Chapter 26
After Michael had finished his story, Sydney stood there for a few more minutes, just watching them. Then she turned and walked to the kitchen window, seeing more snow falling down. Sighing she wished it would stop. It was getting harder and harder to be around him all the time. She felt the walls that protected her crumble and didn’t know how long she could keep them up.
She heard footsteps behind her and knew Michael had joined her in the kitchen. Turning around she looked at him, not sure of what to say.
“Nice story.” Sydney finally said, giving him a weak smile.
“Yeah, still need to work on better storylines.” Michael chuckled.
“No, it was really nice.” Sydney said sincerely, “And they liked it.”
“Can we talk about what happened earlier?” Michael asked softly and looked at her closely, waiting for her reaction.
“I’d rather not.” Sydney whispered and looked away.
“Sydney, please.” Michael pleaded and reached for her hand but she pulled away before he could touch her.
“We kissed, that’s all.” Sydney walked by Michael and into the living room, closely followed by Michael. She picked up Danielle and Michael picked up Abby and they carried them up to their room. She just hoped that he wouldn’t continue their conversation when Abby and Danielle were in the same room.
“Sydney, stop being so stubborn and talk to me.” Michael said quietly, gently grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the girls’ room.
“What are you doing?” Sydney asked, slowly getting a bit angry.
“Letting the girls sleep.” Michael explained why he had walked with her upstairs, “Now we can talk.”
“I already said there’s nothing to talk about.” Sydney crossed her arms in front of her defensively.
“Michael,” Sydney sighed and tried to think of something to say to talk him out of this.
“No, Sydney.” Michael shook his head, “Just hear me out, for once and don’t run away.”
“I’m not running away.” Sydney replied quietly, “I’m here, aren’t? We just can’t start over and try it again. I just don’t wanna talk about it over and over again only to come to the same conclusion.”
Sydney let out a heavy sigh and walked away, hoping Michael wouldn’t follow her this time. To her surprise, he didn’t. Entering her bedroom, Sydney took her phone and called Kate. She needed someone to talk right now, someone else than Michael. With him she couldn’t talk about her confused feelings but with Kate she could.
After a few moments she answered the phone: “Hey Syd.”
“Hey.” Sydney sighed, “Do you have a minute?”
“Sure, everything okay over there?” Kate asked concerned as she heard the stressed tone in her voice.
“Yeah, I… we… Michael and I kissed.” Sydney mumbled and at fist Kate wasn’t sure she had understood right.
“You did what?” Kate asked surprised.
“We kissed.” Sydney let out a heavy breath, “I don’t know what to do now.”
“What do you want to do?” Kate asked.
“That I don’t know either.” Sydney admitted quietly. “It’s so complicated and having him here all the time doesn’t make it any easier to figure anything out.”
“You still love him?” Kate asked, knowing the answer already. The only question was: did Sydney know too?
“I do.” Sydney whispered, “But it’s not that easy. Abby and Danielle need their dad, I know that now so we can’t just jump back in. I guess we better leave it that way.”
“Give yourself a few days to consider it.” Kate suggested.
“Okay,” Sydney agreed, “I let you get back to your boyfriend now.”
“See you soon.” Kate replied and both hung up.
***
In the evening Sydney and Michael were sitting in the living room, watching a movie neither really paid attention to.
“One question, I only have one.” Michael said, breaking the silence.
Sydney was about to answer that she didn’t want to talk but then she reconsidered. “Fine. What is it?”
“Why don’t you want to try?” Michael asked softly and looked at her questioning, “And I know what happened two years ago isn’t the whole reason.”
“No it isn’t.” Sydney admitted and looked away, “But it doesn’t change the fact way I don’t wanna try again.”
“What are you afraid of?” Michael moved a bit closer to her, carefully watching her.
“That it doesn’t work out.” Sydney stood up to get more distance between them, making it easier for her to think. If Michael was that close again she might not be able to hold back from kissing him.
“But don’t you think it’s worth a try? To be a family?” Michael followed her and stopped behind her, facing her back and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
“What about Danielle and Abby?” Sydney asked back, “They need you as their father.”
Sydney turned around and looked at him, noticing how close they were standing. God, how bad she wanted to be together with him again. After all the years she still had the same feelings for him. She was just too afraid to make the necessary step.
“They won’t loose me, no matter what.” Michael promised whispering, taking another step into her direction.
don't forget to review