Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Zola
We never made it to dinner that night. We spent the evening in bed feasting on one another, occasionally coming up for air. By air, I meant a quick bathroom break. Finally, when I thought my stomach might eat itself, we stopped exploring each other and took a longer break for food.
We ordered Chinese at a local spot and fed each other lo-mien noodles in bed while watching the latest comedy special on Netflix.
It was simple yet fun and one of the best nights I’d had in a long time.
But an uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. I didn’t know where to go from here or how to navigate dating as a single mom. I never had before. When should I introduce him to Charlotte? How slow should we take things?
Questions plagued my mind, but I did my best to ignore them. I needed to live in the present and not get ahead of myself.
After we finished eating, we showered together before climbing between the sheets once more. The night was still young, and I had plenty more of this man to explore.
Hours later, we fell into a deep sleep and when we woke up, the morning sunlight beamed through the blinds. I looked over at the handsome man in my bed.
I could get used to this.
But I had to take it slow for Charlotte.
She was the most important. She deserved a good male role model in her life. And she deserved to not get attached to someone only for it not to work out.
After a delicious breakfast together, I walked Mateo out to his car. “I’m already planning the next time I see you.”
He chuckled as he stood next to his truck. “Me too.” He took me in his arms. “The whole thing is hard to believe, but I already miss you.”
“Me too.” I echoed his earlier statement.
“I know you need to take your daughter into consideration. So, I’ll let you call the shots.
I’m ready to take you out again tonight.
But that’s probably not feasible. And I don’t want to rush you.
Just be honest and open with me, that’s all I ask.
” Mateo took my face in his hands and kissed me softly on the lips.
“How are you real?” I whispered.
He chuckled, low and deep. “I always loved being alone, doing my thing. Now I feel like it won’t be possible to survive the day without you.”
I laughed. “Addicted remember?” I kissed him once before backing away and walking inside, feeling happier than I have in a long, long time.
While I didn’t have a chance to see Mateo over the next week, he made his presence known. Like I could ever forget him.
He had flowers delivered to my house and a couple of bouquets sent to my work. My daughter asked a thousand questions about the flowers, where they came from, and who sent them. I told her it was from a friend that I helped out, but I wasn’t sure she believed me from the look on her face.
He sent me daily text messages, from simple good mornings to full blown conversations about his day. He also sent pictures of the pieces he worked on, from start to finish.
I walked around with a smile on my face, a beaming grin from ear to ear so large my cheeks ached. My co-worker and friend, Jill, pestered me until I confessed I was crushing hard on someone.
“Crushing? More like in love.” Jill stated.
Love? Not possible…
I hadn’t known him long. How could I possibly love him?
As the weekend rolled around, I had a busy Saturday, so my mom scooped Charlotte and kept her for the day, along with a sleepover. “I like the smile on your face, Z. Whoever is bringing it, keep them around.” My mom said as she helped Charlotte pack her things.
“How do you know it’s someone? Maybe I’m just happy?”
Mom laughed. “I know what love looks like, sweetie. I’ve seen it on your dad’s face for years now.”
I flushed. There it was again. The word love. Who said anything about loving Mateo?
I walked them out and kissed them both goodbye before hurrying back inside to finish getting ready for work. Yet I couldn’t stop thinking about Mateo. I needed to see him tonight, no matter how tired I was.
My phone buzzed.
Mateo: Good morning. Happy weekend! Dreaming of you…
That confirmed it.
With a deep breath, I pressed the phone icon next to his name and listened while the phone rang.
“Hi.” Mateo’s voice came over the line and I nearly fainted. It had felt like forever since I heard it last.
“Hi. I’m free tonight.”
“You just made my day. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too.”
When he picked me up later, we didn’t make it past the door again. Within minutes, he was in my bed, our bodies tangled in the sheets.
Life continued that way for a while, seeing each other on the weekends, but after a few weeks, I decided it was time for Mateo to meet Charlotte.
He had proved to me he was committed, he was a good, hardworking man, and he wasn’t going anywhere.
I invited him over for dinner on a Friday night, our usual night for homemade pizza, which I thought would be some hands-on fun for them to interact.
And I was right. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect meeting.
Slowly but surely, Mateo fit into our life naturally. Over the next few months, Charlotte and I visited his woodworking shop, met his gaggle of cats, met his adorable sister at the boutique shop she owned, and Mateo met my parents.
But the best thing?
Saying I love you for the first time under the starry night sky while dancing on his patio.
I dreamed of finding what my parents had found and hoped it would happen for me. And now it had.
I’d finally found my forever.