Brooklyn (A Paul Lahote Story)

Chapter Twenty Three

A/N: I know I already wrote this part but I went in and changed my mind on some things.

"Can you please stop pacing?" Paul gently asks for the billionth time.

I stop in my tracks, slowly turning around to glare at him. "I thought we were going to see my dad." I spit, my worry thoughts being replaced with angry ones.

After I calmed down on the steps, Paul told me that the doctor told Sam that it was best if I went home until my dad got out of surgery and woke up. Of course, he told me that until after I got in the car and he started driving away.

Paul slowly gets up, approaching me cautiously as I keep my arms crossed. "At least you're here with real food and a comfortable place to sleep. The doctor said the surgery was going to be a few hours." He slowly says, standing in front of me.

"You don't know where I'd rather be." I bite back, my eyes still glaring at him.

"Dani, your dad-"

I go to slap him but he quickly catches my hand, pulling me closer to him. "You need to calm down." He quickly says.

I close my eyes, taking in a deep breath before nodding. "I'm sorry.." I whisper, trying to calm myself.

Paul places both his hands on both sides of my face. "Don't apologize.." He gently says, his breath fanning my face.

I open my eyes, realizing how close our faces are and my heart skips a beat. His brown orbs are staring into mine, something about them pulling me closer to him. And, before I know it-

I kissed him.

My heart beating faster, adrenaline rushing through my veins as our lips mold together, moving in sync. His hands roam down my body, finding my hips before pulling me closer to him. I tangle my fingers into his hair, gently pulling on the brown strands.

"Dani, we-" Paul starts, pulling away.

"-Just shut up and kiss me." I demand, looking up into his eyes.

His hands squeeze my hips before lifting me up, instinctively I wrap my legs around his torso and my arms around his neck before my back comes in contact with a wall. Soon, his lips press against mine and our lips mold perfectly together. His soft lips against mine makes me feel like I'm floating on a cloud.

Paul's lips leave mine, leaving a trail along my jawline and down my neck. I close my eyes, leaning my head against the wall as I find his hair between my fingers, pulling on the strands as I feel him suck my skin.

"You better not leave a hickey, Lahote." I breathlessly say, feeling his lips leave my neck.

"I don't make any promises." He smirks, moving me away from the wall and down to his room.

"Where are we going?" I ask as he closes the door.

"Somewhere more comfortable." He answers, lying me down on his bed. My mind starts getting flooded with thoughts, questioning why I want to do this.

Do I want to do this?

Slowly, I sit up, running a hand through my hair as I think about that question. Paul's hands are on either side of me, his head over mine.

"We can stop." Paul gently says, making me look up at him.

My breathing is heavy as I stare into his brown orbs, my mind swirling with hormones and trying to decide what I wanted to say - what I wanted to do.

Slowly, I nod my head, my fingers running through my curly locks. "I-I'm sorry, I can-" I close my eyes, tears clouding my vision as I try to rub them away.

"Hey, hey, shh.." Paul gently says, wrapping me up in his strong arms and comforting me. "Don't apologize for anything. There's nothing to apologize for."

I nod, enjoying his embrace a moment longer before pushing myself away from him and slowly standing up. His eyes follow my movements as I find my way towards the closed door, opening it to leave the room.

"Where are you going?" He asks me as I take a step out.

"I need air.." I say, looking down at the hardwood flooring.

I waited there for a moment, to see if I would get a response, but I got nothing - so I made my way to the front door, putting on my shoes before leaving the house. I pad my feet against the wooden steps before my shoes come in contact with the dirt, making it crunch under my feet as I make my way down a path in the woods.

Paul and I- I quickly shake my head, trying to rub away an imaginary headache as my thoughts overwhelm me.

We were going to-

"What's wrong with me?" I shout at a tree, hearing the flapping of wings as birds scatter to the sky.

A huff escapes my lips as I stare at the bright blue sky, not a cloud in sight. "First, I move because of my dad. Second, my dad introduces me to this witch he's marrying, Third,-" I pause, my eyes moving to look down at the dirt. "I don't know where my mind is. And.." I trail off, looking around to get my surroundings. "-I think I'm lost." I finish, a light chuckle escaping my lips.

"Don't forget that you've been talking to a tree this whole time." A deep voice says from behind me, making me jump.

I turn around and see Paul's figure come out from a bush a few feet away from me. My tense body relaxes as my eyes meet his comforting, gentle ones.

"Were you following me?" I ask, my eyebrows raised, a soft smile on my lips.

"Just didn't want you to be by yourself." He simply answers with a shrug, a soft smile on his lips making my heart skip.

Who knew I would be falling for a guy I've hated since day one....

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A/N: I know, I know, I edited it and I'm not sorry for it. I don't usually write those kinds of chapters and I wish I didn't in the first place. I do, though, hope that this edit is good enough for now.

Leave your honest comments and thoughts. I really do appreciate them - no matter what.

Until next chapter,
C