MR WRONG

Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

   With a sigh leaving my chest, I felt a little deflected. She's denying it. Bollocks. Anyway, I tell her which Thomas DVD is popular right now, and I know I should give up, but before I turn away, I try one last time.

"Are you sure I don't know you? I think you came in here. You said you liked Wham. You didn't have a kid then, but. I mean, you still don't look old enough to have one now."
Again, her face flamed while she once again said it wasn't her.
"As for my age... I guess fate's got a funny sense of humour. I also don't like 'Wham' or any other music. Sorry, I need to go." She said and moved to walk away while pushing her kid in his pushchair.
I don't know why, but for some reason, I reach out and take hold of her arm. I'm gently pulling it away from the handle of her kid's pushchair, where I then take hold of her hand. Holy fuck! Her eyes snap up to mine with total shock, written all over not only her face but mine too. Sadly, by the time I pull myself together, I notice she's practically running out of my store. She's leaving me in total shock.
"What the hell was that?" Jeff called out from across the counter. I pull my stunned eyes away from where she walked out and tell him, I have no idea, but I need to find out.
I move towards the doorway, and he called out again, reminding me she has a kid. That's when I turn to look at him. I see his eyes are wide, obviously shocked I'm doing this.
"Jeff, I don't care. She's been stuck in my head for almost three years now. I'm not backing out now."

***

JOLIE:
   What the hell was that? Holy crap on a crap-stick! My heart is pounding in my chest. He only touched my hand, and I felt it. For the first time in a long time, I felt it. Hell, I don't think I've ever felt that before, but I felt it. I can only describe it as a buzz running up from hand then my arm and my body. I swear, my heart jumped and pounded against my chest, causing my insides to feel funny.
Yes, I do remember him. Of course, I do. As soon as I heard his voice, I knew it was him before I even looked at him. Sadly, I pretended not to know him because I'm too scared. As much as I was pretty fascinated by him back then, I don't think he'd handle my crazy brain right now. As you know, I've changed a lot since then. I'm more harder, so it would take a mighty hammer to crack open my stone-covered heart. Oh lord, he's still gorgeous though. Jesus, and he still smells good. When he moved in, I got a noseful of his scent. I'm not sure what it was, but it sure smelt divine.
How I wish I admitted I knew him, but fear, hurt and rejection plagued me. It's always at the forefront of my mind. Trust is a big thing for me. The only people I truly trust are Karah and Jamison. I kinda trust Cade, but it only goes so far. I still have moments where I'm wondering if he's telling the truth. It's just crazy how much doubt is still there.

Once I finally made it out of there, I stop walking and take a deep breath. Shit. I've never felt this before. Not in a long time anyway. It's like the first time I watched him. He'd taken my breath away then, yet when I watched him with that other girl, I thought he'd be wrong for me. Ha, how ironic is that? The one who I thought would be bad for me is probably the one who'd be perfect for me. My Mr Wrong was Cade. As much as I hate to admit it, he was married, and it's never a good basis to start anything. Hell, especially at my age. That entire thing was doomed from the very beginning. Although, I think if he'd been single, I think we might've worked. I fell in love with him. I know I did, and he did with me. Only circumstances prevented him from taking the plunge. He stopped himself from walking away from her.
I still can't get over the fact she knew about us and still, she carried on like it was normal. Shit, he wasn't lying when he said at the beginning, "she doesn't care." Yet the thing I don't understand is why she kept hold of him? She didn't want him, so why keep him around? Maybe she's like me, stubborn? Maybe she also hoped that things would eventually change? I don't know, but it was nuts. Sadly, we all paid the ultimate price and came away with nothing. Well, that's not entirely true. I came away with the one creation, who keeps me going. My little world is the only one I need in my life. I don't think I'll ever have room for another.

"Hey, wait. Please..."
As I hear his voice, my insides dance. I turn to look at him, and holy mother, he is beautiful.
I'm about to stand in line for our bus when he called out. Luckily, Jamison's happily drinking from his Sippy cup, so he's completely oblivious to what was happening.

"Listen, I'm sorry, okay. I don't know you, so please." Before I can say anything else, he cuts in telling me I do.
"Excuse me?" I ask, feeling a little taken aback by his interruption.

"I said you're lying. You do remember me. I know you do. Only, what I'd like to know is why? I get it, you have a kid, so you probably don't want me to interfere. But seriously, you seriously don't remember me? Or is it because you're with someone? Is that why you're pretending not to remember me because you're taken? If that's the case then, I'm sorry I'll back off. I-"

"I'm not taken. Nobody owns me! Nobody will ever own me. I'm sorry. My bus will be here soon." I said while looking over his shoulder, looking for my bus. While doing it, I'm wishing it would hurry up because his eyes are pulling me in. Lord, what is happening to me? I've never looked at anyone like this, not since Cade.

"Oh, right, so I take it you're off men? Is that what you're telling me?"

I know exactly where he's going with this, and I put him out of his misery when I tell him I'm not into women either. That's when the most amazing thing happens. Once again, I see him blush while rubbing the back of his neck. He's looking slightly embarrassed.

"Crap, I'm sorry. I just meant... Shit, if you haven't figured it out yet, I'm trying to work my way up to asking you out. You say you don't remember me and that's fine, but I remember you. Crap, I've never forgotten you. I've done nothing but think of you since that day. You left the store before I could get your number.
My buddy Jeff thought he'd be clever in pushing me into some woman, but when I turned back to look for you, you disappeared. I-I don't know how or why, but I see it. I know you remember me, but what I don't know is why you're hiding it? It's not a case-of-mistaken-identity-either, I know it's you. You've changed a lot since then, but I know it's you. Only your eyes, they've kinda lost their sparkle. Did... Did something happened to you? Is that why you're reluctant to talk to me? I don't know, but I'm damned if I don't try bringing that sparkle back. What I'm asking is... can I get your number now? You know, before I never get the chance again?"

I'm just staring at him in total shock. Holy crap! He's seriously asking for my number? Oh boy, as much as I would have liked to do that back then, well things have changed. I still don't know what's happening with Cade yet, so giving him my number wouldn't be a good idea, so I declined. He sighed, and reached into his back pocket, pulling out his wallet. I'm about to tell him "I should go" when he then pulled out a card with a name and a number on it.
Seriously, is this happening right now?

"I-I can't..."
"Take it. At least this way, you can think about it. There's no pressure. Whenever you feel like allowing someone in, I'd kinda like to be the one to be let in."
Oh, my lord. Oh Jesus, please have mercy.
"The balls in your court... I just, I'd like to get to know you. I've thought about you ever since the first time I spoke to you. Please, just think about it. I swear, I'm not a bad guy."

Later that day, Cade came to spend time with Jamison. He was supposed take him out, but then it rained so he asked if he could hang around here for a little while. Now, normally I'd decline. Spending too much time with him confuses me. It always turned to us arguing. Nine times out of ten, it's because he's asking for another chance.

"So, what did you guys get up to today?" Cade asked, so I filled him in on how we went for ice cream and looked for a Thomas DVD.

"Oh, what one did you get?"
I, of course, didn't get one because I run out of there before we decided on what one to get. I don't tell him this though. He'd only get jealous and ask too many questions about why I ran away.