Page 52 of Pillow Talk
Sen led her to the car. The drive home was silent. He had so many questions but he held his peace.
He stopped in front of her building and before he could even move, she spoke.
‘Thank you, Sen. But I just need to be alone…I have stuff to think about.’
Sen nodded. He wanted to argue; he wanted to be there for her. But he knew Shona. When they were 8, 12, 15 and now, she just wouldn’t let him in. He didn’t mean that much to her. She said ‘no strings attached’ because she really had no emotional attachment to him. And it hurt. It sucked. But he couldn’t change that.
Shona finished the 15th veil for Felicity. The orders were not due for months, but she had time and wanted to get it out of the way. She also worked on modifications for Maddie’s dress.
She had to keep busy. It was three days since she’d been to the cemetery and she had more unresolved feelings than before she’d gone.
She still couldn’t believe that she hadn’t had contact with her family in almost two months. She also felt incredibly guilty. She couldn’t keep dragging Sen into her problems. It was 4pm on aWednesday. The shop would still be open. A part of her wanted to march down there and plead for forgiveness from her parents but another part wanted answers about why they’d written her off.
She knew she couldn’t move forward without making things right with her parents. She wanted their blessing, dammit.
Her doorbell rang. Shona wasn’t expecting any packages. Without thinking, she ran a hand through her hair, which had a mind of its own, and opened the door.
‘Sen.’
‘I know you wanted to be alone but I couldn’t stay away.’
Shona didn’t know what came over her but she threw her arms around him and hugged him. He was motionless for a split second and then wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back. They stood like that for a few seconds before Shona pulled away.
‘Come in. I want you here,’ she said. Sen followed her into the living room and stood there awkwardly as Shona took in everything about him in one appraising glance. He was in a tailored suit – not from her family shop – his hair was perfectly styled and his chiselled features, which always made him stand out from the crowd, were as irresistible as ever. Sen obviously knew he was a catch. Yes, he was confident but never ever arrogant about it. He had transformed from that scrawny far-too-tall-for-his-age boy to a far-too-handsome man.
‘I know you didn’t want to talk. And I know I agreed to no “pillow talk” as you call it, but Sho, something’s got to give,’ he said.
Shona nodded.
‘Sen, you’re right, it’s complicated and messy. I’m complicated and messy and you don’t want that,’ she replied, avoiding eye contact.
Sen ran a hand through his hair.
‘I shouldn’t have said that. I was frustrated. I gave you a chance to be honest with me and you still lied. And then I was also offended that you didn’t trust me to tell me something so big,’ he explained.
‘Maybe I was afraid you would judge me?’
Sen shook his head.
‘When have I ever judged you?’
‘You did call me complicated and messy…’
Sen pinched the bridge of his nose.
‘And I’m sorry for that,’ he said.
‘Have you had lunch yet?’
Sen raised an eyebrow and Shona suspected that he assumed she was deliberately changing the subject.
‘I have eaten.’
‘Supper plans?’
‘None,’ he replied.
‘Then let me make you supper.’
