A Step Closer to Love

“Not a date,” Arabella said immediately. “I don’t mean a date like a date but a date like I am going to repay you for buying me dinner tonight, I don’t know why I said date when I did not mean it” she rambled on.

Kieran could not help the smile on his face. “Why are you smiling?” she trailed off. Why was she acting as though a portion of her brain had suddenly been rewired and she could not think straight any longer?

“Because you are cute, I did not know this before but seeing you ramble nervously makes you cute,” he said and then abruptly turned around and started walking to the car.

Arabella stood there unable to lift a foot, “He thinks I am cute?” she squealed to herself. “But what are you happy about that?” she said as if she was scolding a third party.

“Oh god” she said running her hands across her face in annoyance. “How do I explain this? Am I losing a few brain cells? Do I need to visit a doctor?” She was worried she might be sick because that was the only plausible explanation as to why she was delighted Kieran called her cute.

Kieran hurried to the car, of all the things he could have said he could not believe that was his response. Since when did he know the meaning of cute? That word was not something to easily find in his vocabulary because he did not know what it meant but here he was using the word like a pro.

He sat in the car and watched Arabella in the distance fight herself. He could tell she was as embarrassed as he was. He was just going to play it cool like nothing had happened and carry on with his life.

He hooted the horn and she was startled, she looked up to the car and made an Oh shape with her mouth before hurrying over and getting in.

“I thought you did not want to go again?”

Arabella could not believe she was the only one struggling with herself. His voice was so smooth after what he had done that she could not believe he could be faking it.

To avoid her voice coming out squeaky and then causing her to sound like a fool she just nodded and gestured for him to make his way out of the place so they could be home and she could wallow in her embarrassment by herself. She knew she dared not tell her sister or else she would tease her about it forever.

“I am going now” Kieran announced like she was on some kind of public transport.

“Okay,” she tried to make out. She was sure she was sounding like a trapped rat.

“We are home” By the time they got home the lights in the house were out so they knew they had to make it upstairs quietly.

“See you tomorrow” Kieran said at the door and Arabella could swear that first thing tomorrow morning she was going to have her imagination removed because why was she here imagining him to be her boyfriend dripping her off and requesting another date tomorrow? Why was her mind doing this to her?

“Hmmm sure,” she said and walked away without looking back.

“Why are you just getting home?”

Arabella stood there as if she had just seen a ghost. She could not believe that Everly had just caught her and her son sneaking back into the house at such an hour.

“Mom, what are you doing there?” Kieran asked.

Everly stood up and walked to them. “Oh I could not sleep so I came out” Everly spoke with a smile but the sadness in her eyes was unmistakable.

“Are you good?” Arabella asked. The words flowed from her mouth so easily which shocked her because she had not yet gotten over the shock from seeing Everly out there.

“Of course, it’s just one of those days” Everly knew it was not just one of those days. She was afraid of staying in the same room with Ethan. She feared that he would jump on her suddenly.

“I better go to bed then, it would be a long day tomorrow” Arabella rambled. She was sure that what she was saying was nonsense but she just needed to get out of that place as soon as she could.

“Okay Good night” Everly said as Arabella hurried out. “I better get to bed as well” Everly began to walk but so slowly.

She had told Ethan that she would be in bed as soon as the kids came and she knew she no longer had an excuse to sit out there. Should she leave for a few days? Maybe getting out of the environment would help with her mind.

As Kieran watched his mom he hoped all was well with her. He did not want to think that something was going on between them both.

With her mind made up Everly decided that the best thing for her to do was to leave the environment as soon as she could. If she stayed any longer she might endanger herself the more.

“I am going on a trip” Everly announced.

She had insisted that everyone come for breakfast so she could find an avenue to announce it herself. Last night with her mind made up she called her friend Ava in Japan and asked if she could come visit her and she had received the idea with open arms.

Getting to see her friend again was something she really wanted and this was a good opportunity for her.

“What?” Ethan knew that Everly was not going on a trip but running away. He felt bad instantly, he should have never done that, he wondered what got over him.

“A trip? It’s been a while since you travelled” Kieran said munching down on his meal.

“Yes, I was speaking with Ava last night and said what a great idea it would be to visit and she said I could come. She was going on leave soon and she would have time for me” Everly said happily.

“So it’s a vacation for you?” Arabella asked and Everly nodded. “Then I am so happy for you”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“I will be out the day after tomorrow” Everly announced.

“That’s good”