Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
Thunder and lightning stirred me from my sleep. The heavy precipitation was unsettling. The lights around my home flickered, threatening to cut out completely at any moment. I checked the clock on the wall. It was just past eleven o’clock.
My bones popped as I stretched my limbs. My lower back protested against my position as a dull pain made me wince with instant regret. I twisted from one side to the other, trying to work out the kinks.
“Argh.”
The bulk of the last forty-eight hours were spent on the couch. It was partially due to the lack of energy to go upstairs and the fact that a large portion of Channing was still confined to their home as a safety precaution.
For the most part, the city was still shut down. Not much was moving. It wasn’t business as usual yet. Medication was still being handed to millions of people in the state of Huffington.
I lifted my body from the couch and stood at my full potential. Once my body had gotten a good stretch, I leaned over to collect the few dishes I’d collected during dinner. The sauteed veggies and seasoned rice had put me right to sleep.
I sat the glass dishes in the sink and began running water. I passed my hand underneath it, waiting for it to warm up. Aimlessly, I stared into the distance. Just as he had every waking second of the last forty-eight hours, Fohr crossed my mind.
Our time away was torture. So was the fact that I was unsure of what was happening between us.
So was the fact that nothing and everything had happened at once.
So was the fact that I missed him something awful.
So was the fact that I didn’t have a number to call him on.
So was the fact that he hadn’t used the number he did have on me to make contact.
Briiiiiiing.
Briiiiiing.
The phone vibrated against the wall, nearly falling from the base as it rattled with sound. I shut off the water and grabbed the hand towel hanging from the sink to dry my hands. I didn’t need to see the number on the screen to know that it was Ko calling me. I sensed it.
“Hell–”
“Finally,” she sighed. “Dad and I thought we’d have to come over. I’ve been calling you on your cellphone all evening. I didn’t know you’d made it home.”
“Two days ago.”
“Yeah, I figured once I saw your man on television playing on a field surrounded by empty seats.” She chuckled. “The league knows they’re dead wrong for that shit.”
“Yeah. Well,” I breathed out, “They’re all about their money.”
“Who the hell pissed in your cheerios, babe? You make me want to ditch the news I’m about to share. I need you to give me a little more enthusiasm or tell me what’s wrong. Either or.”
I pulled my bottom lip into my mouth. I stared down at my feet, swirling my left foot in a small circle. I could hardly believe the words I was preparing. But, with each passing second they felt a bit truer.
“Kit!”
“Sorry.”
“What’s the matter? Is everything okay? Are you sick? You’re scaring me.”
“I’m fine, Ko. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Then what is it? You sound like you lost your best friend.”
Maybe I have.
“What if he’s not the man I dreamt him to be? What if I made it up? Ignored red flags and made him out to be the man I wanted him to be instead of the man he was? What if being locked in together for all of that time led me to believe he was someone he isn’t?”
“Kit, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying things are weird right now. Between Fohr and I.
And, I’ve been home in limbo for the last two days.
He hasn’t tried to contact me once. I left his home and I’m sure he barely even noticed.
His assistant referred to me as the help.
A girl named Carmen called his phone just before I left, telling him she missed him and calling him babe.
And then, there was the girl who was on the gossip site.
And– And, I don’t know, Ko. Once we came out of our bubble, everything around us spoiled.
It was all in the matter of an hour, leaving me to wonder if any of it was real. ”
“It was, Kit. Though I understand your frustration and exactly where you’re coming from– it was real. I promise it was real, sis.”
“How can you be so sure?” I sighed, using my shoulder to keep the phone up against my ear.
“Because I am and that’s the reason I’m calling.”
“You said you’ve been calling all evening.”
“Yes, your cellphone just to talk, but tonight– tonight I was calling for a completely different reason.”
“What is it? Is everyone alright?”
“Yes. We’re meeting at Mom’s and Dad’s for dinner the day after tomorrow. Don’t say I didn’t tell you.”
“I won’t. I’m looking forward to it. I miss everyone. Especially you.”
“Um hmm. I know. I miss you, too. Now, go get that cell phone of yours.”
“Do I have to?”
“Yes. You do. Tell me when you have it.”
“Okay. One second.”
I rested the phone on the counter and made my way into the living room. I powered on the phone that I retrieved from the table and headed back to the kitchen.
“I have it,” I informed Ko.
“Turn it on. It’s been going straight to voicemail. You wouldn’t even know if that man has called you.”
“They have my house number, not my cell.”
“Oh. Then, I guess he hasn’t, but that means nothing. Power on the phone.”
“It’s on.”
“Good, now go to my message thread.”
I followed instructions and found a few unread messages, two included media that took a second to download because I’d just powered on the device.
Fohr’s handsome face graced my screen for the first time.
I tapped the link that led to a post-game interview discussing the winning homerun he’d scored.
“What sparked the fire you displayed at the very last minute of the game? It secured the win for us.”
He twirled a shiny new piece of jewelry in his hand as he leaned into the microphone. Sweat poured from his forehead as he spoke.
“The bases were loaded. I couldn’t let my team down with loaded bases. We needed three points to take the lead and the win, so I made it up in my mind before I stepped out onto the field that I’d make sure we got exactly that.”
My God, he’s glorious. He was even finer in uniform. I’d almost forgotten how good he looked on the field.
“Loaded bases were your motivation?”
“And, a really special woman waiting for me back home. I’m ready to get back to her and tell her something I didn’t have the time to tell her before I left.”
“Oh, wow, there we have it. Fohr McClarren publicizing his true motivation behind the homerun that led us to tonight’s victory.” Jillian Figgs chuckled. “She must be something special.”
“Like something from a dream,” Fohr concluded before stepping away from the mic.
“Lucky girl,” Jillian yelled behind him.
“Nah, I’m the lucky one!” He tossed over his shoulder.
He rushed through the tunnel and out of the camera’s view. I was still trying to lift my chin up from my chest when the video shut off. I clicked the next piece of media to find a screenshot of the necklace he held the entire time he spoke.
Kit.
My nameplate was full of diamonds that sparkled in the dark.
“Ko–” I called out, breathlessly.
“So, when I say that it was real, baby, believe it was fucking real. He is real. Whatever you two have is real. And, not even a slick head ass assistant who simply wants to be where you are on his list of priorities can make you feel crappy about it. You didn’t make it up, babe.
It’s not in your head. It’s in your heart and his, too.
I know a man in love when I see one and Fohr is a man in love, Kit. ”
“When did this air?”
“Two hours ag–”
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Before she could finish her statement, knuckles clashed with my front door. I peered out of the kitchen, down the hall where the door was located as if I could see through it. Although I couldn’t, I had a feeling I knew exactly who was behind it.
“Was that your door?” Ko shrieked.
“Yes.”
“Oh my God, Kit. That man c–”
I placed the phone on the hook, ending the call mid-sentence.
Sorry, babe.
I sauntered down the hall. My hand was on the handle of my door before I even knew what was happening. And in a split second, it was open. The rain rushed inside, wetting the white shirt I’d pulled over my head after an hour-long shower this evening.
Déjàvu.
Tall like my favorite tree to climb.
Thick like the chocolate that I consumed on days that I was feeling naughty and needed a sweet fix after favoring my healthier choices for so long.
Dark like it, too.
And, handsome. Just like on the television screens.
“Kit,” he groaned as if my name brought him unbearable pain.
“Fo… Fohr.” I swallowed the bucket of air that had formed in my throat.
No further words were spoken. He pushed inside, gripping me by the waist and guiding me along with him. His lips crashed into mine. Our tongues reunited and danced to the special occasion.
For the first time in two days, I felt at peace. At home.
“Fuck, I’ve missed you,” he expressed against my mouth.
“I’ve missed you, too,” I confessed.
He pulled away. His eyes cut through me like lasers. I folded under pressure. He could see right through me. I knew it from the contortion of his handsome features.
“What’s the matter, sweet baby?”
I pushed my curls out of my face and shook my head.
“I missed you, is all.”
“That’s not all.”
“I’ve struggled to believe any of it was real the last few days. It was almost too perfect. As if I’d dreamt it all.”
“You weren’t dreaming alone, Kit. And, I’m still trying to wake the fuck up. I hate the world’s halt came to an end and stirred us from our slumber as much as I’ve hated being away from you the last few days.
“I hate the way I can’t get you off my mind and how off things were when I left.
I hate the shit the media has going on and the fact that I’m sure you’ve seen the circus.
I hate I had to publicize my personal business to dead all that bullshit.
I hate that I couldn’t get back to you sooner, and I hate you’ve been feeling anything other than the happiness I promised you.
I hate the way Olivia treated you back at the crib and the fact that I ultimately decided to fire her because of it. ”
“Fohr, you di–”
“She’s been on thin ice for a while, Kit.
I kept her around because she was good at her job.
But, I’m sure there’s someone else who is just as good as her and I’ll find them.
I’m not worried about it right now. All I’m worried about is you.
I got on the first thing smoking to tell you something I should’ve told you before I let you slip out of that door the other day,” he paused and ran his tongue across his lips.
“I love you, Kit Delucca. I’m in love with you.
And, the love I have for you has made it clear that I’ve never truly loved a woman before.
This is– this is all-consuming. Enriching.
Exhilarating. Demanding. Elevating. I haven’t thought the same, felt the same since you and I don’t want to go back to my way of thinking or feeling.
“Because, this is so much better. You’re so much better.
And, though shit is crazy now, it won’t always be this way.
I’ll make sure of it. Your comfort has always been my priority.
Nothing has changed, sweet baby. Nothing.
I just want you around. Now. tomorrow. Next week.
Next year. Always. Will you be around, Kit? ”
I nodded as tears stung my orbs. “Yes. Yes, I’ll be around, Fohr. As long as you’ll have me.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” He chuckled, hoisting me in the air.
“It’s not a threat.”
“Good, because I need you in my world, Kit. In my home. In my bed waiting when I get off that road, giving me the motivation to make it back.”
“Like today?”
“Just like today.”
His lips pressed against mine.
“Come home with me.”
He kissed me a third time.
“Come spend the night with me.”
I lifted his necklace from his chest.
“Only if you promise to get me one of these. Much smaller. Less diamonds. Maybe initials. FM.”
“Whatever you want, baby.”
I pressed my forehead against his. The words I’d waited patiently to reveal were at the tip of my tongue. I’d known for a full week that I was head over heels for the man Fohr had shown me he was. I’d known for a full week that I didn’t want to live a day on this earth at odds with him.
I’d known for a full week that he was the man of my dreams. I’d known for a full week that there was no greater feeling than this one. I’d known for a full week that he made me the happiest.
“Fohr.”
“Yes, baby?”
“I love you. Progressively. Passionately. Comfortably. Happily.”
“I know, Kit. Because loving me is exactly what you were maid for.”
The end.