25
Maeve
Christian remained absent for the next four days, leaving me to take the rest of the week off from work, citing a bout of flu as my excuse. The upcoming weekend was meant to be Gianna's baby shower, which Chels and I were supposed to host at her house. Initially, I had asked Christian to watch the girls while I prepared, but since he had gone MIA, my mom stepped in and offered her assistance.
Tatum had been visiting daily out of concern for my well-being, but I made it clear that I didn't want her to mention Christian. If he couldn't even be bothered to call or send a text for days and was off somewhere with another woman, I honestly wasn't interested in whatever excuses he might have. It was Friday, the girls were at school, and I found myself relaxing at home, just chilling. Truthfully, I wasn’t really interested in what he had to say. I heard the doorbell, and I went to answer it, seeing Chels on the other side of the door.
“Oh hey! I’m here to take you out. Tatum and Gianna are going to babysit tonight, so we are going to the bar. They are calling this their hostess thank-you gift and practice for when they have their babies.”
“It's three o’clock.” I stared at Chels as her heels tapped along the hardwood flooring and into the living area.
“When did that ever stop us?” I gave her a side-eye, and she only laughed at me.
“Come on,” she encouraged. “What are you doing here anyway?” She grabbed my phone from the counter and looked back at me with a shocked expression.
“Maeve. Are you Tinder-ing?” I downloaded the stupid app because I wanted to see if I could find a fake boyfriend replacement.
“I was but realized quickly there was a kink in my plan since the school already knew Christian as my boyfriend.”
Her voice became quite somber, and her excited demeanor quickly changed. “He still hasn’t been back?”
“Nope. At one point, I was worried about him, but Julian keeps reassuring me that he’s safe.”
“But the bastard won't tell you where exactly?” I shook my head. “I tried to get Alex to call him, but no luck there either.”
“It’s okay. I appreciate you trying, though.”
“Turn off your phone, go put on your favorite outfit and let’s go get turned up.”
“I don’t drink much anymore living here with Christian,” I confessed.
“You don’t have to, but at least come to dinner with me?”
I smiled and nodded in agreement, making sure to conference Gianna and Tatum in on exact instructions on how to pick the girls up. This would piss Tyler off, I was sure of it, but I deserve a break today.
It was already well past eight o’clock, and despite having only three drinks, my tolerance had significantly declined since I stopped drinking a few weeks ago. In a YOLO state of mind, Chels took me to one of those upscale restaurants in downtown San Diego's financial district. The place was adorned with wooden accents and plush velvet couches, attracting a crowd of business people who had just finished their workweek.
I dressed in a denim jumpsuit and heels, while Chels worked magic on my hair and makeup. Throughout the past few hours, our conversations covered a wide range of topics, deliberately avoiding any heavy discussions. The thoughts were anxiously swirling around in my mind, so I ordered myself a drink, then another, and that was how I ended up on my third one of the night.
“I have a confession to make.” I crossed my ankles as we sat at the bar next to these guys who kept talking about basketball and their golf games extra annoyingly loud.
“What?” Chels leaned in like I was about to tell her a secret.
“I slept in Christian’s room.” There was a pause.
“Oh my god, Maeve. I thought you were going to tell me something wild.” She started to giggle, and I playfully tapped her shoulder.
“I’m being serious. This week, I missed him so much. I just wanted to stay close to him, so I slept in his bed.” I turned toward my drink at the bar top and signaled to the bartender that I wanted another. Chelsea shot me another warning look, and I just shook her off.
“Is that weird?” I asked her.
“What? No. This man left you completely alone for almost a full week without contact. It’s not weird that you want to be close to him.”
I turned over to the group of guys next to me.
“Do you find me attractive?” I asked them point-blank.
Another very long pause between my friend and this group of men. It was Chelsea who finally chimed in.
“Ignore my friend here.” She grabbed my shoulders, but I tossed her hand off.
“No, I’m being serious.” What had gotten into me? This was too much, even for me, but maybe it was the alcohol that led me to say something, and now I was already far too committed.
“Yeah, why?” the one who was complaining about the score of the basketball game piped up. He was tall, skinny, brown hair—everything Christian was not.
“The man who I am fake dating hooked up with me and then ran out.” A pile of yikes resounded through the group.
“I know. Does he hate me?” I sounded so pathetic right now.
The same stranger chimed in, offering his perspective. "Nah, dudes can be weird sometimes, and we're not always great at expressing our feelings. It probably just freaked him out, you know?"
Chels playfully punched my shoulder and exclaimed, "See!" I turned back to her with a slight smirk. "Is it too early to say I told you so?"
"Ugh, maybe," I replied, looking at her. "I really miss him."
She let out a sigh. "I know."
My gaze shifted to the drink the bartender had just placed in front of me, and a wave of reluctance washed over me. "I shouldn't drink this. I don't want to," I confessed, feeling a pang in my chest growing stronger.
"I think it's time for me to head home and just go to bed," I said, making up my mind. Chelsea nodded in understanding. We settled the bill, expressed our gratitude to the guys sitting next to us for their company, and then headed toward the waiting Uber.
The ride home was silent as my thoughts consumed me, revolving around when Christian would return, or if he would return at all. I missed him, but I couldn't handle him coming in and out of my life. What I needed now was a good night's sleep. I believed that sleep held the answers to all my problems.
“Mommy!” Kelsie and Kinsley tugged at me, and I could have sworn I had just fallen asleep. I had to have just fallen asleep, and it was just a figment of my imagination that it was morning.
“Hey, girls.” I reached over to grab them and give them tickles on the bed while I woke up. “Want pancakes for breakfast?” I asked, and they both nodded quickly.
I rolled over and looked in the mirror, realizing I looked like a mess. My hair was in knots everywhere. I had thrown an oversized pajama shirt over my jumpsuit, and I definitely didn’t wash my makeup off from yesterday, which was now running down my face after sleeping on it.
I figured I would have to change for the shower later today, so whatever, it wasn’t like Christian was even here. As I looked at myself in the mirror one more time, I realized that I had slept in my own bed last night and not Christian’s. Maybe this was a positive step forward.
I rolled downstairs and started to grab things for pancakes while the girls played in the living room when I heard the doorbell ring. I was expecting a cake delivery for the shower, but at eight o’clock? They were early.
I opened the door without looking in the peephole, which was definitely my mistake and realized that it was Tyler on the other side of the door.
“What are you doing here? Tomorrow is your pickup.” I quickly attempted to de-wrinkle my pajamas, and when I looked down, I silently cursed under my breath. I wasn’t even drunk last night, but I think a combination of alcohol and being in my feels really somehow tipped me over the ledge.
“Maeve…what are you doing?” He looked me up and down, and I squared my shoulders back. I wasn’t going to let this man berate me.
At that same moment, I heard my phone ringing and went to the other room where the girls were playing to grab it. Tyler walked in through the house, inspecting it like he was some home inspector.
“Hello?” I answered from the other line.
My mom’s voice was raspy, and I could tell something was wrong. “Honey, I have some bad news to tell you. I cannot stay with the girls today for the shower because I came down with the flu.”
“Oh no, Mom. Are you okay?” I asked, more concerned about her. Bringing the girls with me to Gianna’s wasn’t a big deal.
“Yes, just a fever, and I don’t wanna infect you guys.”
“No worries, Mom. Feel better.” I hung up and noticed that Tyler was playing with the girls. They were showing him their new dolls.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“My mom’s just sick.” I opened the fridge to grab the ingredients for pancakes.
“If you need someone to take them, I can.” I stopped mid-pulling eggs out and stared at him.
“No, Tyler. I got it.” I didn’t want to say anything else in front of the girls, so I asked them if they would go upstairs and put on the clothes I picked out for them before the pancakes were ready. They scurried upstairs.
“What do you fucking want?” I seethed a quiet rage, causing me to slam the eggs down and break a couple.
“I wanted to come by and see where you lived. I came over instead to see you are hungover, look a mess, and haven't changed your unorganized ways.” He looked around at the small mess in the living room. Admittedly, since Christian had been gone, it did get messier, but the cleaners did show up this week, and I did not hire them, so I knew it was Christian’s doing.
“I just slept bad yesterday.” What were you doing, Maeve? Stop making excuses for him.
“Where did we go wrong, Tyler? We used to have dinners together. I just want to go back to that for the sake of the girls. This hatred between us is too much.”
“You went wrong, Maeve. I’m doing this for you,” he insisted, and I rolled my eyes at him. “Stephen says I’m being too hard on you, too.”
I threw my hands up in the air in response.
“Listen to him! He is your partner.”
“Maeve,” Tyler said after a minute, “where is your so-called boyfriend?” He looked around, and I knew I would get caught. When you had shared your life intimately with someone for as long as Tyler and I had, I knew he would know that I was lying the moment something came out of my mouth. Somehow, the truth felt terrifying, though.
“He’s around.” It wasn’t a lie, and it wasn’t the truth. Well, I mean he was around, but not around here.
“I knew it was a farce when you said it in court. Between the surprise on your lawyer's face and the way you just blurted it out.”
“It’s not fake,” I insisted. Another half-truth.
Suddenly, the sound of a key fumbling in the lock broke the silence, and the front door swung open. I hurried out from the kitchen to catch sight of Christian entering as if he hadn't been gone for five days. My heart pounded in my chest, anticipation coursing through my veins as our eyes locked.
Christian's gaze quickly passed over me, landing on Tyler standing in our kitchen. A flicker of confusion crossed his face. I could see the questions swirling in his mind, but I had no time to explain. I mouthed, “Tyler,” to him.
Without hesitation, Christian dropped his bag and closed the distance between us in just three brisk strides. The air crackled with tension as he reached for me, his hand cupping the back of my neck, his touch both familiar and electrifying. Everything else faded away at that moment, leaving only the two of us locked in an intimate embrace.
His other hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me tightly against him. I could feel the warmth of his body, the strength in his arms, as if he was anchoring me to the present. The scent of pine filled my nostrils, a familiar aroma that awakened a flurry of memories and emotions. It was the scent of home, of safety, of the love we once shared.
Right before his lips met mine, he whispered, "I'm sorry.” His voice filled with a mix of regret and longing. Then our mouths collided in a passionate kiss, igniting a fire that had been smoldering between us for far too long. Time stood still as our lips moved in perfect synchrony, a dance of pent-up desire and unspoken words.
A heady mixture of nature's fragrance and undeniable chemistry enveloped us, leaving me craving more. I deepened the kiss, parting my lips to invite him in, surrendering to the intensity of our connection. We weren't just kissing; it felt like we were merging our souls, reigniting a flame that had never truly extinguished.
Reluctantly, Christian broke the kiss but kept his arm securely around my waist, refusing to let me go completely. He glanced over at Tyler, who stood there somewhat dumbfounded, caught in the whirlwind of our unexpected reunion. At that moment, the room held a palpable tension.
“You must be Tyler.” Christian went over to give him a handshake, pulling me along with him. “Is there something wrong? If I am not mistaken, your pickup day is tomorrow?”
“Everything’s okay. Sorry, I just left something with the girls.” A lie, but I would be the bigger person and not call him on it.
“Great. Well, we’ll see you tomorrow. Let me walk you out.”
Christian let go of my waist and then guided Tyler to the door. Before shutting the door, Tyler looked over at Christian.
“An overnight bag, eh?” Christian didn’t respond but just closed the door as Tyler exited.
I turned toward the pancakes quickly, trying to make my hair not look so crazy and throwing some water on my face. I heard Christian check in on the girls upstairs and presumably dropping his bag before coming back down.
“Coming for a refresh on your clothes? Probably didn’t pack enough for being gone more than a week.” I trailed off as I mixed the flour and baking powder.
“Firecracker—” I quickly turned around, whisk in hand, and pointed right at him.
“You do not get to call me that.” The tears welled up in my eyes, and I knew I was seconds away from them bursting like a dam.
“Focus on the pancakes. Add milk, eggs, vanilla, then combine with dry ingredients,” I said to myself, trying desperately to focus on the task at hand and not my spiraling emotions.
“I need to talk to you.” Whisk harder.
“Please, say something.” Mix in chocolate chips.
“I missed you.” I cracked. I grabbed the whisk coated with pancake batter and flung it at Christian. The batter splattered across his face, dripping down and leaving him momentarily stunned.
Christian was usually composed, wearing either his serious business demeanor or his kind and gentle expression when he was with me. There wasn't much middle ground with him. But as he raised a finger to the mess on his face, confusion etched in his features, I noticed the lingering tension from our earlier conversation still furrowing his eyebrows. However, a slight upturn at the corners of his lips betrayed a hint of amusement as he realized his predicament with batter splattered all over him.
Christian stood there, batter dripping down his face, and time seemed to pause for a moment. I couldn't help but giggle at the sight before me, the absurdity of the situation breaking through the heaviness that had consumed us earlier. It was a small, unexpected moment of levity amid the uncertainty that had plagued our relationship.
As the laughter subsided, our eyes locked, and a newfound warmth began to replace the tension that had filled the room just moments ago. Christian's gaze softened, and I took a step closer, closing the physical distance between us. My fingers gently brushed against his cheek, wiping away a streak of pancake batter, his touch sending a shiver down my spine.
I started crying then. I was sure I looked absurd too, because I was laughing at the batter. But the pain, anger, and hurt were still very much there. I was so fucking sad. The weight of the words I needed to share with him felt like bricks just sitting on my chest. I was so mad, so sad, and so fucking happy he was back. To say the least, it was a clusterfuck in my mind.
"I missed you, too," I finally whispered when I let the weight on my chest off. At that tender moment, amid the remnants of pancake batter and the unspoken words hanging in the air, I think he finally realized the depth of our connection.
And I think I realized I might be in love.