Free A Matter of Trust by LazyDay Publishing

time soon. If you think it was just sex,
you’d better rethink it. We’re not going to be just friends, Trish,
much less friends with benefits. I don’t know what’s got you so
spooked, but we’re going to figure it out. Together. You’re going
to have to talk to me. You’re right, we’re both adults. It’s time
you started acting like one.”
    “ Just who the hell do you
think you are, Jake? You don’t tell me what I’m going to do and
what I’m not going to do. You’re not in charge of my life, I am.
You can’t just lay down the law and expect me to fall into line.
And as far as acting like an adult, believe me, I’m there. I have
two kids to raise, no husband, and I grew up a long time ago, so
don’t you dare suggest otherwise. I’m up to my eyebrows in
adulthood. You have no idea what I’ve been through, so don’t you
sit there and read me the riot act.”
    “ That’s right, I don’t
know what you’ve been through, because you haven’t shared it with
me. Why don’t you tell me, Trish? Help me understand why you’re
willing to throw this away without even giving it – giving me – a
chance. I don’t know about your past, but I know you’re hurting,
and I know you’re scared. I want to be there for you. You just have
to let me.”
    “ I don’t need you or
anyone else to be there for me. I don’t need anyone’s help. I can
take care of things all by myself. That’s the way I like
it.”
    “ Well, too damn bad.
You’re not going to just use me and walk away. I’m not walking, so
you can just forget about it.”
    “ Out! Get out of my house.
I have to get ready for work.”
    “ Fine, I’ll leave. But I’m
coming back tonight, and we’re going to talk this through. That’s
what adults do, Trish. They don’t run away when they’re scared,
they face their fears with the people who are important in their
lives, and they work through them. I plan on being important in
your life, Trish. You’re already important in mine.” He bent down
and kissed her hard and fast one more time, and turned around and
left without a backwards glance.
    Trish touched her lips and continued
to stare at the door where Jake had just exited. She already felt
colder without him. Crap. She would not depend on him. She would
only depend on herself. Less chance for disaster that way. She
didn’t want to talk to him about anything. She was facing her fears
and conquering them. She didn’t need his help or anyone else’s to
get her life in order and keep it that way.
    Trish knew she’d hurt him,
knew she would hurt him more before she was through, or more aptly,
until she convinced him that they were through. She didn’t want to hurt him, but
she couldn’t chance trusting him with her future or that of her
children. So what if he seemed reliable and solid. She knew well
that you couldn’t trust impressions of people. She’d believed in
Pete, too, and look where that had landed her. She’d relied on her
husband to watch out for her and the kids, to work with her as a
full partner, only to find out that he’d lied to her for years and
ruined their life together. She would not take a chance on another
man again. The only person she could and would trust was
herself.
    Trish got dressed, put her hair in a
braided bun on top of her head and went to work. She arrived at
five minutes to nine. She walked inside and saw Diana at the front
desk, getting organized for her day, which is what she should have
been doing hours ago.
    “ I just called you, Trish.
Is everything alright? This is the first time I’ve ever beat you to
work. Are you feeling ok?”
    “ Yeah, sure. I just
overslept is all. Everything okay here?”
    “ Yes, everything’s good.
You have an appointment at ten thirty at the Ysleta ISD offices to
discuss new teacher professional development. Other than that,
you’re open until school lets out at three thirty when you’ve got
three kids coming in for testing. We have twelve scheduled