Page 32 of Cruel King
Not exactly the heartfelt answer I was wishing to hear.
But then she turns back to face me and says, “That’s a lie. It would bother me. I’m not saying I expect anything to be permanent after today because I don’t, but I like spending time with you, Matthias. Now that you aren’t that guy who’s always grimacing whenever I’m around, I was hoping we could hang out again. You know, when it’s not snowing a foot an hour and maybe we could go into town or drive into Manhattan for the day.”
I reach out to take her hand in mine and bring it to my mouth to kiss it. Her skin is soft like a rose petal against my lips. “Don’t you hate having to be so tentative with people when you really want to say you like them? I do. My mother and father used to tell us about how they met, and I don’t think they ever felt like they had to make excuses for wanting to be together. I don’t know why we do these days.”
As I talk, her face lights up from her smile. “I know! My parents used to tell me about when they started dating, and I swear never once did they say anything so wishy-washy. Maybe they edited those things out of their stories, but I don’t think so. My father was crazy about my mother, and she was crazy about him, although it took her a little longer than it did for him. But still, there was none of this ‘well, if you ever wanted to maybe we could if it isn’t too much of a bother’ stuff. Why is everyone our age so unwilling to say what they mean?”
“I don’t know. Maybe everyone’s afraid,” I suggest. “They don’t want to get hurt, so they figure if they couch everything in maybes that will keep them safe.”
“For me, it’s that I know you probably have other girlfriends you see, so I don’t want to think that one day with me means anything to you.”
She stops talking as her face turns bright red. “I mean, girlfriends. Not other. That would mean I think I’m one of your girlfriends, and I don’t. I know this is just one day.”
I can’t let her think she’s that unimportant to me, even if I can’t tell her how much I’ve wished for a day like this to happen. Pulling her to me, I take us both down onto the bed and hold her face in my hands.
“There are no other girlfriends. As for what this is, I don’t know what we should call it, but I haven’t been this happy to be around someone in a long time, Ava.”
“Really? Me too.”
And just like that, whatever this is between us moves from sex to something more.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
Ava
I wakeup alone and missing Matthias. Sitting up, I look out the window and see it continued to snow all night and we got at least another foot of snow. At this rate, my father won’t be able to drive Mr. King and his sons back for days.
That doesn’t make me unhappy, though, because that means I may have another day with Matthias.
I’m nude under the covers, so I look around the room for my robe and see it folded on the chair near the window. He did that, I’m sure, unless I’ve taken to folding clothes in my sleep.
The last thing I remember is the two of us lying back on the bed after talking. I must have dozed off, and he left after that. I wish he had stayed, but I bet he was worried Eleanor might find us this morning.
I wonder why he’s so concerned about anyone knowing we’re together. We’re both adults. Admittedly, my father has told me more than once to not be around him, but I have no idea why he would say that since now I know Matthias isn’t that grumpy guy he always appeared to be. Maybe if my father saw that person instead he’d be happy that we’re hanging out together.
I think about my father finding out I slept with Matthias and instantly know he wouldn’t be happy about that. But not because of who he is but because I’m his daughter. To my father, I’m still that little girl he thinks he needs to worry about and watch over constantly.
The house is quiet when I walk out into the hallway, and I wonder if anyone’s up yet. I didn’t see what time it was when I woke up, but it’s light out so it has to be at least eight o’clock.
As I walk down the stairs, I smell coffee and know Eleanor is already hard at work in the kitchen. It’s warm and welcoming, so I inhale deeply and let the scent fill my nostrils while I head to where she’s busy probably making breakfast.
I don’t hear any voices, which means Matthias is likely still asleep. A twinge of disappointment nips at me as I walk down the hallway to the kitchen. We can talk later. I’m sure we’ll have time today before our fathers and his brothers return from the city.
When I turn the corner into the room, I see Eleanor at the stove cooking pancakes and there at the table is Matthias looking like he’s already showered and ready for the day. How is it possible this person always looks good? I instantly worry my hair is a matted mess and wish I had done more than open my eyes before coming down here.
“Ava, good morning!” Eleanor chirps sweetly. “I have pancakes for Matthias, but I can make you anything you’d like. You name it and it’s yours. There’s coffee too, but I can’t remember if you drink coffee or not.”
I sit down across from him and pat the sides of my head in case my hair is a disaster. “Thanks, Eleanor. I’ll do pancakes too, and I’ll get myself a cup of coffee.”
“Pancakes it is! And you just sit right there, honey. I’ll bring a cup of coffee to you.”
Before I can thank her, Matthias quietly asks, “Did you have a nice sleep? Any problems in the guest room?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Eleanor curiously watching the two of us interact. We must look unrecognizable compared to yesterday.
“It was okay. Thanks,” I say, answering his questions vaguely. Lowering my voice to barely a whisper, I add, “I was disappointed to wake up alone, though.”
He smiles broadly and nods as he whispers, “Same here.”