I'm Not The Only One (Scomiche)

11: Changes

“Baby, that is so cliche!” I rolled my eyes at him.

“I forgot that. I just love it when you roll your eyes at me.”

“Is there anything else you love?” I stirred the conversation back.

“Yes.” He brought up our hands and placed it over my left chest. “This. This beautiful heart right here. For loving me when I least deserved it, for waiting for me all those months, for believing in me despite all my broken promises, and for giving me so many chances.”

I sniffed as the tears fell from my eyes.

“Baby…” he whispered. He brought his lips to my forehead and kissed it lightly, and then pressed his forehead against mine.

I closed my eyes and let myself enjoy the warmth of his breath against my cheeks.

“Somehow I manage to always make you cry.”

I let out a little laugh. “I think it’s your special power.”

“Well I don’t like my power. I want to make you smile.”

I rubbed my nose against his and pulled back a little. “You also happen to have that power. See?” I flashed him a warm smile.

“That’s more I like it,” he said, grinning back at me. He leaned in and gave me another soft kiss on the lips. “What do you say to breakfast? I’ll cook.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And what’s gotten into you?”

“Nothing. I just thought I could give you a little pampering.”

“Oookay.”

Scott sat up and I did, too.

“Baby?” I called after him when he was about to leave the room.

He spun around. “Yes?”

“Can you maybe not wear your shirt or pants when you cook? Just the apron and the boxers… please?” I smiled sweetly at him.

He shook his head while laughing. “Okay.”

Ten minutes later I was sitting on the dining table, sipping on the coffee I insisted I prepare. Scott was busy in the kitchen, humming softly to himself as he prepared our food. I watched him from behind, appreciated the way his back muscles flexed as he worked.

I thought back to the past 6 weeks that we’ve officially been together. To be honest, the guilt was still there. I kept telling myself that I wasn’t really a bad person - just someone who was deeply in love and willing to fight for that love. I never wanted to hurt Alex, but given our situation, there was no way his feelings could have been spared. He used to be my friend after all, and what I did to him was unacceptable. But it’s all been done, and I've decided to move forward. I just hoped that in time he'll forgive me and Scott.

Scott, on the other hand, has been nothing but a good boyfriend so far. He told me he was making it up to me and boy, he sure was trying. We have been going out regularly, specifically to the more public places. The first time he held my hand in public I felt like bursting into tears. There was also a time we ran into some of his friends from work. And although we got curious looks from them, he introduced me as his boyfriend and I nearly died inside. Those things, no matter how little, were milestones to me. It only reinforced that I was no longer the dirty secret, the one he needed to hide.

There were slips along the way, as I expected. Like that one time he woke up beside me and panicked, almost stumbling on his way out of my bedroom when he realized he didn’t need to. Or that one time he literally froze when we were having dinner and someone called him and the thought it was Alex. Those were during the early weeks, though, and they haven’t happened again.

I was pulled out of my reverie when Scott called my name. “Mitch?”

“Yes?”

“A little help?” he asked, raising the plates on his hands.

“Sure.” I put down my mug and went over to him. I helped set up the dining table. We were settled on our seats two minutes later, ready to eat.

“Bacon for your earlier thoughts?” He was holding a fork with a bacon near my mouth.

My eyebrows furrowed. “Huh?”

“You seemed in deep thought earlier. Care to share?”

“Oh.” I bit the bacon off the utensil and chewed slowly, using the time to think what I should share with Scott. “These are delicious.”

“Uh huh. And?”

“And what?”

“Thoughts?”

“Oh that?” I shrugged. “I just thought about the past few weeks and how a lot has changed, you know?”

His expression softened. “Changed for the better, I hope?”

I smiled and nodded. “Yes. Definitely better. Anyway, do you have plans for the rest of the afternoon?”

Scott reached for a piece of bread and pinched a small portion from it. “No, not really. I’ll probably spend the afternoon watching movies. You?” He popped the bread into his mouth.

“Well, I thought about going shopping but I like your plans better.” I grinned. “By the way, we’re still on for tonight, yes?”

He sighed. “Do I really have to go?”

“Baby…”

“It’s just that it’s a work event. Which I don’t mind, since it’s a party. But your friends, who happen to hate me, will be there.”

“They don’t hate you,” I said defensively.

“Mitch.”

I let out a deep breath. “Fine. Maybe a little.” I reached for his hand. “But that’s because they really don’t know you. I’m sure that once they get to know you better, they’ll love you!”

Scott smiled weakly and put a hand on top of mine. “I love you for being so positive. Don’t worry, I’ll be there.”

“Yay, thank you! I love you!” I leaned forward and kissed him.

“I love you, too.”

“Now I can’t wait to eat all that you’ve prepared. Let’s finish this up, shall we?”