Page 23 of Little Broken Pieces

There’s always that little voice, though. It has to remind me that I’m broken. A damaged girl with a broken heart that never fully healed, and just like that I doubt my worth.

I soak for a while, but I can feel my hands start to wrinkle. I hate when that happens. I drain the tub and when the water runs out, I stand up. The bathroom smells of fresh lavender and eucalyptus. Cora loves to have natural plants in the restroom, so the steam releases the scent into the atmosphere. Lavender is my kryptonite. I love it, the scent of it immediately calms me down. I wrap the fluffy white towels Cora says I’m not supposed to use around my body and look for the face mask mix we made last week.

I just spread some of the mint julep mask on my cheek when I hear a loud knock on the front door. I walk to the top step and another loud knock reverberates through the hall. I freeze, like a deer in headlights, startled by the loudness of it. I run to the restroom and grab my phone, readying 911 on the keypad.

I don't know who the hell this is, I wasn’t expecting anyone, and Cora would have called if she forgot her key or something. She knows unexpected guests freak me out. There were several times when I was a kid that we had men break into our house in the middle of the night to try and reach my mom when she wouldn’t respond to their calls or texts. Those were some of the scariest nights of my life. I had nightmares for years. One night in particular sticks out to me and that is why I get so panicked when someone shows up unannounced. I don't like to think of that night so I whisk the thought away to the far reaches of my mind.

I tiptoe down the stairs, trying not to make a sound. I pad my way into the kitchen and head for the junk drawer where I know the pepper spray sits. I grab it, pull the pin, and press down on the button in preparation to use it on whoever stands outside the door. Another knock startles me and I jump like a mouse ran over my foot. I yank the door open, ready to spray, but when I see who it is, I feel frozen to the ground. It's Kohen. Butterflies erupt. He looks so fucking good. He can break in anytime. I wouldn’t do a damn thing.

“Kohen? What are you doing here?”

I blink a few times to make sure he is actually here and it’s not some hallucination from me hitting my head and I’m actually passed out in the tub. I still feel like I’m imagining this so I don't even realize what I’m doing until it’s too late. I feel the scruff on his chin underneath my soft fingertips. The feeling sends chills down my spine. I move my hand away as quickly as my brain and body allow.

With a smirk on his face, he responds, “Hey, I’m sorry to just drop by but I remembered you mentioned the street you lived on at my party and I had to come find you."

I have no words. It’s as if my mind is black and I no longer know how to form sentences. Shocking, since I never shut the fuck up any other time, but this is the last thing I ever expected to happen.

“I’m sorry, I just don't know what to say.”

Thank you brain for forming a sentence for me.

“Are you mad? I only came because you blocked me and I had to know why.”

“No, I’m not mad. I was just…” I pause, inhaling his scent. It smells like strawberry and leather and it’s so intoxicating as it fills my nostrils, making me dizzy. “I just got scared. I wasn’t expecting anyone. I’m a little shocked to see it's you if I’m being honest.”

He half smiles and a dimple appears on his cheek. I didn’t notice that before. I love dimples.

“Well, I’m so sorry to have scared you, ma’am,” he says in a poor attempt at a southern drawl, and I laugh.

“Ew, Kohen! Do not call mema’am.”He joins me in laughter and my heart feels like it does a little flip. The sound of his laughter sends a warm comforting feeling throughout my body, grounding me here on the earth like my own personal gravitational pull. He looks so fucking good. His outfit is simple- gray sweatpants and a crisp white t-shirt that fits him like a second skin, complete with pristine air forces. Jesus Christ.

“You look good, Kohen.”

I slap my hand over my mouth, not meaning to say that out loud. I am so embarrassed. What the fuck is wrong with me? It's a question I feel like I’m asking myself a lot lately. I look up at him and see a huge smile adorning his handsome face, and it is everything.

“Oh my god, are you blushing?”

I turn on the porch light for a better look at him, causing him to squint at the unexpected brightness of the bulb.

“Oh, shit. Sorry!” I'm rushing to turn it off when he grabs me by the wrist, stopping me from reaching the switch.

“Thank you, Angel. You don't look so bad yourself. Sexy as hell. You make that bath towel look good.”

Holy fuck, I’m in a towel! I opened the door to Kohen Ventura in a towel! To be fair- I didn’t know it was going to be him, but I think that actually makes it worse. The knocking scared me so much that I forgot I wasn’t dressed.

“Oh, my GOD! Close your eyes!”

He laughs again, causing me to break out in more laughter.

“I am so fucking embarrassed. I’m so sorry, Kohen.”

First, I touch his face, then I tell him how good he looks without meaning to, and the cherry on top is doing all of that in a damn towel that doesn’t even cover the right side of my legs and hip. Your girl is thick.

“It's okay, Angel. I would have seen it sooner or later.”

I'm blushing. I just know I’m blushing. His words make me all giddy. We make eye contact, and he licks his lips.

“Well, do you want to come in and sit down? I’ll just go get dressed really quick. I’m home alone. Edward came over and surprised Cora with a date, so girls' night was ruined.”

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