He stops me with a soft kiss to my
lips.

"I don't know you? I know more than you think,
Eve. I know your love for coffee and books. I know you have lost a
close friend and are trying your best to keep going without them. I
know you love and respect your family because their opinions matter
to you. I know how your breathing changes when I get close to you.
I know how your body shivers when I kiss your neck. I know how
goosebumps spread over your skin as I trail my fingers across your
body. I know you bite your cheek when you're nervous or upset. I
know you." He stops himself. It's almost like he wants to say more,
but he doesn't. While his words are comforting and have definitely
turned me on, I can't shake this feeling of he's not telling me
everything.

"Well those are all good things to know, but I
should still get to my parents. I could at least help them
unpack."

"Unpack? As in you are going to move in
there?"

"Well, yeah. I don't have an apartment
anymore. Since Kayla is moving in with Paul, I won't be able to
afford one like we had. I'll have to start hunting for a new one I
guess."

"I don't think it is an issue. I don't feel
you have explored all your means." He gives me a half
smile.

"What, with you? You want me to move in here?
Theron, I don't know. It's such a huge step."

"Okay, well you think about it. I like having
you here, Eve. I like waking up to you. I like feeling your breath
on my skin when you’re curled into me and sleeping. I have material
possessions, but not very many people stay in my life. I learned at
a young age people can be taken away from you. You can't always
control who you get to keep in your life, but I would really love
to keep you." He leans in and our lips meet. His tongue brushes
against my bottom lip and I open to him swirling my tongue around
his. His fingers run along my scalp and grasp onto my hair. I moan
into his mouth. Slowing the kiss, he pulls away. He looks into my
eyes as if he can see all my secrets I have hidden away.