Chapter 48 Matthew, Again.
Chapter 48 Matthew, Again.
KYLIE’S POV
“You’re back earlier than I expected, Jessie said when I got home. She opted to spend the night with me and i didn’t refuse. If I was being honest, I needed her companionship.
“Would you rather I go back?” I teased but she wasn’t smiling and I furrowed my bows.
“Is there a problem?” I asked and she sighed before she took my hand and led me to sit down
“I don’t want to sound like an ingrate, neither do I want to sound like a bad friend who doesn’t want you to be happy But help me understand, what exactly Elijah is playing at?”
“Elijah?” I asked, a bit confused. I wasn’t quite sure where she was going with all this.
“Yes, I mean. I love how he stepped in the moment I called. He handled it well, so well. But I’m not in love with him, sol think I can still be clear–minded enough to forget all the mental drama he’s caused you these past couple of weeks” “Oh.” I finally said. Now I could see where she was coming from. She was worried.
“But you told me to go out with him today?”
She smiled softly, “you needed it. I would have been nothing short of a terrible friend if I told you I didn’t feel comfortable with you going?”
“Did you? Feel uncomfortable with me going?”
She shook her head, “today showed that Elijah would never let anything happen to you. He would put himself between you and danger if he had to.”
“Yeah,” I said, and didn’t know how I felt about that. I did know that I felt something.
“But what happened when the very person who did his best to keep you from harm, So happened to be the harm himsel “Jess…”
“Kylie. You know exactly what I’m saying. You know it’s true. That boy has a lot of secrets. We don’t know which one of those secrets might hurt you.”
I couldn’t argue because she wasn’t even wrong.
“I’m not sure it even matters. He’s called me his friend now.”
She smiled sadly and I knew she wasn’t pretending to care, even though she didn’t really like the idea of Elijah and I being together.
“How do you feel about that?”
“Sincerely? I’m not so sure. On one hand, I should be okay with it, seeing as I was the one who started it, but then again, I’m not. I’m not okay with him calling me his friend. I just have so many emotions going on right now. I’m yet to fully process them.”
“Then, don’t feel like you need to rush into anything just yet. You can just take things easy until you’re really sure. But then, please take into consideration what I said. Please try to prioritize your safety.”
“That’s the thing though, Elijah does make me feel safe. It’s just the secrets he keeps that put me on guard.”
“And the last I need right now is for you to get hurt.”
I thought the two large wolves had seen fighting while out with Elijah and sighed. Jessica barely knew the half of it. But I would do my best to keep things that way.
“I could try.”
“I’m not saying that you should completely cut him off. But maybe, you could just try not to get too caught in him, until you‘ re really sure what you’re really getting into.”
I sighed and nodded, “I could try.” I repeated.
But I knew one thing was for sure, if ever there came a time when I had to walk away from Elijah, it would be the hardest thing ever.
The next day was Saturday and I had work at a Successfully unlocked! ited at. The income wasn’t anything great, but
it was fair for the job and tips were a lot of help.
“What may I get you?” I said to the next customer at the counter before even looking at the person.
“Kylie?” I looked up from my notebook which I had been distracted by when I heard the familiar voice and blinked in surprise.
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Chapter 48 Matthew. Again
“Matthew! What a pleasant surprise.” I said, sincerely pleased to see him and he was smiling widely.
“Fancy seeing you here.” He said and I shrugged.
“Well, I work here, silly.”
“Really? Since when? Because I’m a regular here and I’ve barely caught sight of you.”
“Well, I just started about two weeks ago, and my shifts are quite a few for now”
“Ah, that explains that.” He said and just kept smiling. The silence that followed wasn’t awkward and I found myself smiling
back in return.
“So, tell me, what would you like me to get for you.”
“I’ll have whatever you recommend then.” He said and I smiled and shook my head.
“That might be a risky choice. What if I got you something soaked in vanilla.”
“Well, I’ve never really tried it, but the vanilla it’s going to be. “he said and I chuckled.
“Vanilla latte it is then.” I took it down on my note and started to prepare his drink, very aware of his eyes still on me.
“Have you heard that sometimes people get all clumsy when they feel the eyes of another on them?”
“Are you suddenly feeling clumsy then?”
I turned and gave him a sly smile, “what do you think?” I asked and he chuckled.
“Smells good.” He said when I brought his drink.
“Tasted even better,” I told him and waited till he had a taste.
“Uhn. A whole two years of being a regular and I’ve never really had this. It’s wonderful.”
“I’m guessing you are one of those who order the same thing all of the time.”
He gave me a cheeky grin, “Guilty.”
“Well, now you have me working here, always ready to give you varieties.”
“I guess I’m a lucky man.”
“Hmm. Give me a second.” I told him and went to attend to other customers.
I was back in a couple of minutes and he was still there.
“Soo, Kylie,” he began, and shrugged, “I know better than to keep you with me all through your work hours, so what do you say to another date with me? I know the last one didn’t end well, even though you tried not to show it, I knew you were upset about Justin.”
Honestly, I wanted to forget that entire night. But it was not about Matthew.
“Well..” I began and stopped because I didn’t know what to say. I should have been excited that the handsome senior wanted seconds, but I wasn’t as excited as I ought to have been.
Not when Elijah popped into my head right at that moment without even being summoned.
“Kylie?” Matthew questioned, drawing me out of my thoughts and I looked at him feeing so blank, “are you okay?” He asked and I nodded.
“I am fine, Matthew. It’s just that, I don’t get asked out often while in my work clothes, so that caught me off guard.” He smiled slightly at my joke but he still looked concerned.
“It’s okay, Kylie. You don’t have to rush into an answer just yet. If you decide you want to, just ring me up.” He said kindly and I wanted to slap Myself.
“Nonsense.”
“What?”
“Of course I want to go on a date with you, Matthew.” I blurted out without giving it another second thought.
“You do?” He asked and I nodded.
“I do.”
“You’re sure. You don’t feel pressured.” I smiled and shook my
“I don’t feel pressured.
head.
“Well, okay.” He said and he gave the most charming smile, ” I promise to make it worth your while.”
“I believe that you will,” I said and gave him a flirty smile.
He chuckled as rose, “All right then, I hope you have a great shift.”
“Thank you,” I said and watched him leave. It was only after he had done that I noticed that he left a tip in my tip jar.
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Chapter 48 Matthew, Again.
I smiled and shook my head. It hit me that Matthew was so healthy. I mean, emotionally, he was in a good place and would be capable of a healthy relationship with me. And that was exactly what I needed in my life right now.
In any case, it wasn’t entirely a bad idea to be seeing other people, seeing as Elijah has already begun to call me his friend. I often tried not to dwell on that.
So why was I so hesitant when it came to trying things out with Matthew?
Well, it wasn’t a million–dollar question. It was because of Elijah. It was because no matter how much Jessie told me she worried about me and Elijah, no matter what misgivings I had of him and me, he he a place in my heart, and the thought of giving that space to someone else terrified me.
Even someone as wonderful and sweet as Matthew.
