The New Year's Wish Read Online Free Page B

sparkle in her eyes did something to my stomach.
"Mock me all you want, but I bet your last date wasn't exactly like...yesterday?"
I threw the pillow and hit her in the back head. She came to the hotel bed I was lying on and started bashing me with the pillow. We were laughing and I caught her hips and threw her onto the bed and tickled her sides. We were interrupted by a man's voice from the door.
"Hello?"
"Oh, hi!"
She quickly sat up and smoothed her top down. She went over to him and gave him a light awkward hug.
"Matt, this is Charlie"
I waved a hand at him but didn't bother to get up.
"Erhm, we're off, see you later!"
I watched them go, feeling irritation rise in my chest. Why would she go out with him when she would have so much more fun hanging out with me? I noticed the other earring still on the dresser. I spent all night thinking about her smile and laughter and the way she'd squirmed on my bed right before we were interrupted. I wanted to dive back into the memory and kiss her. Kiss her so she'd forget all about going anywhere.
    I came back to the reality of being in the kitchen and stubbed out my cigarette and went to join the others.
I heard them talking in subdued voices.
"He's head over heels and..."
They stopped all their talking as they spotted me. I couldn't help but smile a little. So my feelings for Kayla were no longer a secret.
    "Why haven't you made a move yet?" Tom wanted to know and I could feel I wanted to tell. I wanted to talk about everything I'd secretly felt for the last 6 months. The word s were pressing themselves up and out. I lowered my voice afraid Kayla would hear me if she woke up in my bedroom.
"I don't know what to do! I don't want her to stop being my assistant, but I want her to be more than that!"
Jackson arched his left eyebrow and with a devilish smile so typical for him said "Then she can be your personal assistant with benefits."
He burst into laughter. Jackson thought himself to be mighty funny and soon the rest of them tried to outdo his joke.
Our laughter and chatter came to an abrupt end as the door to my bedroom was opened. Kayla was wearing my sweater and her bare legs stuck out from underneath. Even though I should be focused on the fact that she was up and about, a part of my brain checked out her legs and noted them to be perfectly tanned and curvy. She looked taken aback and stopped in her tracks when she saw all of us staring at her. I got up and went over to her.
"Hey...how are you feeling?"
"What day is it today?" Her voice was raspy and her eyes small and tired.
"Wednesday." I answered.
Her shoulders sank and her face got a sad expression. "Oh, is there any more food?"
I took her into the kitchen and helped her find something in the fridge. We needed another refill before New Year's Eve.
"Thank you for taking such good care of me Matt" Her face attempted a smile but landed somewhere in between a frown and a painful grimace.
"Always,Kay. You take such good care of me, it's the least I can do."
"I really appreciate it, though."
She came over to me and leant her face up against my chest. I locked my arms around her.
You're safe with me, Kay.
We brought her food into the living room and she joined us on the couch, eating and listening to us talk about our lives. When she fell asleep we put a blanket on her and continued talking. Tom sent me an encouraging smile and I felt a slice of normality re-entering the room.
    The next day while she took a shower, Bobby and Tom went grocery shopping.
Kevin hopped onto the kitchen counter and Jackson got started on dinner.
"So Matt, now that Kayla's not in Paris meeting that secret lover of hers, you could propose the whole PA with benefits thing?"
"Shut up Kevin! She might hear you!" I hissed at him, scared she'd heard anything.
"She can't hear anything with the water running!"
"He's right you know, you might as well give it a go now she's here!" Jackson chimed in.
"What's the worst that could