His Only Savior | #Wattys2019

Chapter 25

Weeks rolled by and there was little trouble in paradise. Isaac and I kept his father accountable for attending daily AA meetings and they did what they could to repair their relationship. As for us, we were seeing one another exclusively but we were hesitant to label it anything specific. We took things slow due to my fear of letting my guard down again. I knew he loved me but that wasn't the issue. The issue was he had loved me the first time around and hurt me regardless and then he continued to hurt me, repeatedly. Letting my guard down to soon was foolish and I knew that. To many things had changed, we had changed, and we needed to rediscover one another before either of us were hurt further.

Don't get me wrong I enjoyed his company and the comfort his touch brought but I was not prepared to roll around the sheets with him again until I was certain he would not abandon me again.

My phone buzzed excessively as I laid awake in the center of my king-sized bed, the comforter pulled over my face. With a grunt I reached my hand out from under the covers to pick up the device before pulling it back under. With a sigh I pressed my cold phone to my ear, "Hello?"

"Hey Em. Becca, Charles and I are heading over soon to help set up for tonight," Isaac's voice came through enthusiastically.

"For tonight?"

"We talked about this," he laughed, "you're getting a birthday party whether you want one or not!"

"Is Sean coming to help?"

"I believe so, Becca gave him some special task," he chuckled.

"What kind of task?" I giggled as my mind raced through the possibilities.

"You know I can't tell you that! Now get dressed because I can tell by your voice you're still in bed."

"I've been up for hours," I snipped sarcastically.

"Doesn't mean you aren't still in bed."

"Fair point," I laughed. "I'll see you guys in a little bit!"

"Sounds good, bye."

"Bye. I love you."

"I love you Em, very much."

As I went to respond the line clicked dead. "Jerk," I mumbled to myself with a snicker before throwing the comforter to the side allowing the cool air to hit my bare skin. Sitting up I scanned the floor for my sweats. My eyes quickly located them near my desk, so I crawled out of my bed and made my way over. Leaning over I pulled them on swiftly before making my way downstairs.

When I entered the kitchen my mom and Gabriel had large platters full of pancakes, fresh cut fruit and bacon. The smell was intoxicating and sent my stomach into a frenzy, its growls for food echoing through the large kitchen.

"Someone's hungry," my dad teased.

"You have no idea!" With a smile I found a seat at the island while swiping a pancake off the platter and eating it caveman style.

"Birthday girl or not have some manners," my mom laughed before setting a plate with silverware down in front of me. "Um before the others get here, we wanted to talk to you about something."

Her tone was unusually serious which made my body tense, the assault on my food halting. "About?" I raised my brow skeptically as my eyes darted between the pair.

"We know you and Isaac are exploring things and we support your decision, it's just—" My mom trailed off.

"—It's just we worry about you. We know how much he has hurt you before, and we don't want that to happen again. We want to make sure the two of you are taking things at your pace," my dad said the words my mom could not find.