Chapter 64: Really Different Now

Marco Junior felt a pain in his heart that was not like before. It came down on him in that moment like a tidal wave crushing the smallest of sea creatures. Grabbing Hershey's shoulders, he spun her around her, pulling her into his arms. Reigning kisses all over her head, cheeks and face, he whispered, "I'm sorry, Chocolate. I'm so sorry."

She felt his wrap around her tightly, her body shaking with sobs, releasing everything she'd been hiding for the past two years.

Dear diary,

I'm crying a lot now. Harder than ever in the last two years. I thought I was done with those tears, but not yet. I saved them before. Ironically enough, because I hadn't seen him in two years, I felt closer to him than the last time we were together. I'm glad I had the chance to do that, because she's so sweet. He held me and apologized the whole time. When I finally stopped crying, we talked about why I was crying and then we talked about the house and why I kept it so clean. Things like that. By the time I left there, it was about seven o'clock. I'm not in the mood to eat. I just went up to my room to get ready for bed. Now, I'm sitting here an hour later and thinking what am I doing? Should I do this? Should I be comfortable after all this time? Should it? I do not know. I need to sleep now. There is work tomorrow.

Later,

Hershey Chocolate

XXX

In Hershey's Office "I would ask you when, but I'm not going to do that. The important thing is, is it you?" Tyler said, arriving at his office.

Hershey was hunched over his desk, looking over some assignments he had given to high-school-level students in the history program. She took over for their teacher Mrs. Augustina, to make sure they follow all the guidelines of the thesis paper they were assigned to write on William Shakespeare.

"Well, hello to you too." She stated without looking up from her present paper.

"Hi, Hershey, so tell me, is that you?" Hershey stopped her pen in mid-air, glancing at his best friend of three years. "What am I?"

"Have you and Marco Junior gotten back together?"

Hershey grinned, "Do you know how gossipy that is?"

Clearing his throat, Tyler leaned back on his desk, staring into her eyes. He faced her with his menacing gaze. Hershey rolled her eyes heavenward and let out a bouncing laugh, "Tyler, your eyes are shrewd enough, that if I didn't know you, I would take you seriously, but no, it doesn't work."

After it came out, Tyler sighed and pulled himself upright, arms folded across his chest, "How is this?" His medium-toned pitch asked.

Hershey laughed, "Yeah, ok. Why are you asking if Marco Junior and I are somehow together?"

Tyler laughed, "Well, I called your house one morning Miss Hershey and Vicki told me that you went there last night and haven't come home yet. Two and two go together, and..." He stopped there.

"I can't say for sure if something is still happening to us." Hershey confirmed, her tone confidential.

"So, you two have been screwing the hell out of each other lately?"

"No, but...we slept together that night." Hershey felt her skin flush with excitement at the memory. Tyler let out a huge grin, a mischievous grin crossing his features.

Sitting down in a chair, across from her desk, he said, "So, tell me, was it anything like those high school days?"

"What do you mean?" Hershey asked, her eyes dropped from her pen.

"You know what I mean! Remember three years ago twenty-fourth of December? You two snuck..."

"I know what happened...wait, wait...how did you know?" Hershey cut in, her face flushed from the heat.

Tyler laughed, "Hmmn, let's see, maybe you two walked next to me and went to the other side of the park. I being curious followed you."

Hershey's jaw dropped, "What?"

Tyler laughed even more, "Oh come on, Hershey, practically the whole town knew what is going on with you and Marco Junior. Plus, you were always lousy at hiding anything. So, of course, I just want to see what kind of idea you had, this time, so I followed you."

"That makes me feel, Tyler." Hershey replied sarcastically.

Tyler laughed, "So, is it like high school?" He insisted.

Hershey sighed, "Young ladies never tell, Tyler, you of all people know that."

"Well, at least tell me if he did it right or not. Did he do his thing?" Tyler asked, his eyes narrowing at hers. Just then, her cell phone rang in her purse. Hershey smiled, how convenient. Sighing, he took the phone from his bag and looked at the caller ID. Hershey raised an eyebrow. How did he get this number? He opened the phone, he greeted, "Hey, Marc."

"Caller id is awesome, isn't it?" he asked. His voice calmed his jittery nerves at the other end.

Hershey loved the fact that she didn't really feel the tension around him. She loves the fact that he is with her, allowing her to feel and be herself. "Yes, yes. How did you get my number?"

He was smiling at the other end, eyes glinting at the coffee beans. "I'm surprised your mom still likes me." He answered, teasing in his voice.

"So, he gave it to you?"

"Which she did." Hershey sighed, "What's the emergency that this can't wait?"

Marco Junior laughed, "It has to be an emergency? I can't just want to hear your voice?"

"Emergencies are only for Harus Family." Hershey stated, her tone playful.

Marco Junior laughed, "Okay, then I was wondering if you want to have dinner with me tonight."

"I thought you were saving?"

"I had money transferred from my account, from my Billionaire Father."

"Why can't you do that to get real groceries?"

"Because I was thinking about nothing but myself."

"Since when did I fit into the equation?"

"Why do you always have to ask? Can't it be yes or no?" Hershey shrugged and leaned back against her desk, unaware that Tyler was still listening with intense interest. "That's too easy."

"Okay, well, can you at least just trust that dinner won't be hotdogs and chicken sandwiches?" Hershey laughed, "Where are we going?"

"We'll have dinner at my house."

"Dinner at your place?"

"Yes, I want to talk to you afterwards, just so..."

"I guess that blemishes out any naughty thoughts." Hershey stated, that her tone was really low. The moment she uttered those words, she felt her skin flush. Why did she say that? It was worse than she thought. Maybe the wrong choice of words?

Marco Junior just laughed, a deep growl coming out of his throat. He had no idea what was on her mind. Absolutely nothing. "I'll keep you in suspense."

Hershey sighed in frustration as she felt the undeniable signs of desire throughout her body. One chance is definitely not enough. "Okay, Marc."

"You came straight here from work."

"No change or what?"

"Did you shower this morning?"

"Yes."

"Did you wear one of those sexy suits?"

"Sexy suit?"

"Maybe Jeans and a t-shirt. It doesn't matter, you look good in anything."

Hershey chuckled, "Alright Mr. Marco Gustilo Fernando Jr., I'll be right after work."

"All right."

As Hershey hung up the phone, Tyler laughed, "I knew it, you are sleeping with your ex boyfriend. Soon to be new boyfriend. I wonder how Derek's going to take this?"

"Marco and I are just friends."

Tyler shook his head. "Now, that will never be possible between you two, you know that."

"Well, looks like we're doing pretty well now."

"No, what you're doing is repairing what's broken."

"What?"

"Mending what's broken. I mean all couples go through a period of brokenness, but the ones that are truly meant to be together really rebuild on a very solid foundation."

Hershey stared at him, his expression puzzled. "And what else Dr. Tyler."

"Well, when you decide to reconcile, you put the past behind you and move forward, but the only way to do that is to face the illness, so that when you get together, the old will be yours. The foundation and the new memories are the bonds that will strengthen you, keep you strong when you need it."

"How did you know this?" Hershey asked confused.

"It's a gift." Tyler teased.

XXX