Starting Over

Chapter 7- I Love You!

I woke the next morning to Jason busting through my bedroom door.

“Damn Luke! It’s 10am and your ass it still in bed,” Jason said as he walked through the door, “Oh, shit!”

I opened my eyes and saw him standing there staring in shock. Bridget jumped and sat straight up in the bed, wrapping herself in the sheet.

“I’ll be downstairs,” Jason said as he backed out of the door.

I could hear him mumbling something as he closed the door, but it wasn’t loud enough for me to understand. I rolled over and looked at Bridget.

“I guess Jason knows now,” I told her with a smile on my face.

Bridget just stared at me with a blank expression. She was not a morning person. Never has been actually. She got up, grabbed one of my shirts, a pair of my pajama pants, and ran into the bathroom with the sheet still wrapped around her. She came out of the bathroom with my clothes on and they sure did look good on her. She looked my way and slightly smiled as she walked out of the bedroom. I would be willing to put money on it that she was on her way to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. I guess I need to get up and go downstairs too. I grabbed a pair of shorts out of the drawer, slipped them on, and headed to the kitchen for coffee.

Jason was sitting at the kitchen table and Bridget was sitting on the counter next to the coffee pot. I could tell I was going to have to be the one to break the silence that surrounded us. Bridget was normally somewhat cheery when she finally had coffee in her system, but I can bet she is just a teeny bit embarrassed today. I walked over towards Bridget to make me a cup of coffee, but she already had it made. I stood in front of her and took that first glorious sip.

“So, are you guys gonna explain what the hell I walked in on this morning?” Jason asked as he looked over at us.

“Why should we explain anything?” Bridget angrily asked as she slides down off the counter, slammed her coffee down, and walked out onto the back deck.

I just shook my head. “Never ask her anything until she has had at least one cup of coffee. Two cups would be better,” I told Jason, “And I’ll explain later.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” Jason apologized.

“It’s ok. You didn’t know. There’s more to it though. That, she will have to tell you, but she will have to know she can trust you first,” I said before walking out on the back deck to check on Bridget.

I didn’t see her when I first stepped out the door. It was freezing outside and it didn’t help I was only wearing a pair of shorts. I did manage to slide my boots on before walking out the door. I looked around for her and there she sat on the kids swing set with a cigarette in her hand. What did she think she was doing?

“Bridget Nicole Bowman! Put that out right now!” I yelled as I ran over to her.

“Just leave me alone, Luke,” she told me as she turned away from me.

“I can’t just leave you alone and you damn well know that. Just please put that out,” I begged her.

She turned back around and looked me in the eyes. She looked like she was going to say something, but instead got up and started walking towards the house. I just watched her walk away. I guess I was kind of surprised that she didn’t argue with me. She hadn’t taken a draw off the cigarette in her hand either. She just held it. I ran up to her and she stopped. She turned to look at me. I saw that fear in her eyes again. The fear that was there yesterday. In that moment I just wanted to hold her and tell her everything would be okay. I leaned in to her and she pulled away. She leaned down and put the cigarette out and then looked at me.