A Different Time

Time with Him (part two)

My mouth gets dry and I hope and pray my eyes aren't too red. He gets in and we stare at each other. This is the first time we've been naked around each other in over a year. The thoughts that were just running rapid through my mind a minute ago have taken a pause, and memories of our last time together begin to play in my mind.

*flashback*

I hear the door bell ring from upstairs in my room and hear Danny speaking to the unknown person. He laughs really loud and it lets me know he knows this person. As more minutes go by I wonder what's taking so long for him to notify me. Before I could open my door to investigate, the door is swung open revealing a tan Simon Cowell with lavender tulips, my favorite.

"Darling," he says with his huge megawatt smile and arms opened wide.

I willingly walk into them and breathe in his scent. He always smells so good.

"Si. What are you doing here?" I say taking the flowers from him and placing them on the table.

He takes his shoes off and gets comfortable. I have to resist the urge to roll my eyes. The man has zero manners sometimes.

"To see you, obviously," he says with a smirk, but adds, "but to also talk to you about something."

The tone gets serious and I begin to get concerned. "Are you okay?" I ask.

"Well," he starts as he runs his hand through his hair sighing, "My schedule is jammed. It's a lot crazier than its been in years with Eric just being born and..."

"We're not going to be able to see each other." I finish for him.

He looks at me, a sad look in his dark brown eyes and nods. He adds, "Lauren is getting...uncomfortable with the amount of time I spend away from her and Eric. I think she thinks I'm gonna bail. Which, no matter how terrified I am of this, I will raise him, Paula. And if that means I have to cut some travel time...I'll try. I'll never forget the time I spent with my dad. If I could go back for just one day, I would."

"Simon, you know I respect your decision and you know I'll miss you...more than anything, but this is the man I've waited to see since I've met you. Enough with the playboy mansions, you know? I've been waiting to see you take responsibility like this for a long time, and if that means that little boy gets the father he deserves, then I'm all for it."

He looks at me and I can see his eyes get a little misty. I know this isn't easy for him and it isn't easy for me either, but we both know this is how it's supposed to be. He makes the first move towards me and grabs my hand. I choke back the tears I want to let out because he grabs my hand so tenderly. That's when we look up at each other, and I can't remember who leaned in first, but all I know is I didn't want it to end.

He stayed the night and left early that morning. We shared a tight embrace and he wished me luck on my tour. We shared a sweet, but chaste kiss in my doorway before he left. Like always, we never looked back. I closed my door and put my strong face on. I was gonna do this without him and he was going to be the dad he never thought he could.