Learning to Trust Again

Chapter 4

When Meryl came back inside, she saw Maks standing in her kitchen packing his lunch and breakfast containers up. His back was to her so she knew he wouldn't see her as she quietly walked over to him. She turned her back against the counter and looked at Maks.

"I really appreciate all your help today Maks. Thank you."

"Anything for you Princess." Maks turned to look at her. She felt brave and pulled him so that he was standing right in front of her with his legs on either side of hers. He put his hand on her waist and looked right into her eyes. Meryl could feel his hot breathe on her face. They stayed like that for a few minutes.

"Maks, why don't we go sit down. My feet are killing me and I can't imagine how tired yours must be."

"I'm not that tired actually, but yes, let's go sit. I'll give you my famous foot massage."

"Wait, I thought you were famous for dancing."

"Well that too. Come on. Let's go sit." Maks grabbed Meryl's hand and led her to her couch. He sat down on one side of couch and she sat facing him on the other side and then put her feet in his lap.

"So who get the most of these amazing foot massages?"

"My brother Val and my mom. They are really the only ones I give them too. Them and now you. Do you really like it? It doesn't hurt right?"

"Maks. It's amazing! You'll be asked to give me these more often now."

"Anything for you Princess."

"I need to let my mom that I'm all moved in. I'm going to text her because if I call her, I'll be on the phone all night and we don't want that now do we?"

"No we don't," Maks said with a laugh. "Mind if I watch some TV while you text her?"

"Only if you keep massaging my feet while you watch."

"Deal."

Maks got up and grabbed the remote and Meryl's phone and then handed her phone.

"Thank you."

MD - Hi Mom. I'm all moved in.

CD - Oh great! How did everything go? Did you lift anything??

MD - It went great. Everything came in one piece. No I didn't lift anything. I had lots of help.

CD - Oh good. I'm glad to hear that. So there were lots of workers?

MD - Yes but you'll never guess who I sat next to on the plane that came to help me today.

CD - Meryl, I hope you are being careful but whom?

MD - I trust my gut and it's telling me nothing but good things about this guy.

CD - I trust you. Who did you meet?

MD - Maksim Chmerkovskiy from Dancing with the Stars.

CD - No way!

"Maks come take a picture with me. My mom doesn't believe that I met you and that you came to help me."

"Are you sure you don't just want a picture of us for you to look at when I'm not here with you?"

"Well that too but I really want to send a picture to my Mom to make her believe me."

Maks pulled Meryl onto his lap and Meryl got her phone ready to take the picture. She put her face next to his and told him to smile. She snapped the picture and loved it. She was just about to send it to her Mom but Maks grabbed her phone and took more pictures while tickling her side. The last picture was her favorite. Maks had his eyes closed and was kissing her cheek. Meryl was blushing and looking straight at the camera with a huge smile on her face. She knew she couldn't send that one to her Mom because it would worry her but she found her new lock screen picture for sure. Maks was about to take her phone away again but she stopped him.