LOST INTO THE VINE (BWWM)

CHAPTER 46

Turning the key, she switched off the engine and put her leg off the pedal. Her hands still on the steering wheel, she leaned forward and laid her head on it. She clenched her eyes shut and let out a big deep breath, her stomach turning with nerves. Nala lifted her head and laid her back on the seat, and her head on the resting place, her eyes on the house in front of her. It looked almost as it had from the last time she visited, more than a year ago. The two-story Victorian house stood steady, looking new, seemingly repainted. The flowers in the beds were bright and welcoming. She remembered when she first visited the city, with her best friend, Bree, they'd driven across the country from New York, where Bree was studying for her masters in business and Nala was working. They'd instantly connected when Bree defended her from a white man harassing her at the café she was working at the time.

Nala had suggested they go out for drinks, on her as gratitude, as she was the only one who helped her when she was being harassed as the others watched. And drinks they went for, which turned to more dates, eventually, Bree had to travel back home for some holiday and Nala went with her at Bree's invitation. They'd found Cassie, Bree's mom on her knees, tending to her flowers. Nala gave her some pointers and they connected on working on that garden for a few days together.

Even as she thought of switching on the ignition again and leaving, she opened her door and got out, took her purse and luggage from the back seat, then put it back. She was not going to go ahead of herself. Closing the door, she clenched her fist around her purse and slowly made her steps to the front door. Even at the door, she had half a thought to go back to the car and drive away. Before she could do so, the door flew open startling her, her eye wide. The woman on the other side of the door, smiled at her, her eyes brimming with tears, her arms opening for a hug, "it's about time you came around, sweetie." Nala choked down the tears she did not know she had left and launched herself to the woman, who wrapped her tightly in her embrace. She sank into the embrace, much like Olivia's, a motherly embrace, something she did not know until she met these two women. Which made her want to cry even harder.

"I'm sorry I'm late," she said, still hugging the woman. Cassie caressed her back, calming her down, "we grief differently darling, I'm just glad you came back to us." Pulling away but still holding onto each other, they smiled at each other. Nala looked at the woman before her, really looked at her, she had gained weight, she looked better, her brunette hair now silver dyed. She looked good. Cassie's eyes looked her over the same way, her gaze full of concern, when she softly ran her hand over her head, "we heard from Adiah what happened to you. We were so worried, we planned on coming to see you." Nala's eyes widened, "to Spain?" The woman nodded, putting her hands on Nala's arms, "you're like a daughter to us, Nala. We were worried about you. Bree was making plans actually." Footsteps echoed, getting closer to them, "are you going to let her in or what?" Her face transformed into a smile again, looking at the older man standing at the edge of the stairs, "David!" His smile matched hers, even though his eyes were full of concern, "hello darling, good to see you remember this old man." As she was let in, he embraced the man who'd treated her as his own daughter.

Breaking their embrace, he put his hand on her shoulder, leading her further into the house. "How are you doing darling? How was Spain?" She smiled up at him cheekily, taking a seat from him, "the weather is definitely better than Texas." The man laughed as his wife joined them, smiling at their interaction. "I'm sorry I couldn't get anything from where I was, I left in a hurry," Nala apologized to the couple. Cassie waved her hand, dismissing the comment, "we don't care about that, honey. As long as you are well, we care about nothing more." The older woman pulled her to her feet and led her to one of the guest rooms, "why don't you freshen up or take a nap, while dinner gets ready. Marcus will get your luggage from the car." She hugged the woman one more time before getting in the room.

Nala stripped out of her clothes and headed for the showers. As she washed up, memories of Matthew filled her mind. She remembered when they first met, in the very room she was in.

Nala had gone to freshen up in the room, before Bree took her to one of the bars around town, when she came face to face, more like face to chest with Matthew, who was getting out of the bathroom, his towel low on his hips. She'd swallowed hard, stood there tongue-tied, not moving until he did and h made a step towards her. She tilted her head upwards to look at him, his lips curved in a predatory smirk and his eyes swimming with mischief, "a picture lasts longer." She visibly rolled her eyes, no longer motionless, and clucked her tongue, "do people actually use that line? It got you from an eight, down to a three." Widening his stance, he crossed his brawny arms across his chest, "oh really? Then why are you still staring? My eyes are up here."

Nala shrugged and copied his stance, putting one hand under her chin, in a thinking motion, then outright looked him up-down, "you are good to look at, but you already know that." Her hands falling back down, she looked him in the eye, pasting a smile on her face, "I'll come back after you're done." Without waiting for his answer, she turned and walked out, closing the door behind her. Leaning on it, she pressed her palms on her face. Yes, her face was hot. She was feeling hot. For this guy who obviously had an ego, the size of Texas.

Cassie had passed her in the hallway and asked if everything was okay, she immediately nodded and blabbered something about her forgetting something in the car and quickly walked away, muttering to herself. Later that evening at dinner is when she officially met Matthew, and he was introduced to her as Bree's older brother, by a few minutes. And he'd joined Bree and herself to the bar after dinner. He practically chased all the men who tried to approach both women, with a single glare.

Nala moved her head into the shower waterfall, the warm water washing her tears away. She vaguely heard a knock on the bathroom door, and a voice asking if she was okay. "I'm fine, getting out now," she answered back, turning the water off. Robing up, she splashed cold water on her face then looked up at the mirror, her eyes red and puffy, it was obvious she was crying. She silently stood by the door after opening it, her eyes glued to the green eyes staring back at her. "Bree..." she choked, unable to say more. The woman stood from the bed and crossed the distance between them, enveloping Nala in a tight hug, "I missed my best friend." The woman mumbled softly. Nala wrapped her hands around the taller woman and closed her eyes tight, she was not going to cry again, for Pete's sake.

"You're finally home, how are you?" Bree pulled away slightly, looking right at her. They had both left the state, both ran, not dealing with their grief. Not having seen each other in many months, not there they were, in each other's arms again. Nala wiped her tears away with the back of her hand, "I'm good." Except I'm not. Her friend frowned at her, her eyes almost glaring, "I don't believe you. What is going on with you?" Nala closed her eyes and signed, shaking her head, "there's nothing to tell." Her friend smiled sadly, squeezing her, "which proves there is something going on. Dress up first before you catch a cold."

Unembarrassed, she stripped off the robe and toweled off, then put on her clothes. Then sat on the bed, looking at her friend who was already looking at her, specifically at her scarred head. "How is trouble always finding you?" she grumbled, her fingertips dancing over the healing scar. "Guess I'm a magnet," she answered with a shrug.