Denial

🚨DISCLAIMER🚨

This is a work of fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

"Are you serious Colin?"
"They are exaggerating."
"Everyone has seen it!"

Penelope heard the voices coming from the living room, she was looking for Eloise, but it seemed like she had arrived at the wrong time; first because she knew what they were talking about and second because Colin was the last person she wanted to see at that moment.

"It's nothing serious, she's a friend of Fife's girlfriend, she set us up on a date and I went out with her, that's all."
"The video seems to show that you know her too well."
"I didn't know they were going to post that video!"
"Say it to your hand on her ass, which is ironic considering how you seem to hide in all her posts."
"Are you spying on me?"
"Obviously."

At that moment Penelope knew she had two options, either she ran away and cancel her date or she faced him and began to heal and get him out of her heart, no matter what had happened between them.
Heartbroken, she took a deep breath and stepped into the room.

"Hello, I'm sorry for the interruption, but I'm looking for Eloise."
"Pen..."

Colin started to say her name as he got up from the couch and for a moment their eyes met; she just ignored him, she couldn't look at him at that moment.

"Eloise, are you ready?"
"Yes, let's go or I'll commit fratricide at any moment."
"See you Daphne."
"Have fun."

Both girls came out and Colin threw himself on the couch with his hands on his face.

"Colin, I'm not trying to tell you what to do"
Colin snorted
"But you're 30 years old and the girl is much younger, dazzled by what you have and what you are, if you think she's what you want, go ahead, but I'm afraid you're losing something that can make you really happy."
"Daphne," he said annoyed.
"You know exactly what I mean, your fears and your bad decisions have led you here, Marina deceived you and hurt your ego, but she did you a favor by leaving and instead of giving you a chance with someone who can really give you what you looking for, you decide to behave like an idiot."
"It's not your problem, Daphne."
"IT HAS BEEN SINCE YOU GOT PEN INTO THIS!"
"Do you think I want to hurt her?!"
"Well, with your actions that is exactly what you are doing Colin, you slept with her."
"I should have never told you that."
"But you did! Because you didn't know what to do, your fears have stopped you for a long time, from losing her, from being your sister's best friend, from traveling all the time, always making excuses not to face your feelings for her."

Colin got up from the couch annoyed and started walking towards the exit.

"You can run away whatever you want, but know that Pen will not wait for you anymore, she needs a man, not a teenager trying to be one."

Penelope was in her apartment sitting in her favorite chair. She had read the same page for an hour and couldn't concentrate. She sighed, closing the book and her eyes, her mind spinning over the things that happened during those months and how everything had gone to hell.

Her friendship with Colin had grown, when Marina betrayed him and somehow they were able to resume their friendship without worrying about her getting upset; outings, parties, time on her apartment just talking or watching a movie. Everything that led them to that night, she couldn't stop thinking about his lips, the way his hands roamed over her body and the sensations they experienced together.

But it all ended as quickly as it started, he went on a trip almost immediately and she sank into all the work she had, although they continued texting and talking, things had changed.

It hurt her to see how he fooled around with women younger than her, prettier, with better bodies, but that video of him kissing another woman destroyed her.

She shook her head trying to get rid of those thoughts, she had cried enough, it was time to fix her heart and move on, she had many projects and goals to work on and it was better to focus on that.

She got up from the couch to go to the kitchen to make a cup of tea, ready to finish at least one chapter of her book when she heard someone knock on the door, assuming that it could be Gen her neighbor because she wasn't expecting anybody, she opened the door without asking who it was.

"Colin..."
"I need to talk to you. Can I come in?"

THE AUDACITY OF THIS MAN!
She wanted to close the door in his face, but the soft spot she still had for him prevented her from doing so.

"About what? We have nothing to talk about."
"Please."

Sighing, she stepped aside to let him pass and couldn't help but shudder when she smelled his cologne, She was hopeless.

"Okay, talk," she crossed her arms as she looked him in the eyes.
"I know I have made many mistakes and that I have not done things right, when you and I were together, I panicked, I... you are very special to me, you always have been."
"If you came here to tell me that what happened was a mistake..."
"No! I never thought that, it's just that, I panicked, what I feel for you has always been very big, intense, you are very important to me and I feared that I ruined what we had. I was an idiot and I didn't know how to act."
"That's why you decided to follow every woman who appeared on social media, flirting, AH! And how can I forget that passionate kiss with the friend from Fife, while I was what? your dirty secret?"
"I know that I did everything wrong, I know that I'm immature and that I don't even deserve to be in front of you, but I just want you to know, I need you to know" he approached her without taking his eyes off her "That I'm alone now, I ended my contact with her, and I will do what is necessary for us to be together, if you still give me the opportunity, I will do what you want."
"Colin..."
"Please, just... a chance, that's all I ask from you."
"You broke my heart, I can't trust you not to do it again."
"Pen..." he took her hands and she could see that his eyes were full of tears "I'm really sorry for hurting you, but I promise it won't happen again, I'll wait as long as you want."

She looked at him for a while, she knew that he had all the power to destroy her heart, but she might as well just give him a chance, a small chance... (Sigh), she was hopeless.

"We'll try," he told her and he could see how her eyes lit up, "but if you hurt me again..."
"I promise you I won't."
"We'll see."

1 year later

"Pen , I'm home!"
"I am in the office"

Penelope smiled, she loved having him at home, after 6 months of being together they moved in together, and they even had adopted a couple of cats. Colin had done everything he could to let her know he was committed to her.

Although Fife and his girlfriend had not liked the change of partner, they had no choice but to accept it. Colin had put all his effort into making their relationship work, he accompanied her to her job appointments and took her to his, when they couldn't be together, they tried to talk and keep an eye on each other, they were having the best time of their lives.

"I brought lunch and your favorite dessert."

He approached her and, holding her face, simply kissed her.

"I love you."