Edging Closer ▶️

Chapter 3: Step 3 - Jump

Matty buried her face deeper into the pillow, hoping to block the light coming in from the window.

Somehow, the past two days went by so fast and so dramatically overwhelming that it's taking everything in her not to pray to get swallowed by the ground. As much as she wanted to feel elated about everything Drake told her, it was all too surreal that she can't help but think it all happened in her head.

For four years, Matty has managed to keep her heart from wanting to jump out of her chest. Not that anyone has gotten close to making her feel what Drake made her feel. The distance helped her through. But now that he's always less than a few feet away, she's an emotional and a lovestruck wreck molded into one insane woman.

Matty snuggled closer to her pillows when she felt a feather light touch on her ankle. She screamed until her throat went raw. She managed to land a kick on whoever touched her, but eventually lost her footing as she dropped face first from the bed.

"Matty? Matty? Shit. Are you okay?"

She groaned before putting both her hands down on the floor and pushing herself up. The door slammed open as she was trying to regain her balance.

Mark held the door open, holding a bat on one hand.

"Get out of my sister's room before I plum- it's you?" He stopped screaming the moment his eyes landed on Drake, helping up a dizzy Matty.

"I'm going back to sleep." he complained.

"Sorry about that." Drake apologised. Mark waved his hand and went out, closing the door behind him. He faced a pissed Matty.

"Are you gonna scream at me?"

Matty poked his chest with her finger frantically. "You scared the shit out of me! What are you doing here? Didn't you leave last night? Don't you have work?"

Drake held her finger to stop her from jabbing. He dragged her, sitting her down on the bed. He got down on his knees and placed his hands on her bed, caging her between his arms.

"I did leave. For about five minutes. I made it as far as the bus stop before I came running back," he admitted, pushing a bit of his hair back. "It's like my head is trying to catch up with you. I lost four years with you Matty, and to be honest, I want to make up for that."

Matty looked down in embarrassment. It was downright confusing and somewhat amazing hearing him say such things - she liked it so much that it scares her.

It took all of Matty's strength to look into his hazel eyes and give a helpful smile. "It's not your fault that I left, Drake. You were never the reason why I wanted out. If anything, I should thank you. Because if you never gave me that pep talk, I never would have quit my job, and I'd still be stuck styling baby carrots with my editor screaming at my ear." She breathed deeply. "If I never left, I would have never had the courage to write you that letter and..."

"And we would never be here," he finished. His smile was so heartwarming that she unconsciously brought her hands over Drake's.

Drake took her hands and brought them to his lips, covering them with kisses. "Spend the day with me. One day."

Matty drew her hands back and snorted. "You're slobbering on my hands. And no, you have work, so much work. The last thing I want to become is an overbearing, high-maintenance girlfriend."

Her hands flew up on her mouth as soon as she realized what she had just said. She extended her fingers so they covered her eyes and started sniffing.

"Oh my God. I'm such an idiot," she mumbled incoherently.

"Are you crying? Hey." Drake rubbed his hand on her head and tried to get her to look up.