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Chapter Fourteen

Yes! I am so pleased. I have finally finished the interview. It will more than likely need a few tweaks here and there, but yup, it's ready for Dex in the morning. With my self satisfaction giving me a momentary rush of adrenaline, my exhaustion feels almost bearable. But as soon as the rush subsides, tiredness comes for me really hard. Looking up at the clock, I realise why that tiredness has come for me. It's nearly eleven o' clock, no wonder I am so knackered. I haven't had a decent nights sleep for the last two days, so I'm praying that tonight will be different. Snuggled up on my sofa, I decide to watch a little bit of one of my fave films, The Holiday. If I go straight to bed, I'll probably just lie there and start thinking about things that I don't want to be thinking about. A little bit of Kate, Jack, Cameron and Jude will help me truly relax. I don't care if I fall asleep on the sofa, at least I will be sleeping. When the film begins, I pull a blanket over me and snuggle up more. In my polka dot onesie, my freshly bathed skin feels really good in it. This is about as content as I am going to get. It's been one hell of a weekend, and I think it's going to take me a while to emotionally recover from it. Oh no! I'm doing it again, aren't I? I am thinking about things. Thinking about Rhys.

No! No! No!

No thinking, only watching.

With a long, fed up sigh, I rest my head on a cushion and force myself to watch The Holiday. I absolutely love this film. I can watch it over and over again and enjoy it like it's the very first time that I have watched it. Only, tonight is different. I can't enjoy the film because I am emotionally wound up too damn tight, I just can't focus. I am so tired and drained, but can't relax enough to finally fall asleep. Everything feels different because everything has changed. Drawing in a big and frustrated breath, I fix my eyes on the television screen. I will watch this film and I will enjoy it just like I used to. The Holiday is at the bit where Cameron Diaz is having a major hissy fit. She's screaming and throwing things around. That's exactly how I feel inside, like one hell of a hissy fit is brewing. My emotions are all over the place, and now that I have time to think, I can't seem to handle those emotions. I am telling myself not to cry, but I cry regardless. My tears have a mind of their own. They fall even though I am trying to stop them. I cry for reasons that I'm not entirely sure about. All I know is that I need this. The tears need to fall and my heart needs to ache. Of all the aches I have ever had, Rhys Ryan is the achiest. As senseless as it is, it's totally true. In just two days, he has done the unthinkable—he has made me care.

Tap! Tap! Two gentle taps on my front door nearly scare me to death. It's nearly eleven thirty, who the hell would be knocking on my door at this time of night? Swiping my tears and sniffing, I warily decide to peep around my living room curtains. There's no way I am opening the front door, not until I know who it is. Trying to focus hard on the male figure who waits by my door, I notice a car is waiting just beside my house with its bright headlights still on. Oh my God, I know that car and I recognise the driver. That's when my stunned eyes dart right back to the shadowed stranger who is already tapping on my front door again. Tap! Tap! Swallowing hard with my heart wildly thumping inside of my chest, I lightly rap on my window because I now know who is knocking on my front door. Rhys looks up from beneath his baseball cap, looking relieved that I happen to be looking at him. Quickly closing the curtain, I rush to my front door. My bare feet not being as fast as I'd like them to be. With a calming deep breath, I slowly open the door. Looking adorably sheepish with his hands in his pockets, stands Rhys Ryan. "I'm sorry...I needed to see you." His eyes look back at me with hope that I'll allow him in.

There's no hesitation from me. "Come in." I quietly say, still a little dumbfounded by his being here.

Stepping into my tiny hallway, he watches me close the front door behind him. Then his eyes slowly move their way down the entire length of my polka dot onesie. By the time his intrigued eyes are back upon me, he is smiling. "Cute." His comment instantly breaks the ice, putting us both at ease.