Page 42 of Sorry

“No you don’t look crazy but I am curious what you are doing out here, and who are you talking to?” I asked while lowering myself behind him pulling him to lean with his back on my chest.

“It will sound silly, but I am talking to my Baka. She wrote me a letter before she died, telling me I better water her Forget-me-nots. And I have been watering them thinking about her so I started to tell her about my days. I told her about you and how much you helped me with everything. How grateful I am to have met you and how I maybe …um… maybe I'm falling for you.” He confessed.

My heart fucking stopped and restarted. Falling for me? The scowly-looking giant construction worker? I nudged his chin making him turn to look at me. “I already fell, Pup. I feel like you invaded my thoughts the moment you looked up at me with those big, puppy eyes the first time we met.” I kissed him softly on the lips and said, “And sweetheart I don’t think you are crazy for talking to your grandma. I think it's important if it makes you process her passing. I support you.” then turned to look at the flowers and said, “How do you do Ma’am? It’s very nice to meet you.”

He laughed in my arms. “She’d love this Alex. Bakery almost finished, me far away from Kyle and with someone who treats me with kindness. She would be so happy now. My parents would be too. I’m just racked up with guilt because I have avoided going to visit her in the graveyard because I haven't visited my parents in almost five years.” He bent his head down. I saw a tear fall down his cheek, so I wiped it off with my thumb.

“Why sweetheart?”

“Shame. Shame because my parents were against me dating Kyle– who was so much older than me, they found him unsavory and I was stupid to fall for his charm. They would be so sad and disappointed to know what I allowed myself to endure what he did to me. It took my Baka dying for me to run away and hide like a coward.” Letting out a self-deprecating sigh.

I was sad and furious for him. Sad because he blamed himself and furious that that nasty piece of shit groomed him, abused him and got away with it. “You are not to blame yourself, do you hear me? You were manipulated and abused. Your parents would not be disappointed. I will go with you if you want. As moral support.” I offered it sincerely.

Wiping under his eyes looking at me, he asked, “You would?”

"Of course I would. How about we go this Saturday if you are ready, no pressure?”

“I would love that Alex.” He relaxed and sighed, “Thank you.”

I kissed his lips, “Any time. I need to go back and get to laying the tiles down Pup. It’s coming along nicely.”

“It is, I love it so much. I have ordered all the appliances, baking tools and counters. They will arrive next week, once the tiles are finished. Then I want to paint the front and make a sign for it. I'd love it if you would do it with me?” His question sounded uncertain, evident he wasn’t used to asking people for help.

“That sounds fun, Pup!”

He looked back at the flowers, and fake-whispered, “See Bako. I told you he was amazing.” He laughed, while standing up.

“Ok, I am off to work now. By the way, I think you avoided it long enough, today is the day we start going to the gym after I am done in the bakery.” I pointed my finger at him.

“Ughhh fine… But if I am in pain after it, you will be carrying me around everywhere.” He pointed his finger back at me.

Walking away, I huffed out a laugh, “As if that’s going to be a problem for me.”

“Look at you grinning, in love. It’s so sweet. Did you guys seal the deal?” Jake began shouting, after Sam walked upstairs. As usual he had no filter.

“Jake… I actually don’t know how someone hasn’t knocked you out yet.” Matt said, fixing his shaggy, dark hair in his usual man-bun.

“Dickhead… And not fully we haven’t, we are enjoying each other's company and we have…done stuff.” Heat rose in my ears. I may have researched online about things, but I have been needing to tell somebody about it. I didn’t know if it was going to make them uncomfortable, not everyone was as easily accepting as I was about it all.

“OOOOH! I want all the juicy details man. Did you like it? I mean, was it odd being with a man for the first time?” Jake asks obnoxiously, but with genuine curiosity. If you didn’t know him, you would think he was being rude but he really was like a big child.

“Yes it's very different, obviously, but I was surprised I loved it so much more. Maybe it's just because it was with Sam. I can’t get enough of him ya’ll. I am so gone for him. He told me he was falling for me and I told him I am falling for him too, but in truth I feel it's a lot more than just that. Am I going insane? That's too fast, isn’t it?” I blurted it all in two breaths, as usual when I confided in my friends; after keeping everything in my head for too long, it all came out as a word vomit.

They look at each other and laugh. “We knew you guys would end up together, the way you took it upon yourself to protect him and take care of him, the way you both looked at each other. And how you both seemed to gravitate towards each other, from the very moment you met. It’s not too fast Alex. It even feels right to us, looking from the sidelines.” Matt said warmly, tapping me with his hand on my shoulder.

“Really?” I asked.

“Yes really. We even had a bet on how long it will take for you guys to start… OUCH!” Matt slapped Jake on the back of the head, interrupting him.

“Oh my God! Stop talking Jake.” Matt shouted.

I stared at them, “What bet?”

Changing the subject Matt said, “Nothing, ignore him. Anyways… We are both so happy to see you happy. You both deserve it. It was painful watching you sink, becoming a shadow of yourself with that witch year after year. And we both love Sam too.”

“Aw guys I am so lucky to have you guys!” I scooped them both, in a group hug.

“Ughh, you are so freakishly strong.” Matt groaned.