The next morning....
Gareth woke up with a start and looked around and he winced. His head hurt like hell. This was not the ceiling of his room. He looked around slowly, and felt someone move in the bed beside him. He turned to look to see Autumn asleep beside him. Gareth studied her and frowned, not remembering what happened after dancing with Autumn. He closed his eyes and sighed, and looked at her again.
He reached out and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand gently and sighed. Autumn snuggled deeper into the blanket and sighed. Gareth smiled to himself. He gently got up and propped his head on his hand and studied Autumn.
The sunlight streamed in through the curtains, and Autumn slowly opened her eyes. She adjusted her eyes only to see Gareth studying her.
“Good morning.”, he greeted with a smile, ignoring the dull pain in his head.
“Morning. How are you feeling?”, she asked sleepily.
My head hurts like hell, but I’ll survive. Should not have finished the whole decanter of Whiskey.”, he said softly.
“Serves you right.”, was all she said and snuggled back into the covers.
“Going back to sleep?”, Gareth asked.
“No, just snuggling back in, it’s still early.”, she explained and turned towards the windows. Gareth watched her, and snuggled into the covers, moving closer to her. Autumn sighed and turned back.
“Cuddle?”, he whispered. They were face to face, noses almost touching. Autumn looked into his green eyes, and Gareth moved closer. Reaching out from under the covers, his arms snaked around Autumn’s waist, pulling her closer.
Noticing that she did not resist, Gareth took advantage and pulled her in, rolling onto his back, allowing his arm to slip under her head, so that while Autumn laid in her side, her head was resting on the crook of his shoulder. Autumn tried to move away, but Gareth held onto her. Autumn only sighed and laid there. They stayed like that for awhile. Autumn peeked over to the side table and she moved.
“Time to get out of bed for breakfast.” She said and moved away. Gareth kept silent and got out to follow her to the bathroom. He looked at her through the mirror while brushing her teeth. After changing and preparing, they headed down to the dining hall for breakfast. Gareth needed to say something. He grabbed Autumn’s hand and dragged her to the nearest room available.
“St Claire! What are you doing?!” Autumn exclaimed in surprise. They entered the library and Gareth closed the door behind them.
“This is not funny St Claire. We have to go or else we will not have any breakfast.” Autumn said and reached for the doorknob.
“Please Cheri.” Gareth pleaded. Autumn turned to look at him and frowned.
“I’m not longer your Cheri, you don’t need to address me as so.” Autumn said gently with a gentle smile. Gareth’s eyes dimmed.
“What can I do to make it up to you?” he asked quietly as he reached out and held her hand. Autumn shook her head.
“It’s over Gareth, its over. Let us go, let me go.” She said and put her other hand over his.
“But I don’t want to.” He said and gently squeezed her hand. Autumn looked up at him in confusion.
“I know I said things that I should not have said, and I’m regretting everything that I said. I thought about it long and hard, and I realized what I fool I’ve been letting you go just like that, and what an idiot I’ll be if I let you go.” Gareth began, he hands began to tremble. Autumn kept silent.
“I screwed up Cheri. I should not have just left you on your own to deal with the loss of our child and the attack. I was running away. I made excuses; I was bluffing myself into thinking that leaving you was the right thing to do. I did not do the best that I could have done to deal with our loss.” He continued.
“I—I left you when you needed me the most.” Gareth admitted quietly, and looked at Autumn straight in her eyes when he said those words.
I looked at Gareth in confusion. My heart was hurting. I shook my head. I didn’t know what to make of what Gareth had just said.
“Gareth, I—“ I began, only to be pulled into Gareth’s embrace.
“I’m sorry Cheri, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.” Gareth pleaded softly in my ear.
“I want you back, I can’t live without you. After all that we’ve been through, I could never give you up.” He continued. I kept silent. Gareth held me even closer.
I gently pushed him away, and reluctantly, Gareth let me go. He looked down at me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
“Being apart may not be a bad thing.” I began. Gareth looked at me in confusion.
“You don’t feel anything for me anymore? Is it because of Ashford?” Gareth asked silently. He was confused.
“No, it is not about Grayson.” I said to him.
“Stop calling him by his first name. It’s not like you know him all that well.” Gareth said angrily.
“I call you by your first name but I don’t know you all that well either.” I admitted to him angrily. Gareth looked at me in surprise. I took another deep breath.
“Being apart will allow us to get to know each other in a different light. It’s not a bad thing, and if we are meant to be, we will be back together without even knowing what happened.” I explained to Gareth gently. He squeezed my shoulders and took a deep breath.
I reached up and put my hands on his arms and gently squeezed them and smiled up at Gareth.
“I love you St Claire.” I told him gently. Gareth looked at me wide eyed, utterly shocked.
“Then why should we be apart?” he asked me, confusion in his voice.
“After Chloe and after the attack, I realized I needed more than just love and affection in a relationship. I need dedication and an understanding between us. You’ve just gotten back on track with your wedding gowns, and I need to get back on track with my life. I’ve sacrificed so much for other people but not for myself. I want to myself back before I commit my life to another.” I explained.
“We don’t have to do it apart; we can get through this together.” Gareth pleaded.
“I need to get through this alone. I want to go home Gareth, I want to learn to be myself again. Give me some time. Like I said, if we are meant to be, we will be back together. I promise you that.” I added softly.
Gareth looked at me and nodded, understanding what I have just said. He pulled me close and hugged me tight. I returned with a hug that meant everything.
“I love you Cheri, with everything I have in me. Don’t make me wait too long, because I won’t be able to bear it.” Gareth whispered in my ear and gently kissed my cheek. I nodded against his shoulder.
And with that, Gareth and I went our separate ways.
0 comments:
Post a Comment