Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Mateo
When I open my eyes, the room is dark. I’m stiff from sitting up, but grateful that I didn’t end up laying down while unconscious.
I use my hand to examine my nose, which has finally stopped bleeding.
I actually feel alright, all things considered.
I guess all I needed after my long flight was a nap.
Movement at the other end of the sofa draws my attention and I find my nemesis curled up there, head resting against the arm as she sleeps.
Cat.
What the hell is she doing here?
I never would have come home for Christmas if I thought there was any chance I’d see her. Everyone assured me that she was long gone. Off to college somewhere and rarely back to visit.
But here she is, asleep just inches from me.
And why isn’t my family back yet?
I look around the dim room. It’s dark enough in here, and outside, for me to be able to see right through the large window.
And what I see makes me actually laugh.
The sound wakes Cat and she sits up, glancing around nervously. I don’t know what she has to be anxious about, but I avoid her gaze anyway. Just in case she’s nervous to be here with me.
“I can’t believe I fell asleep. I was supposed to be watching over you,” she says softly.
Her voice brings back a rush of memories, each one a dagger straight to my heart.
“I’m fine,” I manage.
She’s on her feet, smoothing her green dress before fixing her long, strawberry blonde hair. “Yeah, but I didn't know that. You were bleeding like crazy and then you just passed out.”
“Nice of you to think of me.” I want my tone to convey how much I would have liked her to care so much eight years ago, when she left me alone on that train platform.
I’m pretty sure I succeed because her worried eyes fall to the floor. “I’m sorry that it didn’t work out between us.”
I don’t want to get into this, so I try to deflect. “It’s fine, Cat. Ancient history.”
“It’s not fine—”
“Yes,” I interrupt sternly, “it is. What happened happened. We were kids. It was probably for the best.” I don’t believe my own words, and I don't know if she will either.
“How can you say—”
“I’m going to head up to my room.”
“Oh.” Her fiery gaze, which had been pointed at me, drifts away. “Yeah. I should probably head out.”
“Fat chance of that.”
Her eyes meet mine, confusion painted over her features. I gesture toward the window with my head, holding her gaze.
When she walks over to the large picture window, she gasps. And then laughs out loud just like I did.
The sound pains me more than my nearly broken nose ever could.
Hell, more than any broken bone at all. It’s soft and sweet, melodic.
Suddenly, it’s as if we’re right back to the time before I left for Chicago—alone.
The good times, when we were growing up, getting closer and closer. Falling in love.
Or, I was falling in love anyway. I’m not sure what she was doing.
I shake it off and turn to where she’s still at the window. “I must have been out for a while. That much water would have taken hours to accumulate. The drains must be blocked.”
She glances over her shoulder at me. “Must be why no one came back to the island.” Concern furrows her brow, and her smile fades. “I hope they’re okay.”
I grind my teeth as I consider the implications of her statement and our situation.
The house is empty—except for the two of us. And now a freak December tropical storm threatens to keep us trapped here, alone, for days.
I sigh. Why me? What did I do to deserve this kind of torture?
“Do we have food?” I ask, needing to say something to still the war raging in my mind.
“Yes, of course. I mean, not the full feast the staff was planning, but they’ve been shopping for weeks in preparation. My guess is they just went in today for produce and bread from the bakery.”
I nod. “Okay, well…I guess I’ll be seeing you around the house, then.”
I turn and prepare to leave the room. To walk away from the only woman I've ever loved. The one who still haunts my dreams. The one who betrayed me beyond forgiveness.
When her voice stops me, the feeling that rushes over me can only be described as relief.
“Mateo.”
I pause in the doorway but don’t turn. I know what I want her to say, but somewhere deep down, I’m sure she’s not going to.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry about how it all happened. If I could explain—”
I turn too quickly and have to steady myself with a hand on the doorframe. “Go ahead. Explain.”
The overhead lights in the foyer behind me cast enough light on her face for me to see the anguish there. The tears.
What does she have to be so upset about?
She’s the one who ruined everything.
“I can’t,” she finally manages to get out.
My confusion and pent-up emotions all boil into anger.
“What do you mean you can’t? You left me there, alone, waiting for you.
You never answered a single one of my calls or texts.
And you have no explanation for why you did it?
Why, Cat? What did I do that was so terrible that you would cut me out like that? ”
She’s full on crying now, pushing her tears to the side with her hands as she tries to keep holding my gaze. She always was the strong one.
“If I could tell you, I would, Mateo, I swear to you—”
I’ve heard enough. My journey back from a broken heart over the last eight years was long and painful. The last thing I need to do is tear the damn thing back open again.
I hear her steps behind me as I head for the stairs. I’m dreading the moment when she catches up, but I'm still not steady enough to run.
If I could, I would. I would run right out the front door into the storm. I would run anywhere to avoid what I know is coming.
Her hand touches down on mine with what feels like an electric shock. I snatch my hand back quickly. Roughly.
Cat watches me recoil from her touch. A fresh river of tears starts down her cheeks and I have to look away.
“You have to understand…” she starts, but I have no patience for this.
“No, Cat. I don't have to understand anything. You could make me understand. You could speak the words and tell me why. Maybe then I’d understand.”
She says nothing, her gaze dropping to the floor, shoulders curling in.
“But you’re not going to. So, I’m just going to go upstairs and keep not understanding.”
This time, when her soft, warm hand snakes its way up my arm, I don’t pull away. The warmth of her touch seeps into my skin and my eyes fall closed.
I feel her take a step closer as I stand frozen to the spot. My mind screams at me to flee, but my body refuses to obey.
I keep my eyes closed as she climbs another step, bringing us to an even height. I could cry now myself, as the memories of us standing this way so many times, in this very spot, wash over me.
I know what comes next, but somehow, I’m still not prepared for the kiss.
Her lips touch down on mine so softly, timidly, waiting for me to push her away.
Why am I not pushing her away?
Instead, I find myself leaning into it, allowing her hand to travel further up my arm, around my shoulder.
My own hand reaches out to touch her, landing on her waist and moving to her lower back, even though I don’t remember telling it to.
Cat presses her lips more firmly, and I feel them part slightly in offering. The logical part of my brain seems to have checked out, because I open for her, allowing her to deepen the kiss.
It feels light, soft, warm, and so fucking perfect. Just like it was before. She and I have always fit together like puzzle pieces.
I can’t reconcile this woman with the one who made promises that she didn’t keep. The one who helped me create a dream world and then smashed it all down. What is she doing standing here, on the stairs, allowing her lips to tell me a different tale?
Is this really the touch of someone who hates me enough to break my heart?
But she did.
Anything I’m feeling right now…is all in my head.
I break away and take a step backward. I try to look anywhere other than into those familiar green eyes, but her gaze catches mine long enough for me to see the longing there. The hope. It’s almost as if she’s waiting for me to save her.
Maybe I have a concussion after all, because there’s no way she needs saving.
Right?
I take a deep, steadying breath and shake my head.
Sidestepping where she still stands on the step above me, I head up the stairs without another word.