Chapter 12

“Hey there.” I greeted Kevin whose back was facing me as he sat at a small table in the back of the library. Kevin turned in his seat and his mouth gaped open.

“Tori?” His eyebrows rose up in question and his breathing seemed ragged.

“Who else you goofus. So are you ready to get your imagination on.” I shook my shoulders from side to side accidently letting my boobs wobble.

He chuckled and held his head in mock shame. “Don’t ever say or do that again.”

I hung my head with a smile on my face, “Very funny. I was only trying to get you to close your mouth.” I grinned and proudly watched his face redden.

“I was just taken aback.”

“By what?”  I asked innocently. I had an idea. After all, I was wearing the outfit Dean picked and if his reaction was honest, then I had definitely captured Kevin’s attention.

“You look different.” His nose scrunched up in disappointment.

“You don’t like it?”

“I didn’t say that. It’s just um... distracting I guess. You looked fine before, why are you changing?”

“I’m not changing; it’s just a new outfit. I thought it would make my creative juices flow better.” I lied.

“You’re good at talking nonsense you know that.” He smirked.

I scoffed and tried to pull my notepad out of my bag. “It isn’t a crime to look good.”

“I didn’t say it was. Let me guess, Dean put you up to it didn’t he?”

I gasped and stared at him bug-eyed. “How did you know?”

“Seems like something he would do.” He shrugged.

“I thought Dean was straight. What is he doing giving girls makeovers?” I frowned.

“He is straight. He just enjoys fashion. He believes everyone who doesn’t dress with his approval has no fashion sense and needs to be shot.” He took his gaze away, which was set on his notes, and stared at me fiercly. He pointed his large index finger in my direction. “No one knows. It’s Dean’s dirty little secret and if the guys he works with find out, he’s a dead man.”

I rubbed my temples, “this is so confusing. How does a mechanic become a closest fashionista?”

“He isn’t a mechanic by choice. It’s his father’s business which he helps run.”

“So he doesn’t want to be a mechanic?”

“Not exactly. He enjoys it but if he had a choice, he would be a stylist.”

“Really?” My voice rose an octave and I quickly cleared my throat in a hope that my shock wasn’t so evident. “Why isn’t he then?”

“His father is what you call a ‘mans man.’ He doesn’t approve of any career unless it’s blue collar.”

I frowned, “that’s so sad. Poor Dean.”

“Don’t tell him I told you please.”

“I won’t.” I made a motion of zipping my lips. “So have you thought of our design?”

He scratched at his head in thought. “A little. I was leaning more towards modern comfort.”

I perched my lips as I thought it over. “That’s a great idea.”

“What about you?” He asked.

“I was thinking of colour. It’s an adoption house and colour makes everything seem fun and friendly. The point is to attract potential parents and show them that you’re child friendly. Kids respond to bright colours. So I was thinking colours like, green, blue, orange and yellow.”

His mouth turned upwards into a gorgeous smile. “I love it. I think you’ll make the best partner. I mean who better to design a child friendly place than someone who has a child?”

I laughed nervously, “Yeah.” I shuffled my pages around and twirled a pen in my fingers awkwardly.

“I didn’t mean to insult you in anyway.”

“You didn’t. It’s just that I’m not at all comfortable with the title of ‘parent’ or ‘having a child.’ It feels wrong somehow.” I reassured.

“But you do have a child.”

“Sort of. I look after a child but I don’t have one.” I reasoned. “Do you get what I’m saying?”

He nodded slowly. “So basically you don’t like someone implying that Tommy is yours in any way since he is technically Maggie’s.”

I beamed. “Exactly! See I knew you would understand.” I teased but instead of a grin or a blush, Kevin frowned.

“I understand how you don’t want the title to be stripped of Maggie but, she’s gone Tori and whether you’re comfortable with it or not, Tommy is now yours.”

“Don’t say that!” I chocked. “He’s Maggie’s!”

“He always will be but, he’s yours too.”

I shook my head with angst. “No! Stop saying that. He is Maggie’s. End of story. Can we work now?”

He sighed and the sound seemed more out of disappointment than frustration or exhaustion. “Okay.” Kevin began to pull out his notepads and design tools while I sat numbly staring at my page. I couldn’t believe Kevin’s words.

“She’s gone, Tori...”

A strangled cry escaped my lips as I remembered his words. I covered my mouth but to no avail. Kevin heard and he looked up at me with concern. I sniffed and pushed my chair away from the table. Before Kevin could catch me, I ran away from the library where we sat and ran for the nearest bathroom. I found one right outside the building and ran into the closest open cubicle. I shut the cubicle door with fierce and fell against it sloppily. My legs gave way and my body fell to the ground. I leaned my head against the bathroom door and let my sobs scream out.

I wasn’t alone long before I heard the bathroom door open and close slowly and then followed by steady footsteps. “Tori?” Kevin’s voice broke through my cries and I hiccupped.

“What are you doing here?” I snapped.

“I came to see if you were okay or if you needed anything?”

I shook my head and then realised he couldn’t see. “No.” I whispered and his answering sigh let me know he heard.

“Let me help you.” He whispered against the door. He sounded like he was in agony.

“No. I’m not some experimental psychology case you get use.” I hissed. I couldn’t find it in me to care about how mean I was. I could only focus on the pain he had brought on me.

“You could never be that. Not to me at least. Look Tori, I care about you and I just want to be sure you’re alright?”

I rubbed at my eyes. “You care about me?”

“Of course I do.” His palm hit the door with a thud. “I need to see you. Can you please come out? I can’t talk to you between a door.”

“Okay.” I whispered and slowly rose from the floor. I smoothed my skirt down and turned to face the door. I ignored the urge to freshen myself up and instead took a gulp of air and opened the door. Kevin stood on the other side with his hands in his jeans pockets and his face down to the ground. His charcoal black hair seemed ruffled and his grey eyes were on me, an expression of concern and possibly fear was stretched across his face.

“Are you okay?” I nodded. “I’m sorry.” Kevin closed the gap between us and pulled me into his arms. It was the closest I had ever got to him and I loved it. I could feel the hard plains of his chest through the thin layers of his clothes. My head fit perfectly under his and I could feel the pricks of his unshaven chin rub against my temple when his head moved towards my ear. His warm breath hit my ears and I clamped my mouth so not to release a moan. “I am so very sorry.”

His arms tightened around my waist so I tightened my own around his. His thick strong arms felt like a blanket around my smaller frame and I felt safe and at peace. He smelled of peppermint and a hint of orange. He smelled as delicious as he looked and felt. “It’s okay.” I mumbled into his armpit where my head had somehow been pushed.

I wasn’t complaining.

Another breath tickled my ears but this time it was because of a sigh from Kevin. A sigh of satisfaction perhaps? I closed my eyes and let Kevin hold me. After a while his arms moved and his hands began to trail delicately up and down my back soothingly. “Thank you.” I whispered and moved my head to where his heart was. I could hear the rapid beating that matched his ragged breathing.

“I’ll do anything for you.” He pulled me back so he could look me in the eye. His intent soft stare sent chills of pleasure running through my body. My eyes drifted to his lips, his full beautiful lips. I wanted badly to feel them on my own. Kevin’s eyes drifted to my lips too and soon we both stood still. I leaned in forward and so did Kevin. Our lips were mere inches apart and I could feel his breaths on my lips. My body was buzzing with excitement. I closed my eyes slowly as I prepared for the touch of his lips. “Tori,” he breathed right before the bathroom door banged open.

“What are you doing?” Kevin pulled away quickly and stood very far away from me. He looked at me and then at the strange girl who interrupted us. She seemed aggravated. I wanted to slap her. She had no reason to be irritated, I however did.

We were so close.

“I’m just going to go. I talk to you later.” Kevin waved half-heartedly and rushed out the bathroom. I huffed.

“I know they supply the protection in the bathrooms but, it really is disgusting of you to actually use them in here.” She pointed to the condom dispenser and then shivered in disgust before she went to her own cubicle to do her business.

I blushed, “it wasn’t like that.” I called out before I left the bathroom.

That was so embarrassing.