𝑀𝓎 𝑀𝒶𝓃#1~When Love Lasts
Chapter 21

I'm now standing on the front porch. I have raised and put my hand down three times. Butterflies swarm around my belly as I try to gather the courage to knock on the door. Sure, I could have called Anna to let her know I was pulling up, but I didn't. I wanted to knock like the big girl I am. My body doesn't think I'm a good girl though, because it's a struggle to knock.

I saw Cedric's truck outside along with Anna's' car, so I see they are both inside. I don't know what I'm going to say to Cedric, and I realize that's the reason my belly feels like it's flipping inside of me.

It was nothing I know, he just stayed over to make sure I was safe. I appreciate he did that so much, even if I gave him a little attitude about it.

The warm pan I have the cookies sitting in weighs heavily inside my hands as I bite my bottom lip, balance the pan with one hand, and knock.

Please don't let Cedric be the one to answer the door.

The door swung open a minute later, and the breath that I didn't realize I was holding whooshed out as Mrs. Chandler opened the door.

“Avery honey. I'm so glad you could make it.” She declared, smiling warmly before adding, “Come in.”

“Thank you for inviting me. I made these for you all.” I responded nervously as I held out the pan of cookies, hoping they would all replace them delicious just like I did.

“Oh. You didn't need to bring anything. I'll never say no to sweets, though.” She stated as she took the pan from me.” Anna is in the kitchen. We were chopping veggies for the salad.” She informed me just as she closed the door.

“Can I help?” I asked. I was never one to stand around and not help at family gatherings. I'd rather be helpful than to not be. That's something else my grandma taught me.

“Of course dear” she said, grinning as she led me through the living room into the kitchen. It smelled fantastic in here. I notice she has a few candles lit around the room.

“What's the scent? It smells wonderful” I asked her, before taking another sniff. I'm not embarrassed, either. Let me at the candle isle in any store, and I'll stay there for about thirty minutes sniffing everything.

Christmas candles are my favorite.

Peppermint.

“It's a new line I'm trying out. Anna had picked it up for me. It's called Lemon and clean cotton. Mixed it's marvelous.” She answered.

“It really is.” I whispered.

“Oh, you made it. I was about to text you.” Anna said as soon as we walked into the kitchen. “I thought maybe my brother scared you off.” She muttered softly, but her mom heard it, anyway.

“What do you mean?” Demanded Mrs. Chandler, bringing her hands to her hips after setting the cookie pan down onto her kitchen counter.

“Oh nothing, mom. We went out last night and ran into the boys there.” Anna lied, straight-faced before shooting me a look that said she hated lying to her mom, but it was for the best.

I couldn't agree more. I was not ready to have that conversation. Not at all.

It was nothing anyway. Nothing to even talk about. He did me a favor. Nothing more.

“Well, you already knew that, Anna. His best friend owns the place, after all.” Mrs. Chandler fussed and went to peer over Anna's shoulder as she was cutting tomatoes. “A little smaller honey,” She added.

“Mom, I know. I helped you in the kitchen plenty of times.” Anna laughed at her mom before looking towards me and rolled her eyes.

“What can I do to help?” I asked, placing my purse on the counter, and walked around, ready to help.

“You can cut the cucumbers' sweetie. They are still in the fridge.” Mrs. Chandler said, while pulling open and drawer, dug around for a few seconds before holding up a peeler. “Use this. It's a lot easier than using a knife”

We got to work finishing the salad. Well, Anna and I did, Mrs. Chandler decided she could be more help giving Anna and me tips on how to better cut vegetables. Even though both Anna and I know how to cut veggies, we let her do, let her give us tips without saying a word.

I helped them carry the food trays outside, and the smell of cooking on the grill hit my nose as soon as Anna opened the back door. Ribs. Yummy. I'm a big fan of ribs. They are messy as hell to eat, but taste so damn good.

My eyes scan over the backyard as we head towards the table on the left side of the porch. They have a nice pool. Underground. A sprinkler in the middle, water shooting around, and then I see him.

Cedric.

His helping his dad work on a lawnmower, his shirts off, hair wet, and my breath hitched as I took in the sight. He must have just finished taking a dip in the pool. He is wearing blue and black swim shorts.

Damn, why did she need to do that? I didn't want to be put on the spot, but I noticed as soon as she said my name, Cedric's head whipped towards me, a soft smile forming on his lips.

They stopped working on the lawnmower. I watched as Cedric stared me down as he headed our way. He didn't stop until he was a few feet from me, and when I say few, I mean like five.

“How's the head?” He asked as he watched me closely.

“It's fine.” I whispered, feeling everyone's eyes on the two of us making me extremely uncomfortable. Anna's eyes. Mr. And Mrs. Chandler's eyes.

So many eyes.

Cedric either doesn't notice or doesn't care because he continues to keep his eyes on mine, but doesn't speak a word.

“Um. I wanted to say thanks again for you know.” I rambled off, not wanting his parents to overhear the conversation and think that him staying over was more than it was.

“It's not a problem.” He said with a grin before adding. “You always pissy in the mornings?”

Pissy?

Of course, he had to ruin the decent conversion we had hoing.

“Pissy?” I hissed harshly.

He forced himself onto my couch, then made himself at home in my kitchen. After being a complete dick to me. I think I had every right to be pissy.

“Yeah” He grunted.

“Pissy?” I whispered softer, making sure nobody else heard, but narrowed my eyes on him.

“Yeah” He repeated.

Then I informed him, “You have yet to encounter me pissy Office Chandler.”

He said nothing just chuckled before heading into the house, leaving me frozen in place because when he did, he passed close by me and whispered so softly and for my ears only. “Can't wait to see you in your bathing suit.”

Those words caused another hitched breath to come out.

“You good babe?” Anna's voice reached me and I looked over to her, seen that she was watching me closely.

“Of course. I just thanked him for last night.” I told her. It wasn't a complete lie, but that's about all that I wanted to repeat in front of their parents. Definitely didn't want to repeat that bathing suit comment.

A little while later, we are all sitting around the table outside, bellies full, and chatting it up. Mrs. Helen was telling me some embarrassing stories about both Anna and Cedric, and I had almost choked on my water several times. Once it came flying out of my mouth. Thank goodness it didn't land on anyone.

She told me that one day when Cedric was a little kid; he hated wearing clothes. He would strip down every chance he got. Well, he kept his underwear on. Anyway, she said that one time, he took off running outside in just in batman undies and starting waving to all the girls outside. When she finally got to him, he declared her she was just mad that he was getting all the ladies.

Cedric's cheeks turned red during that one and that was the moment water came flying out my mouth

I could picture a little Cedric saying that. He is cocky enough. He probably still says that now.

Once that conversation was done, though, Mr. Chandler asked me about myself. Spotlight on me, I didn't know what to say. I had already told Mrs. Chandler and Anna the truth, but I in no way wanted Cedric to know any of that. Definitely not about my cheating ex. I'd rather not have him feel bad for me.

Mrs. Chandler hadn't waited for me to spill the tea. No. She did. She started telling them both the same thing I told her.

“Oh, honey. It's terrible. Her ex cheated on her with her best friend-” She started to explain, but I tried to stop her.

“Mrs. Chandler-”

“Call me Helen dear” She quickly corrected me before continuing.” Her best friend-”

I tried again.

“Helen-”

“With her boyfriend. Well, ex now. But that's so awful. I can't believe they did that to her” She finished and thank goodness because I felt Cedric's eyes digging into my skin, but I refused to look his way.

I didn't want to see the pity that I knew would be there. It's always pity. Everyone feels bad for my situation and I know they mean nothing by it, but it still gets to me.

I'm over it. I don't need nor want anyone's sympathy. Least of all that man's.

“She upgraded in the bestie department” Anna interrupted Helen's fussing about my situation.

Thank goodness for her.

I shot her a thankful look before saying, “Definitely did.”

“Her boyfriend's a jerk that must have been blind because who would ever pick another girl over my bestie.” Anna said as she stuffed another one of my cookies into her mouth. “These are good.” She added and grinned at me before turning towards Cedric and said, “You should try one. They are the bomb.”

“Already did.” He grunted. I don't know what face he made about my cookies because I still refused to look at him.

“They are delicious. What are they?” Asked Helen.

“They are called thumbprint cookies. I used both Grape and Blueberry jam for the toppings, but you can use whatever flavor you want. The base is just a regular sugar cookie.” I explained, happy that they all seem to enjoy what I brought over for them.

I take tremendous pride in what I bake, and I always love to hear people are enjoying them.

We are now in the pool. Mr. And Mrs. Chandler are sitting pool side on two lounge chairs while sipping sweet tea. Anna, Cedric and I are playing water volleyball. Anna and I are against Cedric. He complained it wasn't equal. Two against one, but we didn't care.

We played to win.

And we did.

We beat Cedric, and he was not happy about it, mumbled about us cheating. Not fair that he was alone against us.

Anna ignored him and said, “I'm going to go check my emails. I'll be right back” before climbing over the edge of the pool towards the towels that Mrs. Chandler put on the table for us.

“Avery” Chandler called my name softly, but I pretended that I didn't hear him and went underwater.

He followed me.

I felt his grip wrapping around my ankle and a yelp slid out my mouth, making water rush in, causing me to push the bottom of the pool to shoot to the surface. I came up sputtering and coughing just as his head popped out of the water next to me.

“What did you do that?” I snarled low, bringing my palm up and shoved him away from me. “I could have drowned”

“You couldn't have-” He started to say, but I splashed water on him and that made him shut up.

“I could have.” I grunted and walked away from him. Sadly for me, the water slowed my fast movements, and he caught me around my waist, pulling me back close to me. “Would you stop?” I demanded, and tried to pull myself free.

Luckily, his parents are not paying us any attention.

“Why are you ignoring me?” He demanded, and kept his arm tight around my abdomen.

“I'm not” I lied, looking away. When I lie, I can't keep a straight face. I always end up smiling. That shit got me into so much trouble when I was a kid. Everyone knew every time I lied, and I would constantly get myself caught.

“You are.” He grunted.

“I'm not-”

“You are. You have not looked at me.” He growled, sending shivers down my spine. Not scared shivers. Shivers, that meant something else. I just didn't know exactly what.

“No, I'm not Cedric. You must be seeing things” I responded, turned away and tried my best to keep that freaking smile from forming.

“Yes you are. Is it because my mom told us about your ex? I don't care about that shit. He was a dumb fuck.” He whispered.

Damn, my heart just skipped a beat.