Page 30 of Reclaiming Love

Chapter 16

“What’s going on?” Matt stood in front of her desk, shaking with anger.

“Nothing’s going on,” she said in a quiet voice, looking around her.

“You put me off with excuses all weekend and now that I’m back you’re on a half day and you’re going home for Christmas?”

“I-I—it’s what I always do. I thought I told you.”

“You went home for Thanksgiving, and you’re going again now? What about me?”

Don’t you have a home to go to? He sounded like an angry child.

She’d done the dirty on him, she knew she had; she’d been avoiding him the entire weekend, ever since he returned from the course. He hadn’t known about her detailed Christmas plans until a moment ago because she deliberately kept things vague with him—not wanting him to be any part of her plans, or her life.

When he’d been away on the course she thought she’d summoned up the courage to tell him she wanted out. But now that he was back, and she was faced with the sudden prospect of it, she decided against it. A few days before Christmas didn’t seem the right time anyway.

She was supposed to leave tomorrow morning to make her way home to her parents, but she’d decided to go this afternoon. She was on a half day as it was and she didn’t want to make herself available for Matt to hound her now that he had returned to work after his course.

The only reason she hadn’t asked Nadine for the morning off was because she was helping her put a presentation together.

He paced around furiously. “Is this to do with that misunderstanding?” Misunderstanding? Was that how he saw it? She’d put that episode to the back of her mind. And since then, her thoughts had circled around Noah, and their burgeoning friendship. She hadn’t technically done anything wrong. Having lunch with a guy who now occupied more of her thoughts wasn’t technically doing anything wrong.

“How many times do I have to apologize for that?” he hissed when she didn’t answer. Nadine opened her door and came out. “Thanks, Melissa. Great work. Here you go.” She handed Melissa her memory stick. “I don’t want you working on any of that during your break.”

She stayed by Melissa’s desk and looked at Matt, who suddenly looked sheepish. “I’ll see you later.” He mumbled gruffly and left.

“Is everything alright?” Nadine asked.

“Yes,” Melissa replied brightly, faking it. “I’m ready to leave—if you no longer need me.” She was anxious to go while she could—and before Matt accosted her again. She also knew she was deliberately avoiding Nadine’s question.

“I’m done. You’ve finished everything I wanted you to do.” Nadine hovered around. “You’re going home to see your parents?”

Melissa nodded. “How about you?”

“We’re spending time at home, doing nothing. Except on Christmas Day we’re having some of Ethan’s friends over. It should be good. You have a good holiday.”

“Thanks. You too. Take it easy and have a good break too. Okay?” She flipped her boss an arched eyebrow. “Don’t forget to go home and stay there for a few days.”

“Ethan won’t let me out of his sight, don’t worry.”

Quickly, Melissa cleared away her desk and admired the wood surface now devoid of clutter. Empty, clear, clean.

Going home was a blessing and she was ready to spend Christmas week with her family. She’d be back here in time for New Year’s. And that’s when she’d worry about Matt and ending it with him.

Throughout her journey home Melissa’s thoughts jolted up and down, at times darkened by her situation with Matt, and uplifted by thoughts of Noah. As long as she had Matt skulking over her, she wasn’t able to lose herself in the possibility that was Noah.

Stepping back into her warm home, and into the arms of her loving parents, was exactly the thing she’d been missing and so sorely needed.

The Christmas break took her mind away from work, and Matt. And when her mother took her to one side and asked her whether she’d met anyone, Melissa shook her head, and said no.

Because they’d parted on not so friendly terms, communication between her and Matt was thankfully minimal. And after he’d sent her an image on Christmas Eve of her lying on his bed, in a semi state of undress, she switched off her cell phone altogether and resolved not to contact him at all.

Not even to wish him a Merry Christmas.

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