Against The Odds: Guarded

39

HEYYYYY

MAYA POV
I woke up a bit disoriented, not remembering why I was home so early or why I was naked in bed. I sat up too quickly and was dizzied by my own movements. When I looked around the room, everything started to come back to me and a smile graced my lips when I think about falling asleep after a lazy half day with Lucas. My insides flutter and I cannot believe how in love with him that I really am. Our encounter earlier replays through my mind and even though it was mind blowing without the actual act of sex involved, it wasn’t the best part of spending the day with him. When he genuinely laughs, his smile reaches his eyes and his iris’s lighten to a green so pure that emeralds would be considered tainted if they were compared to them. I saw what he could be when he’s not worried or bothered by anything and though that look wasn’t there for the entire time I spent with him, it was there longer than I had ever seen it there before.

Lucas is changing for the better and sometimes I don’t even think that he realizes it. It’s happening in baby steps, but the fact that it’s happening at all shows growth and progress on his part. I reached for my phone to text the man that holds so much of my thoughts and senses and my smile slowly faded when I looked at the screen.

From: Peyton
Have you considered joining us tonight? I promise it’s not what you think it will be. Smackle is dying to see you.

I ran my hand over my face and then looked at the clock in the room. It’s only seven fifteen and if I got up now I could make it. I called Smackle earlier to see if she was really going to come just to be sure that I wouldn’t be alone with Peyton, but she didn’t answer the phone. I don’t want to overthink anything, but I really can’t help the feeling of being avoided by her.

I got up and got dressed in some simple black skinny jeans and an off white cable knit sweater pulling my hair back into a ponytail and putting on my black boots. I opted for my contacts instead of my glasses before heading out. I’ll only go for a moment. I just want answers to a couple of things that happened during my internship to be exact. I hate having holes in my memory. It’s trying to finish a puzzle without having all of the pieces there for you to see the full picture the way that it was intended to be seen. If there’s anything that can be gained from this, it’s a sense of normalcy again. Talking to Riley about matters when she’s thousands of miles away is hard. I like to get her perspective, but it’s much better when I can have a person physically in front of me. I need Smackle back and if this ‘meet up’ can change our relationship back off of shaky grounds I’m all for it.

When I got downstairs I hailed a taxi after texting Peyton to ask him where exactly they were going for drinks and got a reply two minutes later. I gave the cabby the place and when I pulled up to the pub reading BALTIC in big letters across the front of the building, I paid my fair and got out. It was crowded inside and smelled strongly of cigarettes and liquor, sure to leave my hair and clothes stained with the scent even after I leave.

I looked around the bar and landed eyes on Peyton alone at a table. I rolled my eyes out of frustration. I should have known better. I allowed my curiosity to take over my logical thinking and now I’m in the exact situation I was dreading being in in the first place. This wasn’t supposed to be a date alone with Peyton. I turned on my heel to leave fuming with myself for being so stupid when I felt someone tug my elbow and turn me back around.

“There you are. I was wondering where you were. I got us a table over there.”

“I’m not staying Peyton.” I spat the words at him and he let my arm go, looking confused. I happily answered the question that danced in his mind.

“This wasn’t supposed to be a date! You said Smackle was coming. I can’t stay here with you. I can’t believe I fell for it again.”

“She is coming Maya I just got a text from her saying she would be here in five minutes.” Peyton took out his phone and showed me her message and then allowed a slow grin to curl his lips while putting his hands up in defense.