Chapter 2

Chapter 2 

Erica 

Every morning I wake up , to check and see  to  if I am alive .  I always wear an elastic band around my wrist before I go to sleep . When I wake up I  pull it back all the way to my head board and release. The sound of the elastic band making contact with my wrist stings, but it doesn't compare to the pain I feel inside when I wake up. I've been struggling to sleep and I've been talking in my sleep lately ... I'm lying it's been going on for the past year .

There has to be a way to get over

missing someone so badly that you wished  they were here with you on earth and not  gone.Itfeels like it was just yesterday when I saw both their faces . Andrew and Chloe; my brother and my best friend.  To think that I set them up on their first date ,and Chloe was well on her way to getting back on her feet and supporting herself and her little boy Michael after she had suffered heartbreak from someone who claimed to love her and left her alone and pregnant. She was broken and afraid when she came to the Bakery .  

I didn't know her from a bar of soap,but we quickly became best friends after the first week . My brother lived next door and on a night when Chloe was off and she went to visit Michael's paternal grandfather  ,who ended up buying her  a house  on the same complex he wouldn't stop asking about her .  Chloe's house was next door so I was between her and my brother.  I ended up setting Chloe up on a date with my brother when she too couldn't stop talking about him . Michael was two when they started a relationship and Andrew took the role of being a father seriously. He also wanted to be a father too and he loved Michael like a son . On Michael's fifth  birthday  Andrew was planning on proposing to Chloe and Chloe was going to tell him she was pregnant... That never happened. 

I was busy with a cupcake order  when I got a call from the hospital. My shop assistant Mika was helping me with  packing the cupcakes into boxes . They were for another kids birthday party and the packaging had to be specific because some kids at the day care centre  had nut allergies and some  didn't  and they loved the peanut butter and chocolate frosting.

I was busy packing the last box when I recieved a call from a Doctor Matthew   Colton. He sounded sad over the phone when he asked me to come through to the hospital. I couldn't for the life of me fathom the thought of anyone that I cared about being hurt ,but if there was one thing life taught me it was that; nothing is ever really certain, and that every day is a gift . As soon as I arrived I realised that the person who called me over the phone was Matt  a regular customer who became a good friend, his voice sounded different and layered with hurt. I had a date with him on the evening of that fateful day. It had been a while since my last date and I really liked him. After the hell I've been through with regards to the men I had been with;  I thought things were looking up but I guess fate had other plans. 

As soon as I got out of bedz I made the bed head to the bathroom to go get cleaned up and on my way to the shower I throw the elastic band in a bin full of other  elastic bands. I have been seeing someone with regards to my bereavement  counselling ,and even though I  sometimes tend to get busy with running my restaurant and business Matt always takes time out of his busy schedule to check up on me. This week he has been coming over physically just to check if everything is alright and if I need anything ; I shouldn't hesitate picking up the phone and calling him . The coolest part about Matt being around was that he lived across the road from me  and he was slowly growing on me in a good way because I normally take a while to let anyone in. I don't know how to fall in love fast, and the last time that happened I almost married the guy. We ended up being better friend's than lovers , because he wasn't ready to commit period. 

I made my way to the bakery which wasn't far from the complex . It was  four blocks away and as soon as I walked in Mika was an excited to see me. She ran to greet me with a hug and my usual cup of hot chocolate. 

" Erica you  wont believe who just called in for a wedding cake order..." 

I genuinely smiled at her and grabbed my cup with a carrot and peacan muffin.

" Good Morning  Mikayla .Who ?" 

"Lisa Rose . " 

I darted my eyes from side to side and chuckled .

"The model?" 

" Yeah like soon to be Mrs  Hugo Black. "

" She eats cake ? " 

"Well she'd like to talk to you about making a weight friendly wedding cake" 

"Come again? " 

"You have a sports medicine background and at some point  you did fitness . "

" Apparently I didn't have the body type  and need I remind you ; I was called too preppy and curvy to do anything sports related ." 

"You were the best in the business, hell you still are, even Alex comes through and drops a whole lot of cash. He said; you shouldn't forget that the Derby  is tomorrow. He really likes you."

"So does Matt . " 

Mika sat opposite me with her cup of coffee.

"I don't know what you see in him . He is new money. He might be loaded but I see through his facade. He pretends when he is around you . "

" Or maybe he's insecure . He has a heart of gold ."

" Lik Alex who is the whole package." 

" I'm not his type . " 

"Girl you're anyone's type ;and you can also cook and bake . "

" It comes standard with the package right ?" 

I rolled my eyes, took a sip of my now cold hot chocolate and the last bite of my muffin because it was almost time to open up . Mikayla smiled at me and pointed at the door . Alex was standing in the freezing cold with a bunch of yellow roses and what looked like chocolate from my favourite chocolate maker . I beckoned him to come in with my hand and  Mikayla opened the door for him 

Alex was one of my first patients at the sports company I worked for . We became good friends after he doubted my ability to help him recover from a career threatening injury. He was out for half the season because of an ankle  injury.  He was instructed by the manager to either work with me or risk not playing football at all. He wasn't given a second option.  

He had trust issues and  he was also afraid of  opening up, and  apart from the fact that most physio therapist he worked with were male, he gave me a chance after  some time he started warming up to me  and he recovered both physically ahead of schedule and emotionally he started being more expressive.  

Customers who had placed orders were starting to come in and Mikayla started doing what she was getting paid for .  I was wearing my usual work attire which was ; dark blue skinny jeans paired up with a grey hoody and my hair was tied back into a pony tail. I had opted to have a weave for the winter season and come spring I would wear my hair natural  . I was wearing  my faded pink converse sneakers  so that if my shop assistant needed help I wouldn't help her. 

To avoid attention I went upstairs to my office with Alex . As soon as he closed the door I gave him a vase to put the flowers in and he went into the bathroom to get  water for the roses; placed my chocolates  in my top drawer 

and sat infront of me. Alex Tristan was quiet the looker  he had curly brown hair and grey eyes .  He normally leaves his hair  loose but today he tied it into a  man bun . He looked at me intensely for what seemed to be the longest sixty seconds I've ever waited ,  placed both his index and fore fingers on his  lips  and he proceeded to place the fingers on my forehead. 

" You've been avoiding me and my calls all week ." 

" I've been busy. " 

" So have I but you've been unavailable and that makes me worry because I know what today is."

I took a deep breath and winced . 

"You do ?"

"Yes. " 

" I lied when I said I've been busy. "

"I know my angel. Now I have to be at the hotel in an hour and then get to work . " 

"It's a pretty big day tomorrow." 

Lex took my hand and kissed the back of my palm. 

" If it wasn't for you and your kindness I would be walking around with a broken ankle and  heart ... Before that Matt guy asked you out ;Andrew  knew how I felt about you . " 

" We are friends. " 

"I know and I don't want to pressure you into making any decisions but ..." 

"Please give me time . " 

" I will . Just as long as you come to the big game tonight ? " 

  " Fine ." 

He bent down to place  a lingering kiss on  my forehead  and gave me a hug . I hugged him back and tears that had been threatening to come out  escaped my eyes .  Alex hugged me tighter pulled back and wiped the tears off my face . 

" I don't want to leave you like this . " 

"I will be fine . " 

" Okay I sent you a package for tonight I hope you like what's inside the box. " 

" I hope so too ." 

Alex cradled my face with both his palms he  was about to kiss me and I was going to let him when both our phones rang. Dangit ...

"To be continued ? " 

"Yes . See you at the stadium sweetness. " 

He gave me a peck on the cheek and went out the back door . I looked at my phone and it was Mikayla sending an SOS for me to come help her  upfront .  I tied my hair up into a ballerina bun  went into the bathroom to clear up my face; picked up one of the aprons , and went to go help Mika . I was going to the game tonight and by the looks of things Alexe wanted a serious relationship . I wasn't sure if I was ready.

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