Tear Down These Walls (44 page)

“I will miss you too, and I was only joking. I need to get my homework in
order and unpack my bags.”

He gives her a soft smile. “I know babe.”

“Can I see you tomorrow?” Teagan asks.

“Only if you come to class,” Kellen replies. “That is the only time that
I’m not working or doing other stuff.”

“All right,” Teagan sighs dramatically. “I will show the girls that
you’re mine, damn it.”

“We have to keep it professional,” Kellen teases. Teagan rolls her eyes.
“You know what, if you have free time in the afternoon, you can stop by the
office. I’m going to be doing paper work and research for most of the day.”

Teagan smiles, “You won’t mind?”

“Not at all,” Kellen assures her. “It will be an appreciated break.”

“Coffee?” Teagan asks.

He nods, “Sounds great.”

“It’s a date then,” Teagan giggles. “I have class until 1, so after
that?”

“You can come whenever,” Kellen responds. “I will let the front desk
know.”

“Okay.” She grabs her suitcase. “I had better go then. I should study a
little bit. Start on a paper.”

Kellen gestures to her car, and they walk towards it. After she throws
her suitcase in the back, Teagan turns around and looks at Kellen. He gazes
down at her. “I was never happier than when I finally admitted that I care
about you. I have been holding it in for so long, pushing against it, battling
it. I give up. I can’t resist you any longer.”

“I have wanted you this whole time,” Teagan murmurs back. She steps up to
him and places her hands and head on his chest. “You make me feel so happy and
safe.”

“You’ll always be safe with me. I won’t let anything happen to you. I
promise,” Kellen whispers, as he wraps his arms around her and kisses her head.
“I don’t want to lose you. I have had a very strong wall around my heart for
the last five years, and with you, I WANT to tear it down.”

“I’m not going anywhere Kellen,” Teagan says. “I don’t know how many
times I have to tell you that.”

“We’ll see on Tuesday,” Kellen sighs. “Have a good night, Baby.”

“I will, thanks,” Teagan replies, with a smile. They kiss each
other.  “I’m going to miss sleeping next to you. That was really nice.”

He shrugs, “I offered that you could stay the night, but it is obvious
you can’t resist what’s in my pants.”

Teagan guffaws. “Can I take a picture of it and send it to Justin?”

Kellen laughs with her. “No, now, we bruised his face, can’t destroy his
ego too.”

“Now, I know why all the girls wanted you,” Teagan teases. “You are the
entire package, everything a girl would want.”

With a thoughtful look, Kellen shakes his head. “No, it wasn’t like that
at all. It sounds horrible, but I never called them back. It was all about the
sex. It’s never been emotional. With you…..it’s something I have never
experienced before, because as much as you pull on certain hormonal strings,
you pull on the emotional ones, too. It makes all the sexual stuff so much more
than what it used to be.”

“Wow,” Teagan exhales.

“Yeah,” Kellen whispers, “Wow.”

“Take me upstairs,” Teagan pleads. “Please.”

“I want to wait,” Kellen sighs. “It’s just two days. You can wait.”

Teagan undoes her coat and drops it on the driveway. “I don’t know if I
can.”

Kellen roars with laughter. “I’m going in the house now. I hope the cops
don’t call about a beautiful woman stripping on my front porch.”

“Ouch,” Teagan giggles. “Fine,” she exhales dramatically, picking up her
jacket. “I will see you tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Kellen replies. He bends down and kisses her. “See you later.”

“Have a good night,” Teagan says, opening her car door.

“You, too,” Kellen softly states.

Teagan smiles and gets into her car. He closes the door for her, and she
waves through the window. Her breath makes a fog on the chilled glass, and she
wipes it off, waving again. Kellen waves back, before picking up his suitcase
and heading to the front door, his own breath a white cloud around his head.

When Teagan gets home later, her apartment is quiet. She feels very alone
after spending so much time with Kellen. Her thoughts drift to him and the
night before. It makes her blush and her heart flutter. She sighs thinking
about the next time they’ll be together.  “What have you started Mr.
Grayson?” she whispers. She giggles and picks up her phone to text Victoria
right away.

*            
*            
*             *
            *

“So,” Victoria starts, turning to Teagan as they walk. “What do you think
the big surprise is tonight?”

“I don’t know,” Teagan replies. “He wouldn’t hint at anything. We had a
really nice coffee date and then class last night. After class he seemed really
nervous. I haven’t talked to him today. I have texted him twice. Do you think
he found someone else?”

“In one morning?” Victoria laughs. “I doubt it.”

They get to the coffee shop, and Teagan opens the door for them. Warm air
rushes toward them, and the smell of coffee and bakes goods greets them. They
both shrug off their jackets and inhale deeply as they get in line behind the
busy crowd. “Maybe something came up,” Teagan mumbles.

“It’s only one in the afternoon,” Victoria tries to reassure her. “You
aren’t supposed to be to his house until six.”

“I know, but I usually hear from him throughout the day, and it never
takes hours for a response from a text.”

“You’re overthinking it,” Victoria states, reaching for her wallet in her
bag.

Suddenly, Teagan’s phone rings. It says “Batman”. Answering it, she
happily says, “I wasn’t sure if I was going to hear from you before I came
over.”

“Sorry, something came up today,” Kellen retorts sharply, sounding
distant.

“Oh,” Teagan breathes out. “Everything all right?”

“Not really,” Kellen says, not trying to mask the disappointment in his
voice.  “I have to cancel tonight.”

Teagan falters, “Oh, okay. What’s up?”

With a groan, Kellen sighs, “I can’t talk about it.”

“Is it something I can help with?” Teagan asks. He doesn’t answer. After
a few seconds, she checks to see if the call got disconnected, “Kellen?”

“Oh yeah,” he stutters. “Sorry, I’m….distracted right now. I will give
you a call in a day or two.”

“A day or two?” Teagan gasps.

“Yeah, I have to go,” Kellen says. “I will call you when I can.”

“Okay,” Teagan exhales, her voice more a question than an affirmation.

“Bye.”

Before she can even say good-bye, the call ends. Tension builds in her
chest.  “Something is wrong.”

“Why? What’s going on?” Victoria asks.

“He just….blew me off. That was the coldest conversation I have ever had
with him.”

Victoria frowns. “Did he say anything?”

“Something came up today, and he had to cancel our plans,” Teagan
mumbles, staring at her phone. “I mean….do you think he regrets it?”

“No, Teagan, stop,” Victoria says as she puts her hands on Teagan’s
shoulders. “You two were fine yesterday. From what you told me, if he didn’t
care about you, he would never had gone through with the hot tub...or the
shower.”

“That’s true,” Teagan sighs.

“He’ll tell you what’s going on,” Victoria assures her. “Just give him
time. What if something happened in his family?”

Teagan nods. “He did say he was distracted.”

“See, it’s probably something that’s upsetting him.”

“I would be there for him if he needed someone,” Teagan mumbles glumly.

Shaking her hand on Teagan’s shoulder, Victoria snaps, “Teagan, don’t be
that girl.  Don’t read too much into it. It will just drive you nuts.”

“Yeah, I know,” Teagan sighs. “I’m just nervous about getting into
another relationship.”

“But you can trust Kellen; he would never hurt you,” Victoria states
seriously. “So, give him time to deal with whatever it is that came up.”

“Yeah,” Teagan says. “I don’t want to be THAT girl.”

“No, no you don’t,” Victoria chimes. “Do you know what we are going to
do?”

Teagan smiles, “What?”

“We are going to rent movies and have a chick night at your place. Emily
will come over, and we will keep you busy, so you don’t have to think about
anything, okay?”

“That sounds awesome!” Teagan cheers.

“Okay, then it’s a plan,” Victoria retorts.

The next morning, Teagan has a hard time focusing on her class. Her head
is filled with the last conversation she had with Kellen, and her own
insecurities dance around. This professor is really boring and going over
something he already covered last week, doing nothing to help her lack of
focus. She takes out her phone to log on the Internet. Suddenly, her phone
vibrates saying she has a text. Opening it up, it’s from Kellen.

Hey, things have calmed down.  I am sorry for bailing last
night.  I know I was short on the phone.  Please tell me you aren’t
mad at me…..

Teagan smiles, as she types back.
No, I’m not mad at you. Victoria and
Emily came over. We had a girl’s night. Watched movies with cute guys in it.
Painted our nails. Did girl stuff.

So….you aren’t mad?

No, not at all.  Is everything all right?

Yeah, it is now. I am home, and everything is getting back to normal.

What are your plans for tonight?

I have to stay here for tonight. Do you want to do something later
this week?

Sure, why don’t you text me when you know what your schedule is.

I will. I’m resting today, but maybe tomorrow? I miss you.

Teagan can’t hide the grin that spreads across her face.
I miss you,
too, a lot. I hope you have a good night.

It’s going to be boring, I think, but that’s a good thing. I look
forward to seeing you.

I always look forward to seeing you.

Damn girl, I wish you could be here right now.

I’m in class.

I know, and you work tonight. Well, have fun. Text me later if you are
bored.

K, bye. 

Bye.

Teagan sets her phone down and taps her pencil. Little does Kellen know
that she really doesn’t have to work tonight. With a mischievous grin, Teagan
comes up with a plan.

Around 4:30, Teagan walks up to Kellen’s door. She sets down the two
grocery bags and rings the doorbell. A few seconds go by before the door opens,
and Teagan is surprised to see that Kellen isn’t standing on the other side.

Kya looks up at her with big brown eyes. Teagan smiles. “Hi, you must be
Kya.”

After taking one look at Teagan, Kya starts yelling, “DAH-DAH, DAH-DAH,
DAH-DAH, girl ere.  Girl know my name!”

Kya,” a voice replies from inside. “You are NEVER supposed to open the
door without me.”

The door opens all the way, and Kellen appears. His eyes widen with shock.
“Teagan!”

“Hi,” she laughs.

“Dah-dah,” Kya chirps at Kellen. “That a girl!”

“Dah-dah?” Teagan whispers slowly, looking at Kya. “Oh!” She gasps,
darting her eyes to Kellen. “She is your!”

Hesitantly, Kellen says, “Teagan, this is my….daughter, Kya.” He stares
at Teagan with an unreadable expression.

“I see,” Teagan breathes out, looking back down at Kya. “Well, Kya, my
name is Teagan.” She drops down to her knees, so she is eye level with her.
Teagan extends her hand. “I have heard so many good things about you.”

Kya eyes her suspiciously, “Eggen?”

“Teagan.”

“Eggen!” Kya cheers.

“Yes, that’s perfect,” Teagan laughs.

Slapping her hand down, Kya high fives her. “Eggen!” Teagan smiles and
laughs.  Kya immediately steps out of the house and opens one of the
grocery bags. “What that?”

“Oh,” Teagan chirps. “I was going to make your dad dinner.”

“What you make?” Kya asks, with big curious eyes.

“Manicotti….” Teagan starts out, not sure if she understands her.

Confused, Kya scrunches her face up. “Remember honey, you like it. It’s
the spaghetti in the big noodle, with cheese,” Kellen says softly, squatting
down by her.

“OOOOOOOO!” Kya exclaims. “Me love spaghetti!” She tries to pick up one
of the bags, but she drags it across the ground and through the front door.

Teagan stands up, and so does Kellen. “Kya, Honey, stop and bring that
back.”

“No!” Kya yells from the hallway as she continues to drag the bag.

“Ummm,” Kellen exhales, running his fingers through his hair. “This isn’t
how I wanted you to find out.”

“Is this the big secret?” Teagan asks kindly.

Giving her a look, Kellen cuts sarcastically, “What do you think?” Teagan
raises her eyebrows, a bit taken aback by his reaction. “I’m sorry,” he
mutters. “You just….have taken me by surprise.”

“Do you not want me here?” Teagan inquires softly. “I’ll leave.”

Kellen quickly shakes his head. “Of course I don’t want you to leave!” He
pauses and looks at her. “Don’t you want to leave?”

“How am I supposed to get to know Kya if I leave?” Teagan puts her hands
on her hips.

“So…….this doesn’t make you want to run to the hills?”

“Don’t you know me by now?” Teagan asks as she steps up to him. “I’m not
that type of girl. I bet you are a great father, and I can’t wait to see you
with your daughter.”

Without saying anything, Kellen leans down and kisses her. Teagan eagerly
meets him. They stand there for a moment savoring each other. Suddenly, they
hear, “DAH-DAH!  No kisses!” Kya is giggling next to them.

“Daddy can kiss girls,” Kellen chuckles.

“Noooo,” Kya draws out. “No kiss! Kiss icky!”

Teagan steps away from Kellen and smiles, “Okay, no kissing. So, what are
you guys up to?”

Kya looks up at her quizzically. “What are you watching?” Kellen inquires
instead.

“Ora!” Kya exclaims.

“Ora?” Teagan inquires.