Chapter 26: Chapter 26

"Are you gonna tell me now?" I say to Maya as the hair stylist runs her fingers through my just-curled hair.

Maya looks up from the magazine she was reading and gives me a look.

"What?"

"That this is a bad idea? That you told me so the first time? That he already made me come back in tears and I should learn from that?" I ask, waiting for her to approve.

This should be a bad idea....shouldn't it?

Still, why can't I resist going on a date with him? Why am I thrilled yet frightened by the idea of spending a nice, private time with Kyle Robinson.

"Say something." I say, my voice high with paranoia.

"Like what? He is taking you out on a proper date, Marcy. I don't want us to fight because of him again."

"So you have a bad feeling about this? You think this date is a bad idea right?"

"No I don't. Why are you panicking? You obviously have feelings for him, if not you won't be here getting ready." She says with a shrug.

"You brought me here!" I say and Maya laughs, looking at me like I'm throwing a tantrum.

"Marcy for God's sake, calm down. Its just a date."

"Its Kyle Robinson."

"Whom you happen to really, really like. And I felt if you like him this much, then maybe I should cut him some slack. There is no harm in getting your hair and nails done." She says and I can't help but observe her.

For someone that hated his guts just a week ago, she seemed way too relaxed compared to me.

I was more than freaking out.

All the times I lived with Kyle, I felt I knew more and more of him everyday. And that's why I was so confident in going on that dinner with him.

Then it all backfired and blew up in my face. And as I signed the resignation form in the contract, I couldn't help crying,...questioning everything I thought I knew about him.

"Stop being so paranoid, Marcy. Whats the worst that could happen?" She asks, dipping her feet in the warm water.

"That it could all blow up in my face....again." I say, nearly oblivious to the fact that Maya is trying so hard not to smile.

"What? What is so funny?"

"Im sorry, Marcy. Its just so cute watching you act exactly the way he said you would." She says, laughing.

"He? He, who?"

"Kyle. I'll be honest, I wasn't willing to speak to him at all, but then he seemed so determined to talk to me about the date. He said he wanted it to be perfect but he knew you would have doubts later and start acting parano--"

"Wait, wait, wait. You spoke to him? When did this happen?" I ask, surprised beyond reason.

"Yesterday." Maya says and shrugs, like its a normal thing for her and Kyle to have a conversation.

"How did he even know we were friends?" I ask, watching Maya admire the blue colour of nail polish on her fingernails.

"Through Josh. They came home together and Josh was like, 'Thats her.'"

I blink, trying to soak it all in. Kyle went to Maya's place after he asked me out...to make it perfect.

"Hey." Maya says and I look up at her.

"It'll be worth it. Trust me."

****

I want to believe Maya is right, but staring at my reflection in the mirror only gives me the de ja vu feeling of the first time I went out with him.

Its a simple, sleeveless tight violet gown. Except for my back being completely exposed and the sparkle of the gown reflecting under the light.

Knock, knock, knock.

Kyle.

He's here.

I grab my purse and head slowly for the door, thinking of a reason to delay. Ty wasnt around, if not I would have told him to stall.

Almost remotely, I open the door to find the one man that manages to get my heart racing and mouth speechless....

His beautiful blue eyes scan my appearance, from my heels to my eyes. Then he gives an adorable half smile.

"You look stunning." He says and I open my mouth to speak but all that comes out is,

"You're not wearing a tie."

He really wasnt. He wore a button shirt and a jacket...not a blazer. Then simply black trousers and shoes.

It was the first time I had seen him dress so casual, excluding his running gear and gyming outfit.

His eyes are back on mine, looking a bit surprised.

"You wanted me to wear a tie?" He asks.

"N-no. I..."

Oh, God...I cant breathe....

"Im sorry." I say quickly, almost as quickly as I rush back into the apartment and shut the door.

I lean against it now, tightening my eyes shut and trying to convince myself that nothing will go wrong.

But I cant.

For the life of me...I cant.

"Marcy..." Kyle's voice comes from the other side of the door.

Then he knocks.

"Marcy, please. Open the door." He says and it reminds me of the day I came back crying after the disastrous date with Alex.

He had stayed out my door, apologising and reassuring me it wont happen again.

That side of him was all I thought I needed to know about him.

That was the only side of him that I let myself accept.

I neglected the commanding part, and every other possible bad side.

Until the dinner at Holly's.

"Marcy, please."

"Its probably not going to end well again and I dont want to regret it." I say, eyes shut.

"You won't. You won't regret it, I promise you."

"You made promises last time that ended up being lies."

"Because last time I wasnt sure of a lot of things. I was still trying to decipher things between us and.... And I didnt know where I stood. I didnt know who I was with you and who to be with them."

His words surprisingly give me a brief sense of relief and I open my eyes and turn around to watch him through the peephole.

"But now I know who I am with you, and thats the kind of person I want to be. And tonight I want you to realise what youve made me." He says as he runs his hand through his hair, but this time, it wasnt combed perfectly.

No.

It was perfectly disheveled.

"You dont have to believe me yet, but please....Just open the door."

This time, completely conscious of my actions, I open the door and the relief that envelopes his innocent expression tears at me.

"I'm sorry that I panicked--"

"Its okay." He says as he takes my hand and pulls me close, then looks straight into my eyes.

"You are beautiful." He says, then plants a soft kiss on my forehead.

The simple act, along with the compliment sends a wave of feelings through me as I follow Kyle to the elevator and out of the building.

Its when we've walked past the parking lot that I realise his car isn't there.

"Umm, Kyle?" I say but he keeps leading me forward, and suddenly stops.

"Why are we standing here? Where is your car?" I ask and before he replies, a couple of beautiful white horses round the corner to our front, pulling a black and white carriage behind them.

Then the man leading the horses steps down and opens the carriage door, slightly tipping his hat.

I turn to Kyle, completely speechless and overwhelmed.

"A carriage ride? This is...." I cant exactly force the words out and Kyle has a slight smile on his face.

"I didnt want to put on a suit and get my car and take you to the fanciest restaurant. Its expected but it's not who I am with you. With you, I am old fashioned rides and sunsets, and I love it. And I want you to know that." He says and I search his eyes for a clue, or anything to prove that this is a dream....or a lie.

But its every bit as real as the pool of feelings in his eyes.

"You love who you are with me?" I ask and he gives a simple nod before he helps me into the carriage.

Every single person is staring at the carriage as we ride pass but I cant take my eyes off Kyle to care enough.

The ride is longer than I expected and the horses keep going.

"Did we miss our stop?" I ask him and he just nods towards our front. We're at the waterside and the horses come to a stop

"We're there now." He says and I follow his gaze. The sight of the huge white yatch knocks the breath out of my lungs.

Oh my God.......

"Kyle, I....this is....I dont...." I let my words trail off as he helps me out of the carriage.

"How did you manage to plan this? All of this, in just a day." I ask him and his gentle smile remains as his eyes study me.

"I'd use five minutes to buy you the world if I could, because I love to see this happiness in your eyes. This is how a dinner with you should be." He says and caresses my neck and cheek with his hand. I cant help but lean into this tender feeling.

"Special." He continues,

"On a nice, quiet yatch ride, watching the sunset and listening to your laugh." He says.

I don't know what to say so I just lean forward and kiss him slowly on the lips, savoring the moment....

Savoring the feeling....

Savoring the day Kyle Robinson changed from making me strip in his room to taking me out to dinner on his yatch.

The whole experience wasnt slow enough, no matter how much I wished it would....

Time refused to stop.

One moment we're seated at our table just on the outside of the yatch.

Now we're done with desserts and as the waiter clears the table, I can only think of how the date is slowly coming to an end.

"I never knew you could see so many stars in Orlando." I say, looking up.

"Yeah,...me neither." He says and when I turn to him, his eyes are fixed on me.

Suddenly, he gets up and rounds the table to my side, then holds out his hand.

"Would you like to dance, Marcella?" Kyle says and I blink at his words.

"But...there's no music." I say, even as I find myself taking his hand and he pulls me up in a swift move, bringing me so close to him.

"I know....I dont want anything to distract me from being with you, at this very moment." He says and sweeps his hand round my waist, while his other hand holds mine.

"I've never slow danced in my life, so bear with me." Kyle says, holding my gaze and I giggle at his familiar confession.

"I'd still pick this moment with you than with an expert in tango." I say and he chuckles soflty, sending vibrations of his deep laughter through our body contact.

"That makes two of us." He says then pulls me even closer, and kisses me.

Ever so softly...

Ever so breifly...

It is yet the gentlest kiss he had ever given me and the second it is over, I hesitate a little before looking back at him.

The minute our eyes make contact again, I notice the waves of emotions flooding Kyle's blue eyes, making the shade get darker then lighter.

As soon as it starts, its over and he stares back at me with an eminent look of fear.

"Kyle?" I ask when he suddenly lets me go, breathing heavily. Then he turns his back to me.

"Kyle, are you alright? What is it?" I ask, with all sorts of fearful scenarios rhnning through my mind.

Is he having another allergic reaction?

When I reach for him however, he moves away to the far end of the boat, with his hands covering his face.

"No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no." He is muttering.

"Kyle, whats wrong?" I ask now, almost yelling with panic when he finally turns to me.

"Marcella...." he begins, breathing heavily.

"Kyle."

"I love you." Come the words in shuddering breaths but loud enough to be heard.

I cant move.

Cant think.

Cant process it fast enough.

"You...you...."

"I love you, Marcella. I love you. I love you. I'm in love with you."  He is saying and the words I'm willing to speak get stuck at my throat.

Shy of being said.

Shy of being spoken.

Kyle stares at me, studying my silence.

"I cant help it, I.... I  just....FUCK!!" He yells now, scaring me off my wits.

"God-fucking-dammit!" He swears.

"Kyle--" I move closer but he stops me.

"Don't! Just dont come near me." He says and then walks past me, heading inside.

"Kyle wait--"

"Dont you get it?! I've never said that to anyone. Ever." He says and I see what I fear most in his eyes.

Regret.

"You have to go. Arrange a car for her." He says to the guard standing at the door and he nods.

"Yes, Mr. Robinson."

"Wait, Kyle!" I hurry to him but the guard stops me.

"No, stop! Kyle! Dont walk away from me!"

"You have to leave." He says without turning back and i cant bear to watch him leave.

To watch everything crumble all at once.

"For God's sake, just look at me!" I yell.

"KYLE!!"

"I was wrong, okay? I  shouldn't have said it." He says and my fear turns to anger.

"Wrong? You finally tell me how you feel about me and thats wrong?" I yell and he whips around and marches up to my face.

"What's your point?"

"My point is, that's not wrong at all. Wrong is me not telling you that I love you first." I say and watch all the anger on his face vanish.

"I panicked okay? I was seeing so many sides of you that it frightened me to even admit it to myself." I say and Kyle gestures to the guard to let me go.

"But this date made me realize a lot. Sure, I was scared of opening up, but then you said it and I was just caught off guard that you could admit it....and that you felt the same way." I say and he just stares at me silently.

"You're a handful, you know that?" He says now and I smile with relief.

"Yes, I do." I say and he punctuates my reply with a kiss.

"You still have to go home." He says against my lips and I giggle.

"Yes, Mr. Robinson."