Page 65 of Aftersome
My eyes immediately sought out who it was and that’s when to my absolute horror, I realized it was Mr. Dalton trying to capture my attention back. I completely zoned him out the second I caught Mal over his shoulder and I felt like dying on the spot.
Literally.
My face couldn’t contain the flush that broke out across my cheeks. Even an explanation of why I suddenly went silent was nowhere to be found. I must have looked like a complete nutcase.
His brow then lifted and on the slight swivel of his head, he began to search for whatever I was looking at. It only took him a few moments to catch on, “Ah,” I knew I had been caught.
“I’m just surprised is all… to see him here,” I blabbered. “That’s why I was… You know, staring.”
Jesus Christ. Please stop talking.
“Well, you’re not the only one surprised.” He smiled at my flustered state. “Must’ve taken some serious convincing from someone to get him here.”
He gave me a knowing look that had me tensing from head to toe.
Did he think I was the one who convinced him to come today?
That’s ridiculous.
“Oh, I didn’t mention anything about today to him. There was no convincing from me… at all.” I chuckled. “Must’ve been someone else.”
He nodded as if he had trouble believing that. I stood there hoping this conversation would shift toward something else, and luckily, I was saved at the right moment.
“Okay, everyone! Drinks down and listen up! I’m going to need you all to make your way to the backyard because it’s finally time to see if baby Hendricks will be a girl or boy!” Kate shouted throughout the house, causing everyone in the vicinity to turn their heads. Cheers and laughter rang out, and finally I felt like I could breathe again.
“Any guesses?” he asked me quickly.
I hadn’t really thought about it until now. I wanted to say girl, but my gut feeling leaned more toward boy.
“A baby boy.” I smiled and he reciprocated. As we both began to part ways, I made the mistake of peering up over Jim’s shoulder again and found Mal watching me closely. I was taken aback by it, not expecting him to find me so quickly but he had. His eyes were hooded with an intensity that rocked me to my core.
He wasn’t staring at me with his normal disdain-filled glare. Instead, I felt as though he was trying to read my emotions from afar. The potency of it was almost too much to bear.
I returned his gaze before I physically couldn’t any longer.
It hurt looking at him.
Then tearing my eyes from his, I began walking toward the backyard where everyone else was headed. With each step I took, I could feel him following behind me. Almost too close that I could feel the heat from his body hit my back. Even hisscent had somehow made its way to my nostrils and I inwardly groaned from how good he smelled. I pretended like I didn’t notice him. Like his presence didn’t affect me one bit.
Because it didn’t.
Even as we stopped in front of a giant display of balloons and posters, I felt him take the spot directly next to me.
Don’t acknowledge him.
Don’t even look at him.
I remained quiet and still, despite the trembling of my hands and heart. There was an obvious shift in the air now. One that neither of us would ever admit to or eliminate.
It was a thrumming of heartbeats and intensity.
Deep, heavy breaths and confusion.
In other words, way too many emotions and feelings to handle at once.
The influx of friends and family members began to fill the backyard and soon, we were surrounded on both sides. Distractions were everywhere, but none were enough to cease our vigorous moment.
Still, neither of us uttered a single word. Not even a stolen glance perhaps due to our pridefulness. The last thing I wanted was for him to think he affected me in some way. Or that I cared he was here, when in fact I didn’t. In no way would I let his giant frame and enormous presence rattle me.
