Chapter 7: Coming Home

Barbara Brown’s POV

After that meeting with my parents and the signing of the contract and marriage registration, I was on my way back to New York City. It was dreadful because we were on night flight but with the 3 hours different from California, we will be landing there at 7 AM.

I was relieved to hear that our university will be picking us up and we will be dropped off at the university. I have my car in the parking lot. I sighed.

“Are you okay? You’re not the same after coming back from the lunch,” he said as he was reading some scientific journal when everyone was asleep. I never know how he can keep his eyes awake right now.

“Well, if I was being honest, I was just happy to be in my hometown again,” I said as Adam looked up from his reading and into my eyes. He arched his eyebrow before he continued to read and I was off to wonderland.

We were in front of the airport after we went to get our luggage. It was a nice morning with fewer people to crowd the airport. I was happy and right now, I can never be happier to be in my dream town.

I know what you’re thinking. New York was not as good as San Francisco but they were nice and I was happy to continue my studies here.

“Well that’s our ride,” Carol said as she was pointing at the minivan that we went to put our luggage and get ready to get out of the airport right now. It was a nice ride as I was looking at the city when we were riding to the University. It was Saturday so not so much traffic.

Carol and the diver were talking as Adam was sleeping on the seat. It was exhausting since he was awake on the plane. I put my iPod to play some Taylor Swift music as I was enjoying the ride.

It started with ‘Welcome to New York’, the opening of the 1989 album. I smiled a si was looking at the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. I think this was it. My New York dream.

“We’re here,” the driver said as I shook Adam from his sleep. He woke up with a start but I can’t help but noticed that he was still handsome even he was out of sort, waking up from his slumber.

“We’re here,’’ I said as I went out of the van and got my luggage before Adam pick his. I was smiling at him before I said that I will meet him on Monday as I went to tell Carol goodbye. Then, I proceed to the parking lot that I parked my car and unlocked it.

I put my luggage inside the trunk before I went to the driver’s seat and I was sighing as I was leaning against the wheel. I sat there for a minute before my phone rang. Who could be calling me right now?

I looked at the number and it was unknown. It originated from New York so I don’t have any doubt that it will be from one of my friends. I just answered it without any thoughts.

“Hello?”

“Missed me?” His sultry voice was shivering my back as I was licking my suddenly dry lips. I cannot concentrate when I was looking at the road right now.

“How do you get my number?”

“Well, it was not a surprise. Did you give my resume remember? To consider your spot?” He said as he was chuckling at me. I rolled my eyes but my stomach has another idea when he did that.

It flipped.

I cleared my throat as I was trying to contain this burning desire inside me to be with him, in his presence and I will be lying if I don’t like his gaze on me as if he was undressing me.

I want him to.

“So, what do I owe the pleasure of hearing your voice this early in the morning?” I said as I was looking at the empty parking lot. I was rubbing my temple.

“You found pleasure in hearing my voice only? My, my, I wonder what will happen when you see all of me?” He said as I was getting annoyed with him.

“Just get to the point,’’ I barked at him as I felt the sleep was claiming at me. It was still 4 AM in the Bay Area. I felt exhaustion was picking at me.

“Well, it seems that you were eager. Okay, I will tell you why I was calling you. I will be back in New York on Monday and I was hoping that you will be meeting my parents in the evening. They were eager to meet you and have invited you for dinner,” he said.

I sighed as I was closing my eyes, trying to know what will I be doing in the evening. I think I was free.

“Okay, is that all?” I asked him. He chuckled and my stomach flipped again.

“No, I wanted to know how’s your flight?”

“Terrible,”

“Because I was not beside you?”

“No,” I lied as I can sense the blush was feeling to my face. I was rubbing them when I tried to push that feeling away.

“Anyway, I have to drive. I talk to you later,” I said as I was hanging up the phone. I threw it on the passenger seat when I started the ignition of the car and I was trying to control the flipping of my stomach. Now I know what it felt to have butterflies in my stomach and it was not because of nervousness.

I sighed before I went out of the parking lot and en route to my house. I think I need a shower, along one pronto!

I parked the car by the side of the road before I went out of the car. I got my luggage and went to the door of my apartment. I know what you might think, leaving in New York was nice but it has its downside.

The wealthy were living on the best side of the city. Upper Side, Manhattan, you named it. But for me? Hah! I was on the Lower East Side. I was not that rich and I refused to get my support from my parents. And so, I relied on my scholarship money and my payment from tutoring that I do for the labs.

I sighed before I was trying to forget my rash decision because I wanted to have a spot in the excavation. I did sign away my freedom for it. Maybe I should have asked for some time to think it over.

But it was too late.

I sighed as I pushed the luggage inside and I saw that River was coming out of the sofa. It was Lea’s cat but somehow, it ended up in my apartment one day with its equipment. I’m sure she has her reason so I intended to keep her.

“Hey, River. you missed me?” I said as I was looking at the cat. It meowed at me before I was scratching her ear. She purred at me. I smiled.

“You’re so cute,” I said as I picked her up and kissed her face before I was putting her back and I went to the bedroom.

“What a day,” I said as I was laying in bed, staring at the ceiling, nothing in particular. I closed my eyes and that moment yesterday’s breakfast was coming into my mind. I cannot forget the way Brad smiled at me or how his eyes gleamed with mischief. He’s truly a charmer.

Damn him!

I need to clear my head before I can think of anything. It was Saturday and I think I just sit, catching up on my sleep. I hopped into the shower as I was trying to calm myself before I was closing my eyes, leaning against the water.

The water was dripping from the tap into the sink. I was closing my eyes to feel everything around me before I opened the faucet and I was showering under the lukewarm water. I sighed as my aching muscles were relieved of their stress before I cleaned myself well.

After that, I took the towel and went out of the shower before I was staring at my reflection. I need to be the focus and I think I can do that when I wanted to.

“Focus, Barb, you can do this,’’ I said as I was pointing at myself.

“Barbara,” his voice was coming into my view as his charming smile was smiling at me. I shook my head before I was trying to focus on me and went out to get my day started aka sleeping the whole day.