Destined

Forty Nine

Liz had left the hospital the next day as promised. Matthew had gone to the hospital to pick her up and bring her home. He'd stuck around a few minutes to make sure she was alright. And then we'd had a whole day at home, just the girls and we watched sappy movies and ate potato chips and drank cola all day. We'd cried and laughed and talked just like old times.

Vince dropped by at dinner with a box of pizza and a bottle of wine for us. The girls were all thankful for his contribution. So much so that they'd even invited him to stay. Of course he'd declined, kissing me outside and leaving like he hadn't just stolen my breath away.

A week had passed since then. We all seemed to be back in a new groove. The holidays were fast approaching. My favorite time of the year. My mum had already started bugging me about coming home. Of course I was going home, I planned on asking Vince if he wanted to come with. If he wanted to meet my mother. I figured it was time. She hadn't stopped asking who my new boyfriend was and I thought it best they met in person. I hadn't asked him yet though. I was actually very nervous about it. I decided I would do it later that Saturday.

Vince was having a little get together at his house. Well technically, Matt was having it at Vince's house. That meant the whole soccer team would be there, and anyone whom they'd chosen to invite. It was a bring a meal and a drink kind of thing. I was in the kitchen at that moment baking a potato casserole to take with me.

"I swear your boyfriend is a saint," Talia said coming down the stairs. "He's going to have a bunch of football players in his house, and he's okay with it,"
I laughed, "What's the worst thing that could happen?"
"They could burn his house down,"
I laughed again, "Or shoot it down,"
"What?"
"Oh, Vince has a gun, belonged to his dad, but it's safely put away,"

Briefly I remembered being so terrified of him and his gun all those months ago. I smiled to myself.

"How safely put away?"
"In a drawer in his room, they're not getting into his room, relax,"
She nodded, "Okay, what are you making? Whatever it is, it's from both of us,"
I nodded, "I figured as much,"

I had never seen so many people in Vince's house. It was strange. It was normally just me and him that I'd kind of gotten used to it being our space. That wasn't the case this time. Damien and a girl I didn't know were talking on the porch when Talia and I came in. The living room was cluttered with several of the other soccer players and more people I didn't know. In the kitchen, Maddie and Liz were making punch, Tyler and Jonah were congratulating each other on what a great season they'd had and Sam was stuffing alcohol in the fridge.

"Where's Vince?" I asked Liz and she pointed outside.

As expected, outside were more football players, more girls, just more people. This get together was slowly turning into an afternoon party. Vince and Matt were setting up the grill. I walked across the yard to them.

"I'm not sure I made enough food for all these people," I said.

Both men smiled at me.

"I'm sorry Krissy, word got out of hand," Matt said. "You should blame him, all the girls have been dying to see him since they heard he was throwing a party,"
I laughed, "I definitely blame him then," I said.
"Hey!" Vince feigned offense as he pulled me to his side. "I missed you," he nuzzled my neck.
"And that's my cue to leave," Matt walked away.
"You saw me this morning,"
"That was such a long time ago," he kissed me. "A lot could have happened between now and then,"
I nodded, "Clearly, you cut your hair," I said running my fingers through the strands.

This morning at the self defense class, his hair had been way passed his shoulders. He'd even tied it into a bun. Which, if it was possible, had gotten him even more attention. We'd had our weekly run, okay fine, walk, our weekly walk and I'd pulled his hair tie out and watched his hair fall in waves. It seemed we both had a thing for each other's hair.