Nothing To Fear

14. What To Do...

Stevie practically scoffed. "No, no, no," she stood up. "You love your wife," she corrected.

"I do," he nodded. "I can't deny that---I do. But I love you."

"Yeah, no. You can't," she said trying to conclude the conversation. She crossed her arms over her chest as she hoped he would leave it at that. But she knew she didn't give enough reasoning to make him leave.

"Why can't I?" he asked with a smile, nearly chuckling. He waited a few seconds for an answer, but she wasn't answering. "I did lean in to kiss you," he finally said.

She looked up at him and a frown was on her face, though that was the situation in itself eating at her. She was intrigued by what he was to say next.

"I wanted to kiss you because, I really liked you. Normally, if I liked someone---I wouldn't do that. But I've proved to myself that I love you. And I think you at least like me a little," he had a prideful smirk on his face.

"You're right, I do like you. I like you a lot. But not enough to ruin your marriage and future with Lorraine."

"Who said, you are ruining anything?" he creased a brow.

"Me, I just did," she said pointing to herself.

"Well, you're not," he assured.

"Alright look, I have to kick you out right now. I have a dreadful headache that you caused and I'd like to treat it."

"How did I cause it?" he chuckled.

She began walking forward to let him out. "You kissed me and I thought I kissed you so I went drinking. I have a hangover and now you're adding to the headache, doll face."

"I will talk to you later," he said before making his way down the hall.

She stared at him as he walked away.

He turned back to look at her in the doorway and she slammed the door abruptly. He chuckled as he made his way down the stairs.

—

"I am gonna have a heart attack," she pased around the room---whispering harshly to herself. "Oh my God, this can't be right. This has never happened to me. Why am I falling for this man?" she then sat at the edge of her bed. She pulled her phone from her purse and dialed her sister in-law's number. She was going to three way the call so she could talk to Sharon as well.

"Hello?" Lori answered.

"Hold on," Stevie said, pulling it from her ear to add Sharon.

"Hello?" Sharon answered.

"Hi," both Stevie and Lori said at the same time.

"What's going on?" Sharon asked.

"I don't know, we're about to find out I bet," Lori stated.

"He said it!" Stevie whispered.

"Said what?" both girls responded.

"He told me to my face that he loved me. I mean, he thinks he loves me..." she paused. "I don't know," she shook her head.

"Did you tell him first?" Lori asked.

"No! I didn't. I came home and he saw me so he asked to talk, so we talked and he said it. I was just acting business professional like always."

"Did you say it back?" Sharon asked.

"No," she said sounding small.

"Well, why not? you do," Sharon added.