Free Honest Love by CM Hutton Page A

And I wasn’t going to be the one to fix it.  I was done fixing things that didn’t benefit me in the least. 
    Derek:
    Please.
    I could feel the tears running down my cheeks.  So, I’d had a friend for a week and now what? 
    After a while, I heard his bike start up and drive away.  I closed my eyes and shook my head.  I was a fool.
    *****
    Sunday was a numb day filled with emptiness.  Not only was I alone without my kids here, but it was the day before Christmas Eve.  I did what I could to occupy my time.  Everything in my whole house had been cleaned twice.  By two o’clock, I was stir crazy, so I decided to go up to my office and prepare for the week.  As I backed out of my driveway, I noticed a large black Ford truck parked across the street.  I hadn’t seen it there before, but lots of neighbors had family in for the holidays. 
    I backed out, closed the garage and took off out of the neighborhood.  In my rearview mirror, I watched the truck follow me and it freaked me out, making me feel really uncomfortable.  So, as I made my way toward the clinic, I decided to take a few small detours to see if it followed.  The truck stayed closely behind me the whole way.  I didn’t want to lead whoever it was to the clinic where I’d be all alone, so I ended up circling back toward my house where I could slip inside the garage, shut the door and feel safe. 
    As soon as I entered Torrey Highlands, I did my best to gain a few minutes on the truck.  I lucked out at one stop sign that delayed Mr. Creepy by several seconds, so I floored it and raced home.  I pulled into the garage and shut the door seconds after I was fully parked.  Just as the door was nearly completely closed, I heard and saw the truck pull up next to the curb.  I was happy to be safe in my home, but scared out of my mind.  If it was Derek, why didn’t he text or call me to say it was him?  He obviously would’ve known I might be scared. 
    I peeked out at the truck through the living room window, but no one got out.  So, I walked around my house making sure every door was lock, every window was securely closed and the alarm was set.  I startled when I heard the doorbell ring and a heavy knock pound on the wrought iron front door.  I was grateful for the frosted, opaque glass, but still stood frozen in the middle of my entryway, trying to decide what to do.  “Claire, open the door.  Please.”  It was Derek.  I was glad it was him, but still confused and a bit pissed all at the same time.  So, instead of opening the door or even talking to him through the glass, I grabbed my phone and took the coward’s way out.
    Claire:
    Derek, go home. 
    Derek:
    Really?  Texting me when I’m at your door?  I spent the whole night outside your house in my truck.  And, just now…I followed you hoping you would stop and talk to me.  Please.
    Claire:
    You scared the hell out of me.  You really are a creeper, aren’t you?  I’m fine.  So are you.  Let it go.  No harm done. 
    Derek:
    I don’t feel like that.  I messed up and need to say I’m sorry to your face. 
    Claire:
    I accept your apology.  Now, go live your life.  Enjoy your holidays.  Please.  For me. I’m good.  Promise. 
    I didn’t say anything about seeing him at the clinic the following day.  As I walked away from where I was standing in the entry, I heard a loud bang on my front door.  He was pissed, but that wasn’t my problem, at least that was what I told myself as I melted into a puddle of tears right in the middle of my entryway.   I. HATE. TEARS.
    I heard him drive away in his truck and felt a little sick.  I went upstairs and crawled into bed.  I didn’t care that it was the middle of the afternoon.  I was sad and wanted to curl into a ball and shut the world out. 
     

Chapter 11
    Derek
    ‘Go live your life.’  What the fuck did that mean?  I totally screwed everything up and now I had to make it right.  I’d gone off the deep end twice