36

"Chad? What are you doing here?" A part of me wanted to pull him into a higand squeeze him tight just to tellhim how much I missed him during the entire thing but that part was only about ten percent of me.

I frowned and furrowed my eyebrows at him, waiting for a reasonable explanation of any sort.

Instead of giving me a straight answer, he moved closer to me and wrapped his arms around me. I widened my eyes in shock, clearly not expecting it.

He put one hand on my head and pressed my head above his shoulder.

I tried to pull away from him but more than I was supposed to be, I was excited about his presence.

"What are you doing here?" I managed to say after a few seconds of standing still in confusion, trying to make meaning from his presence.

Chad pulled away from me and held me at arms length.

His lips twitched into a smile as he stared at the bun on my head and I squinted my eyes in confusion. "What is so funny?" I put my lips in a pout.

He moved his hands to my head and tried to adjust my bun.

"Oh, that." I felt myself go red in embarrassment, "yeah, I was in a haste… why are you even here?" I remembered the main focus.

"Nikki." He started, looking around. I had been oblivious to the people that lurked but his little scrutiny awakened my consciousness and I gulped.

"I know this is messed up but I need you to forgive me for my carelessness when it comes to uttering things aloud. I really need to learn some manners, I swear." He shook his head miserably.

"I think it's a good thing that you realize your mistake now but when I needed that, you weren't in the mood." I added in air quotes, rolling my eyes. "Can we do this after work? It's literally my first day and you are being nothing but an hindrance at the moment." I told him.

"I'm not doing that intentionally." He must have felt the need to clarify. "Besides, you aren't at work. Work should be home, and home is with me at the office." He pressed his palm against his face, "God, I sound so stupid right now."

"You look stupid too." I made sure to tell him.

"Chad, I can't keep doing this back and forth thing with you. One moment, you are all lively and jovial with me. Next, you have a new bolt in your head, you can't make things work like that." I reminded him.

"I'm sorry, this time, I mean it." He nodded fast, gripping my shoulders tight.

"Please." He tried to add to his already cute face. The wind was moving his hair around and I was tempted to touch it.

"Chad, I'm done." I pulled myself back into reality and folded my arms across my chest. I knew I sounded like we had been in some sort of relationship but the memory from that day had returned and I was getting irritated with him being here. I was pleased to know he did show up but it wasn't enough reason to get him in my need.

Seeing as he wasn't going to move aside so I could go on in, I shoved him aside and out of my way, trying to create a free path for myself.

When he remained adamant, I frowned and clutched my bag onto me. As soon as he held my waist from behind, my eyes went wide in awe and I suddenly remembered the old woman from the bus stop and her words of advice but as soon as I met his gaze again, I changed my mind. I wished I could set my indecisive mind ablaze but there was nothing to do.

"I know you mean well, I'm just not in the mood for this at least, let me be back from work." I told him. "Please." I wasn't going back on my words now and I was definitely still working here with Stamps and papers.

I was about to leave a second time when rather than stop me by pulling me, he went on his knees and threw me back. I gasped, widened my eyes and went nervous instantly. "Wh..what are you doing?" I muttered.

He extended his hands to me and when I didn't receive them, he intertwined our fingers together.

"Nikki, I'm not going to get to my feet unless you say something in response. Do you forgive me for my misbehaviour?" He rendered his question. He really did mean business this time.

"Chad, get up, you're embarrassing me." I swallowed, looking up to find that a few people were taping the scene. It was as if he was proposing to me on both knees.

"I'm not, until you accept my apology." He pushed.

"What the hell has gotten into you? Where is the strong character I know?" I snapped at him in whispers. Right now, the man who I had spent over a year with, listening to his irritated voice and mood, I couldn't find him in front of me. It was as though he had disappeared into thin air.

"Please?" He was clearly only focused on getting his apology accepted than answering my questions. The crowd around us kept expanding and if we didn't leave the scene in a few minutes, we were certainly going to end up being in the media for the actions he was currently taking.

"Chad, stand to your feet, yes I forgive you, just stop embarrassing me." I snapped through gritted teeth.

"Nikki…" he moved even closer and hugged my legs.

"Oh my God." I gasped, shaking my legs to see if I could wiggle free from his touch. "Chad, please!"

He read the extreme discomfort in my tone and stood to his feet. "So you forgive me?" He stared down at me and I nodded fast before he did more weird stuff.

He put one hand on my waist and cupped my cheek with the other one. He caught me off guard with a kiss on my lips.