Talk to Me
| Just Breathe It was almost 9 o’clock when she pulled up to his house. She sat in the car for a few minutes, again debating in her mind whether this was a good idea or not. She was scared. She acknowledged that. She was giving up part of her control to let someone else into her life. Someone whom she didn’t know much about. Someone who had already hurt her once. She reasoned with herself that he truly did seem regretful and sorry over that situation and that his concern and offer of friendship seemed genuine. He had helped her when there was no one else. And for all her pushing he refused to run away. She was a strong person, but even in her strength the needed someone strong to be there for her when her own strength faltered. He seemed to want to be there for that, at least for now. He was offering friendship with a hope for more. Sighing she took her keys out of the ignitions grabbed her overnight bag and walked up to the front door. It took a few minutes but Nick finally answered the door. She was just about to turn away and leave when she heard him unlocking the door. When he opened it she saw his ruffled and puffy eyes and knew he had been asleep. “Nick I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have come here. I didn’t mean to wake you up.” He moved from the opening of the doorway to allow her room to come in, but she just stood on the front step. “Come in, come in. It’s okay. I was on the couch watching TV waiting for you. I guess I drifted off. It’s no big deal. Please come in.” Finally she walked past him into the house. Looking around she wasn’t sure what to say or where to go. “Here let me take that upstairs for you.” He took the bag from her hand and she followed him upstairs without a word. “I figured you might like to see the water so you can have Aaron’s room. He won’t be here and he won’t mind.” He was saying as he walked into a room near the far end of the upstairs hallway. “Thanks. If you are sure he won’t mind. If so I don’t mind being in another room. The view of the water downstairs is beautiful enough.” She was standing just inside the room looking around. The curtains were open and she could see the blue waters of the Gulf sparkling in the morning sunlight. The view gave her the urge to swim and she wished she had thought to grab her swimsuit. But things of fun, like swimming, had been so far from her thoughts lately. “I’m sure he won’t mind. It is his room when he is here, but it is a regular guest room when he isn’t. So, it’s cool.” He put her bag down and walked back to the door. “Well, um, I’ll give you some privacy to take a bath, change, whatever. You should find everything you need in there.” He was pointing to a closed door on the sidewall, presumably the bathroom. “Just let me know if you need anything, okay?” “Okay.” She answered while nodding her head. Nick pulled the door closed behind him and went downstairs to lock up. He was tired and was sure she had to be as well. After locking the doors and setting the alarm he himself went upstairs. Walking past her door he heard water running and figured she was taking a shower. After only a few seconds of standing there he continued on to his own room at the very end of the hall and crawled under his covers, drifting immediately into sleep.
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