Page 22 of From My Past
“I’m sorry.” He said and put his hands up in front of him. “I just keep fucking this up.” He said quietly under his breath, interlocking his fingers behind his neck as he looks up like he’s in pain.
“Talia,” He said with a smile. “It is so good to see you. How are you?” Kieron held his hand out for me to shake.
An olive branch extended and I smile at his cute gesture.
“Kieron. I can’t believe it; it’s been a long time.” I smile softly and shake his hand.
“How have you been? Can I take you out for a coffee to catch up?” Kieron looked down at the floor and I could have kissed the shy look off his face.
“I can’t leave work right now, but maybe some other time.”
“Can I get your number? Trent told me where you work, but nothing else really.”
Giving Kieron my number immediately would break one of Luca’s rules, and most definitely be signing on for more pain… but I don’t know how he would know, I was trying to convince myself because I wanted to give Kieron my number. I really wanted to.
“I, uh… Sure.”
“Here,” He handed me his phone. Our fingers brushed over each other as the phone passed between us and that spark from five years ago was alive and well.
I smiled and plugged my number into his phone before I could change my mind. He took it back and quickly texted my number.
“Are you normally busy around this time?” He asked, putting his cell phone in his pocket. I tried not to gulp as his phone disappeared, cementing that I broke a rule.
“You’re the only one that has come in in the last two hours so you tell me.” I said with a weak laugh. It was just after two in the afternoon so the people that had come in over the lunch rush were long since back at their jobs.
Kieron’s head dropped with a low chuckle and I watched as a curl tumbled from behind his ear. He looked so hot and happy. He was so attractive back in college, but now he’d grown into his looks. There was still a hint of concern and anger hidden in his eyes but to my delight, I could tell none of the anger was directed at me.
“Okay. I’ll be right back.” He said, striding towards the glass front door without looking back.
I didn’t know what he was planning, I didn’t know if he actually was going to come back. As soon as the bell rang above the door signaling that he had left, my anxiety started to build.
What had I done? I gave a man my phone number and now, Luca would…could….
I backed up behind the desk until my back hit the wall and I slid down until my ass was on the ground. What had I done? What is he going to do to me? Fuck, fuck my life. Goddamn it.
My heart was beating crazily fast and I couldn’t breathe.
The air was being sucked out of the room. Clawing at the collar of my shirt, I tried to pull it away to get more air in. The room started to spin.
“Talia?” A voice called out; I hadn’t even heard the bell ring to let me know that someone was inside the store.
I couldn’t pull myself out of this panic attack. There wasn’t a way for me to. Oxygen wasn’t getting into my lungs and I was definitely gasping deeply.
“Talia, Talia, baby. Breathe.” I could barely see anything. My vision was darkening so quickly. I could feel two large hands on me; one rubbing comforting, soft circles on my back and the other holding my head to a warm, firm chest.
“Breathe. In, Out.” The voice demanded and I followed their orders. I breathed in and out slowly. “Again.” And I did.
“Good job. Good girl.” The praise slipped from his lips so easily. “What happened? I was gone for only a few minutes.”
My world stopped spinning and I was finally able to focus on my savior. Kieron held onto me, and his hand never stopped moving on my back. His chest was straining against the white shirt under his leather jacket and was soft against my forehead. He smelled strong and clean like grease and leather.
Oh god, if Luca were to walk in right now, he would murder me on the spot for being in the arms of another man. I scurried away from Kieron as fast as I could, pushing him away and standing up. I tried to keep my panic under control and not surrender to it again, but my anxiety was so high that I couldn’t do anything, I had absolutely no idea what to do.
“Talia,” Kieron stood up and slowly, with his hands up like he was calming a wild animal, started to walk towards me. “I’m going to be honest. Okay?”
I nod.
“I know what is going on…at home.”
