Chapter 12 - Colliding Hearts by Delaila Adams
Chapter 12
Eden’s POV
The slap landed hard across my cheek, whipping my head to the side as a stinging burn spread across my skin. I felt the heat and swelling begin immediately, but I held back the tears. I couldn’t let them see me cry, or it would only encourage them to hit harder.
“You’re nothing but a worthless burden. I don’t even know why your mother and I bothered to have you!” my father’s voice sneered beside me. Before I could react, his fist drove into my stomach, knocking the air from my lungs. I dropped to my knees, struggling for breath, while he looked down with a twisted, satisfied grin. I knew tomorrow I’d be covered in bruises, my cheek swollen, my stomach sore. I’d endured this before, but it was never something you got used to.
“It’s time you learn your place,” he spat, stepping back for a moment. But instead of relief, a spike of dread pierced me, bracing for whatever he had in mind next. My pulse quickened as I saw him step back towards me, his hand gripping a large kitchen knife. I gasped, instinctively backing away, barely able to think, only knowing I had to put distance between us. He’s finally gone insane, I thought. As he advanced, I opened my mouth and screamed.
I bolted upright, heart pounding as I felt a pair of hands gently shake me awake. My eyes snapped open, and I pushed myself back across the bed.
“No, please! Don’t hurt me!” I cried, backing up until I felt the headboard behind me. The bed dipped slightly, and I froze, terror seizing me.
“Eden, it’s okay. It’s just me.” Gavin’s voice cut through my fear, warm and familiar. His calm tone broke through my panic, and I instantly threw my arms around him, letting his scent wash over me as he held me tight. “You’re safe,” he murmured, his hand moving in soothing circles over my back.
It had been nearly four months since I’d last had that nightmare. Why was it back now? I took deep breaths, letting my heart slow down as I leaned into Gavin’s embrace, reluctant to let go of this rare, comforting closeness.
“Are you alright?” Gavin’s hand continued its gentle motions, and I nodded against his chest, my cheeks heating with a touch of embarrassment. “Do you want to tell me what happened today?” he asked softly. I knew he deserved an explanation, but I dreaded shattering this moment of peace between us. Reluctantly, I drew back from his arms, feeling a sudden coldness in their absence, resisting the urge to curl back into him.
“Well... everything was fine at work, even after I had to cover someone else’s shift. But right near the end, this guy slapped me on the backside. I’ve dealt with that before, but this time he didn’t stop. So, I did the only thing I could think of—I kicked him where it hurt.” I looked down, my face warming in embarrassment. “My boss saw it all and pulled me aside. To keep my job, he suggested I ‘do him a favor.’ I refused… and quit right there. Then I called you.” My voice trailed off as I finished, unsure of what he’d think. Would he think I overreacted?
The silence that followed seemed to stretch on forever. After what felt like five endless minutes, I couldn’t take it anymore and lifted my gaze. Gavin sat there, fists clenched, jaw tight, his expression taut with anger.
"Is everything alright, Gavin?" I asked, my voice trembling with uncertainty. "Gavin, are you okay?"
"Did he do anything to you?" Gavin finally demanded, his voice tight with anger.
"What? No." My answer seemed to calm him a little, though not completely. "Gavin, what's going on?"
"I'll make him pay for what he did," Gavin declared with fury.
"Stop. Gavin, it's fine. Nothing happened. Besides, I quit. Isn't that what you wanted?"
"I don't care if you're fine or not! No one has the right to treat you like that, and you're never going back there." Gavin's words were firm, and I knew he wasn’t going to change his mind. I wanted to argue, but I knew better than to push him further. Instead, I stayed silent, allowing him to cool off. Just then, my stomach growled loudly, causing my cheeks to turn red with embarrassment. Gavin glanced down at me, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Are you hungry?" he asked, a smile tugging at his lips. His smile made him look even more irresistible, and his bright blue eyes lit up with warmth. I nodded, too flustered to speak.
"Let's make something to eat," he said, standing up and offering me his hand. I eagerly took his large, warm hand as he helped me off the bed. We walked to the kitchen, and I couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful it was. Gavin had taste, that was for sure.
"What do you feel like eating?" he asked, breaking me out of my awe.
"Um, how about spaghetti?" I suggested, hoping it wouldn't be too much trouble. It was just what I was in the mood for.
"Works for me," Gavin said, moving effortlessly around the kitchen. As I watched him, I realized how at home he seemed here. I never would have expected Gavin Hayes to be so skilled in the kitchen, and it only made him more attractive. I stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do.
"Need help?" I offered, hoping he'd say yes.
"Sure," he replied, handing me a pan. "Can you fill this up with water?"
Smiling, I accepted the pan and started filling it with water. Meanwhile, Gavin opened cans of tomato sauce, pouring them into a separate pan.
"Are you making homemade sauce?" I asked, placing the nearly full pan on the stove.
"Yep. It's better than the canned stuff," he answered.
"I agree," I said with a nod. "Where are the spaghetti noodles?"
"Top shelf," he said, nodding towards the cabinet.
I reached up to grab the noodles, but couldn't quite reach. I tried again, then even jumped, but my fingers barely brushed the shelf. Suddenly, I felt Gavin's strong body press against mine from behind. His arm reached past mine, and he effortlessly grabbed the package of noodles. His chest was so close to my back, I felt my knees wobble.
"Here you go," he whispered in my ear, his voice low and husky.
He stepped back, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. I felt slightly light-headed, my knees weak as I walked over to the stove to set the noodles down. There was something about Gavin that made me want to jump into his arms right then and there. After a moment, I calmed down, and turned to see him stirring something in a bowl, his head bobbing to a rhythm only he seemed to hear. I couldn’t help but smile as I crept up behind him, standing on my tiptoes to peek over his shoulder.
"What are you doing?" I asked softly in his ear. He jumped slightly but quickly composed himself.
"Mixing. Want to help?" he asked, gesturing for me to join him.
"Sure, what do you need me to do?" I stepped beside him and noticed a bunch of spices around his bowl.
"Can you add some spices while I stir?" Gavin asked. I nodded, reaching for the garlic first and sprinkling it in. I wasn’t used to measuring things like this, and it seemed Gavin didn’t either—he didn’t say a word about it. We worked in comfortable silence, adding spice after spice. When he finished stirring, he held up the spoon for me.
"Taste it," he said. I leaned toward the spoon but instead of licking it, I dipped my finger in and tasted it. It needed something, so I grabbed a little more spice and added it in, tasting again.
"Better," I said, smiling up at him.
"Good," Gavin replied with a smirk. He then moved the pot onto the stove to heat it up. I followed his lead, turning on the burner under the pan of water to start the noodles. As we waited, I leaned against the counter and watched him. He was still in his work clothes—his jacket was off, and his grey shirt sleeves were rolled up, showing off his muscular forearms. He had a little stubble on his face, and his brown hair looked a little messy, like he’d run his hands through it too many times.
If you asked me why I called Gavin instead of Sadie, I wouldn’t be able to explain it. Even though we’d just met, I felt like I could trust him. I knew I should be cautious, especially since I wasn’t sure what his true intentions were. Everything inside of me screamed to run and protect myself before I got hurt, but somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to leave. The longer I watched him, the more I felt small in comparison. He was so handsome and could have any woman he wanted, yet here he was, spending time with someone like me—plain and broken.
"Eden?" Gavin's voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts.
"Hmmm." I shook my head, trying to clear my mind and looked at him.
"Ready to eat?" He didn't mention my zoning out, and I was thankful. I didn't want to explain how I was caught up in thoughts about how incredibly attractive he was and how plain I felt in comparison.
"Yes, please." I nodded, accepting the plate he offered. My stomach let out a loud growl, betraying my earlier attempt at composure. I blushed as Gavin chuckled at my discomfort, but silently served me a generous portion of noodles and sauce. It looked like more than enough, but I knew I’d finish it all. I stood off to the side, waiting for Gavin to decide if we should eat at the bar.
"We'll eat here at the bar. Just the two of us," he said, as if reading my mind. I walked over to a seat while Gavin grabbed napkins and silverware.
"Sorry, I would have grabbed those," I said, apologizing as I slid into the stool.
"No, you’re fine," he replied, setting down a napkin and fork for me before placing his own beside me. "Would you like a drink?"
"Sure."
"I’ve got beer, wine, water, or juice." I decided beer didn't really pair with pasta, so I opted for the wine. He flashed me a grin as he retrieved an open bottle from the fridge, grabbing two glasses. Once he sat next to me, he poured us each a glass.
"Cheers," he said, his blue eyes locking onto mine with an intensity I hadn't expected.
"Cheers." Our glasses clinked, and we both took a sip, our eyes not breaking contact. After a lingering moment, we both turned our attention to our food. Despite the simplicity of the spaghetti, it was delicious. Maybe it was because I was starving after not eating all day, or maybe because Gavin made it, but I had to stifle a moan of pleasure.
We ate in silence, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It felt natural, as if we didn’t need constant conversation. Every time Gavin moved, I caught a whiff of his cologne—a scent I couldn’t place, but which I instantly adored.
"So, what’s your plan now that you don’t have a job?" Gavin asked, breaking my trance. I realized I was closer to him than I had thought and moved back, taking a sip of my wine to regain my composure.
"I don’t know. I guess I’ll start job hunting tomorrow." I frowned at the thought. Job hunting and interviews were always daunting for me, and I usually messed them up. I was still surprised when I actually landed the job at the River Cafe.
"Well... are you good at making phone calls?" Gavin asked, suddenly shifting the conversation.
"I-I guess," I stammered, caught off guard.
"What about running errands, keeping track of schedules, following orders?" he listed. The last one gave me pause, sounding a little suggestive, but I quickly pushed that thought away. I nodded, still unsure.
Gavin leaned back in his chair, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully. "It seems I have an opening at my company. Would that be something you'd be interested in?"
I froze. Was he offering me a job?
"I—" I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure. "Yes! That would be amazing!" I nearly shouted. I jumped up and wrapped my arms around his neck. "Gavin, that would be incredible." A job at such a prestigious company would be life-changing—even if it was something as simple as being a receptionist. When Sadie and I had researched him, we learned about his company’s reputation and the generous pay. Everyone wanted to work there.
"But you haven’t even heard what the position is," Gavin murmured in my ear, and I immediately pulled away, embarrassed by my eagerness.
"Sorry," I said, returning to my seat and calming myself down.
"I’m looking for an assistant. Someone who can handle my appointments, take care of my schedule, do paperwork, and accompany me to meetings. This person will practically be with me every day and night. You’d need to know my company inside and out. Do you think you can handle that?" he asked, his tone serious.
I sat there thinking for a moment. As much as I loved the idea of being with him all day, could I actually do the job? I was organized and hardworking when I set my mind to something. I knew this would be demanding, but I wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip away. Plus, it would look great on my resume. I made my decision then and there.
"Yes, I can," I said, trying to sound confident.
Gavin stared at me for what felt like an eternity, making me squirm. Finally, he nodded.
"Good. You start tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?!" I gasped. That was quick.
"Yes. I need you there at 6:00 sharp." His voice was all business, and I didn’t argue about the early start time. I glanced at the clock—it was already 9 PM. Oh, no! Sadie was probably wondering where I was. The atmosphere had shifted from casual to professional, so I slid off my stool.
"I guess I better head out then," I said, forcing a small smile. Things had shifted so quickly.
Gavin nodded and stood as well.
"Oh, wait, what about the dishes?" I asked as I stood.
"It’s fine. I’ll take care of them when I get back," he said.
"I don’t want to leave you with all the dishes." I glanced at the stack of plates and pots on the counter.
"Don’t worry. I’ll have my maid clean it up in the morning. Let’s go. I’ll drive you home," he said, pressing his hand lightly against my lower back. I gave in as he guided me to the front door.
As we reached the door, I noticed my bag hanging on the hook. The fact that Gavin had placed it there made me smile as I grabbed it and slung it over my shoulder. We walked in silence to the garage and to his car. I tried not to gawk at the sleek black 911 Carrera Porsche. I wasn’t a car expert, but I knew enough to recognize that this was an expensive, luxury vehicle. Gavin opened the door for me, and I slid inside, admiring the plush black leather seats and the cutting-edge stereo system. It was clear this car was the epitome of sophistication. Gavin slid into the driver’s seat, starting the engine, which purred to life beneath me.
"Nice car," I commented, still in awe.
"Thanks. It’s a 911—"
"Carrera Porsche," I finished for him.
"You know cars?" he asked, his voice surprised.
"Only a little. My ex-boyfriend was really into them, so I picked up a few things."
The mention of my ex seemed to silence Gavin as we drove back to my apartment. I couldn’t help but wonder why he became so quiet, his mood shifting without warning. We pulled up to my place, and I unbuckled my seatbelt. We walked to my door in silence, stopping at the same spot as yesterday. It was hard to believe how much had changed in just 24 hours—from our first date to him picking me up, comforting me, and now offering me a job.
"Thanks for everything today, Gavin. Thank you for picking me up, listening to me, cooking dinner, and offering me a job. I don’t know how I can ever repay you," I said sincerely.
Gavin snapped out of his pensive mood and turned to me with a soft look. "You’re welcome, Eden. You can always call me if you need anything."
"Thank you. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, bright and early," I said, giving him a grin.
"Yes, you will. Goodnight, Eden." He leaned down and kissed the top of my forehead. Even though it wasn’t on my lips, I could still feel the warmth of his kiss. A lazy smile spread across my face as he pulled away. "Goodnight." With that, he turned and walked away.
I opened the door and slipped inside, the house dark and quiet. I made my way to my room, setting my stuff down and plugging in my phone. After quickly washing my face and changing into pajamas, I set an alarm for 4:45 AM. I slid under the covers, thoughts of Gavin swirling in my mind as I drifted to sleep, wondering what tomorrow would bring.
Chapter 13
Chapter 11
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