FORREST
THE MINUTE I stepped into the restaurant where Mama and I agreed to spend our lunch together, I spotted Lee and Taylor in suits at the corner table. They were quickly on their feet and marched toward my direction.
I threw them a glare before I stepped closer to where Mama and Meadow had been sitting. Lee and Taylor met me halfway.
“Mr. Kent—” I cut off Lee. He was tall, had pure muscles, and was always on full alert. He may be protecting my mother, but it didn’t change the fact that they took my mother here without telling me about their plan. I got it, it was Mama’s order, and that pissed me off a little further. They knew every detail about her safety, yet they didn’t inform me before considering flying over here.
“What a load of cobblers. And it’s Wood, dumbass.”
“Forrest, leave them alone. We already discussed this last night.” Mama stood up from her seat.
“Fancy seeing you here, Mr. Wood.” Taylor, a decade older than me tipped his head.
“I wish I could say the same thing, Taylor. We’ll talk about this next month, how about that?”
“Of course, sir.”
I watched them as they settle back to their table. I let the anger and relief surged inside me before I kissed Mama on her cheek.
“I thought you’re not gonna show up,” Meadow said.
“Don’t be too chuffed. You’re no excuse in my indignation.” I took a seat on the empty chair beside Mama.
Minutes later, the food arrived. We started our lunch with a light conversation about their shopping spree earlier.
Ignored Meadow’s comments most of the time. I respected my mother a lot not to snap at Meadow every time she butted in, but I hadn’t forgotten the stunt she pulled out back at my penthouse.
“So, did you two talk?” Mama’s smile was a little too hopeful. I wished I shared her confidence.
I stole a glance at Meadow whose mood suddenly turned grouchy. “Yeah.”
“And?” Meadow asked.
“On your bike, Meadow.” I had not eaten good food since yesterday, and I was hoping to fill my stomach with this delicious meal if she didn’t have to spoil everything.
“Forrest, I didn’t—”
I put the fork down and wiped my mouth. “Just don’t, okay? Tell you what, she has nothing to do with me anymore. Congratulations!”
“Give her some time, Forrest.” Mama smiled with an encouraging squeeze of my hand. I didn’t need any further encouragement. I already had a plan at hand.
“And if she—”
“Don’t pretend as if you’re concerned, Meadow. You planned to wear that bloody ring all along.” Thankfully, it wasn’t on her finger anymore as I might take it off from her and threw it away. I should’ve taken it from her, but I thought she might plan on selling it, and I didn’t really give a fuck about it anymore.
“I’m sorry, okay? I thought—” Her voice was rough, affected,
“You thought what, that there’s nothing serious going on between me and Megan? Like always, so pessimistic of you.”
“Will you two stop bickering in front of food? She apologised, isn’t she?” Mama cut me a glare.
Meadow quickly apologized.
“I’m sorry, Mama. I have a lot of things in my head right now. Let’s not talk about it, shall we?”
***
The embarrassment I felt of being caught by my mother or my old flame making out with a woman was at least a bit of my concern. It wasn’t also because I left without a choice having a raging hard-on that took every damn power I had left to wear off the throbbing erection in pants before facing my mother. It was damn disturbing, but far way more painful to chase the woman who was fucking clear that she had nothing to do with you anymore.
Megan did a pretty good job of testing my temper. She took everything lightly while I was evaporating inside.
This morning, instead of throwing words at her, I wanted to grab the back of her head, kiss her so hard to prove my point, and pick up what we left off last night.
Thanks to Dr. Reed, she understood my situation and gave me her home address, and here I was, knocking on their window like a fucking creep while Megan was still ignoring my call.
I never thought in the future, I would be doing this desperate measure to get a woman’s attention, but she was not just any woman, she was Megan.
“Megan,” I whispered while knocking on the window.
It was past midnight, I was hoping it was her and not her mom who would answer me.
The curtain was withdrawn, I sighed in relief that it was indeed Megan. Her eyes were wide in shock, and her mouth gaped as if I was losing my mind.
I almost chuckled when she tapped the window with a knife to give me a warning. I was thankful that she was vigilant. I must have scared her and thought I was a burglar who was trying to break in.
Sorry for not being sorry though because I was not going anywhere. I pointed at the door to let me in, instead, the response I got was her disapproval. She unapologetically pressed her lips into a tight line.
This is not gonna be good.
“I am not going anywhere until we talk, I mean it.” I did a hand signal and eyed her strongly.
Again, she tapped the knife on the window and huffed a breath before she moved toward the door.
I did a fast-paced stride to the doorstep of the back door. It swung open, revealing Megan who was crossing her arms over her chest, looked pissed with a knife pointing at me.
“Hi.” All of a sudden my tongue stuck to my mouth, and I lost my words to see her in front of me.
She only wearing a baby blue shirt with the tiniest shorts that looked more like panties to me. Like an idiot I was, my attention was focused solely on her nipples poking against the thin fabric.
I lost my concentration until she snapped her fingers in front of my face.
“What the hell are you doing here? And how did?” She stopped. “Don’t answer that.”
I moved closer, towering over her. Megan stepped back as she pinned me with a cautious look. I had to stop approaching before she would change her mind and never gave me another chance. “I just wanna talk to you.”
“I thought I was pretty clear that we’re done talking.”
“Not on my part. I haven’t done saying what I want to say.”
“Then say it now. It’s pretty late. I’m retiring soon.”
I followed her when she walked away. “I don’t know they’re coming.”
“I heard that in your penthouse.”
“Mama never came to see me.”
“Then why is she here with your fiancee?”
“You’re not listening,” I emphasized. “Meadow is not my fiancée.”
She stopped in the kitchen, grabbed the box of cereal and milk on the counter, and placed them in the cupboard and the fridge. She then looked down at her unfinished meal. “Do British women kiss every man as their way of saying hello?”
“You know you sound ridiculous, right?”
“Then why did she kiss you?” Her voice was as cold as ice.
“I’ve known her since we were young.”
“That doesn’t answer my question, Forrest. How young are we talking about here?”
“I was ten, and she was nine.”
“I see.” She nodded dourly and placed her unfinished food inside the fridge. “She’s your first love.”
“And we thought we were going to get married.” My temper was about to snap when she didn’t even look at me. I hated it when people didn’t even give their attention while I was talking. I sighed heavily. “Damn it, Megan. Can you at least look at me when we’re talking? How could we solve our problem if you don’t wanna even face it?”
She looked at me with disinterest. “I have nothing to say, Forrest. And it’s not my problem, it’s yours.”
“I do have something to say though, but I want you to look at me in the eye when I am talking. At least show me a little respect. I came here to speak to you.”
“I am listening.”
I rounded to her side, and she quickly stilled. “I’m not gonna touch you. I just wanna be closer to you. I would never—”
“I know. It’s just, I don’t trust myself anymore when I’m with you.” I hurt her, and I completely understood her decisive action.
Still, she had no idea that I’d been holding my emotions, fighting the urge of pulling her into my arms, and not letting her go again. “I moved here and stayed with Alan.”
“But you did not break up with her.”
I shook my head. “No. But I can assure you that I and Meadow were ancient history.”
Megan shook her head, looking disappointed. She stalked away and left me with a huff.
I followed her. At a time like this, I would do everything for her to understand my situation. “When I told her to come with me, she didn’t support my decisions. I went back a year after, but she already moved on. That’s how it ended.”
She stopped abruptly. “I don’t think she gets the memo, Forrest because she’s still wearing your ring, and it shows to me that you two are never over.”
“We were over four years ago. She fucking knew it.”
“Oh, I don’t think so. It’s maybe because you two are still sleeping together, right?”
“Yes.”
“Jeez,” she scoffed, starting to sniff. “Go home. This conversation is going nowhere.” She climbed upstairs.
Jesus! She was crying again because of me. My chest ached. It was like a knife shoved into my heart.
I was second thought of not following her, but I came here to explain, and if she still didn’t want me after I told her everything, then— Then what?
“It was just sex,” I blurted out.