When I stepped out of the shower, I ran my hand over the steamed up mirror. Staring at my reflection I was overcome with a sense of sadness.
How could such an amazing moment be ruined by the mention of one name?
He regretted sleeping with me.
How could I have been so stupid to let my guard down and let him in? I should have known better.
Pulling in a deep breath through my nose, I slowly blew it out. Spinning on my heels, I walked into the bedroom only to see Thano sitting on the bed. He had lit another lantern so the bedroom was lit up. I quickly found my clothes and got dressed.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
“I’m getting dressed, what does it look like?”
“Why?”
I slipped on my T-shirt and shook my head as I looked back at him.
“I can’t do this.”
He drew his head back and gave me a confused look. “Do what?”
“For years, I built a fortress around my heart. You’re the first guy I’ve ever let my guard down with. The first one I’ve opened my heart up to, and I feel like all I’m getting is whiplash with you. One minute you’re whispering romantic things to me in Greek and then—”
Looking away, I fought to regain my composure. I wasn’t going to let him bring me to tears. No guy would ever do that to me again.
My eyes caught his stare and I was positive I saw something in those eyes that I’ve longed to see in a man’s eyes, only it was gone as soon as it came.
My chest tightened and I felt sick to my stomach. “And then you’re looking at me like you just made the biggest mistake of your life.”
Thano jumped up and walked toward me. I held up my hands. “Stop. Please don’t come near me. I don’t think I can resist you when you touch me.” My chin trembled as I looked down and swallowed hard.
Get it together, Kilyn.
“Your heart is camouflaged and I don’t know how to read it.” Looking back up at him, I barely said, “One minute you’re warm and the next you’re cold. Maybe I’m not supposed to be the one to read it.”
He shook his head. “Kilyn, I . . . I’m not sure I’m ready yet for you to have a piece of my heart.”
And there it was.
The final blow to my already fragile heart. I forced a small grin. “And here I thought, maybe, we both shared a moment together.”
“We did,” he said with an urgency in his voice.
“I’ve been through too much shit in my life and maybe . . . maybe I was wanting something that just wasn’t there.”
He shook his head, “No. Kilyn, if you would listen to me for a minute.”
His doorbell rang and we both looked out. I was dressed and he wasn’t.
Taking the light, I said, “I’ll see who it is.”
“No, wait,” Thano said as he frantically searched for his clothes.
Quickly making my way out of his room, I needed to put distance between us. Opening the door, I breathed a sigh of relief as I saw a state trooper standing there.
He smiled, as he looked me over. “Ma’am, just checking to make sure everyone and everything is okay. I see you had a tree land on your vehicle.”
“Oh, um . . . yes that is Thano’s car. He owns the cabin.”
“The storm has already passed and they are working on the roads to clear them, so you should be able to leave by morning.”
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Thano walking toward the front door.
“And the power?” he asked.
The trooper nodded his head. “Crews are working on it now. I’m actually heading back down the mountain.”
“Is there any way you could take me to Manitou Springs?”
It was out of my mouth before I even realized I was thinking it.
“What?” Thano said. “Kilyn, what are you doing?”
Not bothering to look at him, I stared at the trooper. He looked between the two of us.
“Is everything okay here, ma’am?”
“Yes. Everything is fine; I’m feeling rather claustrophobic. I don’t think I can wait until morning.”
Thano walked up next to me. “Jesus, Savannah. What in the hell are you doing?”
My head snapped over as my mouth dropped open. My entire body shook from head to toe. “My name is Kilyn. Not Savannah.”
Thano’s face turned white. “I . . . I didn’t mean to call you that. I swear, Kilyn.”
Turning back to the trooper, I looked at him with pleading eyes. “Please, can you take me home?”
When the single tear rolled down my cheek, he nodded.
I quickly slipped on my Converse sneakers. Thano stood there the whole time, not uttering a single word.
Before I stepped out into the frigid cold, I looked at him. “I’ll have your drawings ready by Wednesday.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. I hadn’t realized until that moment how much I had longed for him to put up an argument. For him to beg me not to leave.