An Unplanned Lesson Read online

  After a couple hours of incredible sex, Mrs. Aymes was completely out of my mind. I moved closer to Dailan and rested my head on his chest. “That was really good,” I said.

  I looked up at him as he nodded and I realized that he was half asleep. He pulled me even closer to him. “I think I could fall in love with you, Nicole,” he muttered. My jaw dropped as panic ensued. I looked up at him again and he was already fast asleep.

  My stomach fluttered as tears began to fall from my eyes, onto his bare chest. The one thing that I had depended on this whole relationship was now gone. Dailan O’Maley had opened his heart to me. Now I had to decide if I wanted to enter.

  Chapter 32

  I stood outside the mall, waiting for Donna. Dailan had to go into work for a few hours and then made plans ahead of time again to take me out to dinner. I was starting to like this new Dailan, who actually planned things out ever so slightly, instead of leaving with just a goodbye or I’ll talk to you later. I didn’t mention anything to him about what he had said in his sleep stupor last night. Once I thought about it, I realized he was probably just talking in his sleep anyway and didn’t really mean it. Dailan was sweet and charming in his own sort of way, but he was not a mushy I’m-so-in-love-with-you type of guy.

  I smiled when I saw Donna walking from the parking lot in the far off distance. “I had to park a mile away. I can’t believe all these crazy people out shopping this early already,” she said as she got closer.

  We walked into the mall and Donna immediately gravitated to the bathing suits that were out already. She had wanted to do some shopping for clothes to take on her honeymoon, which was now only three months away. She held a plum-colored two-piece up to her body. “How do you think this would look?” she asked.

  “Well, I think it’s pretty, but you can’t buy a bathing suit without trying it on.” She hurried up and grabbed some others that she liked from the rack and went into the fitting room.

  “Come in with me,” she said. I sat down on the chair inside the fitting room as she began to try on the bathing suits. I shook my head as she finished putting on the plum-colored suit.

  “Yeah, I don’t like it either,” she said as she handed it to me to hang back up. She grabbed the next one off the rack and began to try it on.

  “I like that one,” I said somewhat expressionlessly, looking at her in a very flattering royal blue tankini.

  “What’s wrong?” Donna asked as she turned from the mirror to look at me. Sometimes she was so in tune with my emotions it scared me.

  I shook my head, not really wanting to unload my issues on her today, but she was insistent. I told her about running into Mrs. Aymes last night, and how I was terrified of what she would now do. Donna’s reaction was similar to Dailan’s, but in a more polite manner, she told me to tell her to mind her business. I went on to tell her how I had never heard from my parents on my birthday – well, actually, my mom. I never expected phone calls from my dad for my birthday.

  “When was the last time that you talked to them?”

  “About a month ago. My mom called me to ream me about hurting my sister’s feelings when I ran into her at the ice skating rink. I’m sure my sister left out the nasty things she said to me that day.”

  “Oh, Nicole, I’m sorry. But that’s their issue, not yours, and you have to stop letting it affect your life. If that’s how they choose to behave over something that happened years ago, then let them. You did nothing wrong.”

  Donna’s words put me at ease. I was so glad that I had someone else that knew about my past that I could confide in.

  “Hey, Donna?”

  “Yeah,” she said, turning around from the mirror again.

  “What does ‘I think I could fall in love with you’ mean?”

  The serious look on Donna’s face suddenly turned into a full-fledged grin. “Oh my God! Did he tell you that he loved you!”

  “No, not exactly, he said ‘I think I could fall in love with you,’” I clarified.

  “Well, how did you respond?”

  “I didn’t; he fell asleep right after he said it. I think he may have actually already been asleep when he said it.”

  “Well, then, it was his subconscious talking. Which means he really does love you,” Donna said with a smile.

  I knew that this was what any normal girl would love to hear from a guy that she couldn’t get enough of, but I was far from normal.

  “Nicole, what’s the matter?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t do the whole relationship thing too well. Even if I did, he’s going to be leaving in a few months.”

  “Well, do you love him?” Donna asked.

  I was silent for a brief second. “I think I do and that’s what scares me. It just feels so much different than it did with Drew. I feel like I need him, Donna.”

  Donna smiled. “That’s okay, Nicole. It’s okay to need someone. Dailan is a great guy.”

  “I know he is, but that still doesn’t change the fact that he’s leaving.”

  “Even that’s something you guys could probably work out if you really wanted to make it work.”

  “Really, how?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m sure there’s a way,” she said as the hopeless romantic side in her was out in full force.

  I shrugged my shoulders, not being able to see any way of maintaining a relationship that was an ocean apart.

  Two shopping bags full of clothes later – all Donna’s—and we were done. I helped her carry them to her car and gave her a hug goodbye, then made my way back to my car. I sat in my car for some time, thinking about the conversation I had with Donna earlier. For the first time, I began to realize just how much I was going to miss Dailan when he was gone. Yet another mess I had gotten myself into with him. I remembered the comment that his boss had made at the Christmas party about him changing his mind and staying here permanently. In the back of my mind, I was hoping that he would, even though I would never let him know that. That would be a decision he would have to make on his own. I started up my car to head home as my phone began to ring from inside my purse. I quickly answered it. I smiled upon seeing Dailan’s name on the caller ID.

  “Hey, sexy! Guess who’s at your apartment and who’s not?”

  I looked at my clock; it was only 2:45. “You said five o’clock.”

  “I told you one day I’d surprise you.”

  “I will be there in fifteen minutes. There’s a front door key under the doormat. Just let yourself in.”

  “Nicole, you know you really shouldn’t just leave a key to your house out on your front porch. Anyone could just break in,” he said with concern.

  “Yeah, well, if you locked yourself out as many times as I had, then you would keep a key out too! Besides, it’s not like I live in a bad neighborhood.”

  “That doesn’t matter, anyone could -”

  I cut him off mid-sentence. “I will see you in fifteen minutes, Dailan!” I hung up the phone and threw it into my purse. I backed out of the parking spot and began the short drive home. I smiled, thinking about Dailan’s concern for my safety. It was nice to have someone who cared - even if it was just temporary.

  Chapter 33

  I threw my keys on the kitchen table and wrapped my arms around Dailan, who was standing in my kitchen, talking on his phone. I could tell right away that he was talking to Ryan just by the way he was joking around.

  “Well, I’ll still kick your butt,” Dailan teased.

  He pulled me close and kissed me on the head. “She’s right here; do you want to talk to her?” Dailan asked.

  Dailan handed me his phone. “Hey, Ryan, are you having fun?” I asked.

  “Yeah, it’s lots of fun. You should see the big hill I went down this morning.”

  “Well, you better be careful.”

  “I will,” he said. “I’ll see you on Monday, Miss Morgan.”

  “Okay, here’s your Uncle Dailan back,” I said as I handed the phone back to Dailan.


  Dailan finished up his call and sat down next to me on the couch. “What a nice surprise, to have you actually show up two hours early,” I said as I moved closer and rested my head on his shoulder. I hit the remote control and turned on the TV. I gave Dailan the remote and he instantly became engrossed in the March Madness basketball game. I moved my head to his chest, listening to his heartbeat. I closed my eyes while he gently played with my hair. I felt so relaxed that I slowly fell into a deep sleep.

  I woke up to the touch of Dailan’s lips on my forehead.

  “Wow, sleeping beauty’s awake.”

  “What time is it?” I asked as I lifted my head off his chest, still feeling half out of it.

  “Five-thirty,” he said.

  “Why didn’t you wake me up?”

  “Because you were tired and I wanted to finish watching the basketball game, even though it was a little hard to hear through your snoring,” he teased.

  “Shut up,” I said as I playfully punched his arm.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked.

  “Starving,” I answered. “Can I just get myself ready before we go?”

  “Take your time,” he said as he became absorbed in the new basketball game that had just started up.

  I went into the bathroom, washed my face, brushed my teeth, and reapplied my make-up.

  “I’m ready,” I said as I came out into the living room while Dailan was screaming at the TV.

  I grabbed the remote and turned the TV off. “You’re going to get high blood pressure watching that,” I said.

  He got up from the couch and put his coat on and we headed out the door. We decided on the new Thai restaurant that had just opened up a couple of weeks ago. I had never tasted Thai food before and was hoping I would like it. Dailan assured me that I would, but I was still a little apprehensive.

  The restaurant was very welcoming, decorated in white and pink orchids. We were immediately greeted by a hostess dressed in traditional Thai dress. She had her hands pressed together at her chest and said something in her native language that I assumed was a hello. She took us to our seats and I sat down taking in all the Buddhist images scattered among the restaurant. After scrutinizing the menu forever, I finally decided on some dish that I couldn’t even pronounce. I just knew that it was stir-fried sweet and sour sauce with pineapple, onions, scallions, bell peppers, tomato, and carrots. Dailan kept me thoroughly entertained by telling me his experience that he had with eating Thai food for the very first time.

  “You know you’re not making me feel any better about trying this with these stories.”

  “You’ll like it; I promise,” he said.

  The waiter came out with the soup that Dailan had insisted that I order. He stared at me waiting for me to take a spoonful.

  “Go ahead, try it,” he said with a smile.

  I picked up my spoon and put some in my mouth. My face didn’t know what expression to make when the soup hit my taste buds. It was a mixture of sweet, salty, sour, and spicy all rolled into one. I hurriedly took a sip of water as Dailan was unable to control his laughter from my reaction. By the time I had taken my third spoonful, I actually kind of liked it. My entrée was even better, still flooding my taste buds with different sensations, but it was really good.

  We finished and got up from the table. “Well, that was fun, to get to experience a first with you,” I said.

  Dailan took my hand and we began to walk out, when I looked over at a table in the far off distance, noticing my mom and dad with their friends Ted and Amelia. My mom and dad had their backs toward me. I could have made it out unnoticed and I almost did until I heard Amelia shout, “Nicole?”

  Shit, shit, shit. I was having a great night too. I took a deep breath, gripped Dailan’s hand tighter, and walked over to where they were sitting.

  “Hi,” I said nonchalantly.

  “Nicole!” my mom said with a smile that grew bigger as her eyes moved to Dailan.

  “Dailan, this is my Mom, Dad, Ted, and Amelia,” I said, pointing each one out to him.

  “Oh, Dailan, it’s nice to finally meet you,” my mom said, sounding as if I talked to her all the time about him.

  I watched my dad’s reaction and was surprised that he was unusually quite pleasant as he shook Dailan’s hand and actually smiled.

  “I’m surprised you were able to get Nicole to try Thai food; you know she never likes trying anything new. Lasagna with jarred sauce, that’s her specialty,” my mom said as she and Amelia both laughed. What she failed to recognize was that her poor attempt at humor was just pissing me off. “We just came down last minute to celebrate Ted’s birthday, a little early, but better early than never,” my mom said. “Oh, and speaking of birthdays, Nicole, please don’t forget your nephew’s is next week. I’m still hearing about it from your sister because you mailed the kids’ Christmas presents two weeks late.”

  I couldn’t take it anymore. My jaw dropped. I felt my insides raging and I knew that I couldn’t control what was about to come out of my mouth. “Well, since you’re the birthday police, then maybe you should have someone reminding you as well.”

  “What are you talking about?” my mom asked with a look of confusion.

  “I don’t know, Mom, but my birthday was three days ago and I didn’t get a phone call from anyone in my family. Oh wait, I got an e-mail from my brother who’s a million miles away, but still took the time to wish me a happy birthday.”

  My dad looked down at the table as if he were embarrassed to be having this conversation in front of Ted and Amelia.

  “Oh my God, Nicole, I am so sorry!” my mother said. “The kids had that awful stomach bug and I was trying to help Renee out -”

  “Of course, it’s always about Renee,” I started.

  “Nicole,” Dailan said gently in an effort to get me to stop.

  “It’s okay, Dailan, this is how my so-called family is.” If I hadn’t known better, I would have sworn that he somehow made his phone ring right at that particular moment to get out of a very awkward situation.

  “I have to take this call. I’ll meet you at the car,” he said, giving me a look that was basically telling me not to go any further with my verbal assault on them.

  “It was nice meeting you,” everyone said to Dailan in unison.

  “Yeah, you too,” Dailan said as he answered his phone and walked out the door.

  “Well, it was good seeing you all. Happy birthday, Ted,” I said as he nodded with gratitude.

  “Nicole!” my mother shouted with desperation in her voice. I said nothing to her or my dad as I walked towards the door, almost making it completely out until my dad caught me in the vestibule.

  “Nicole,” he shouted.

  “What?”

  “You have your mother in tears in there; you go in and apologize to her.”

  “For what? For insulting me any chance that she can get or because she couldn’t even pick up the phone and say happy birthday, because she’s so far up Renee’s ass that she’d probably have to ask her permission to do it.”

  “Nicole, I mean it, if you don’t go in there and apologize, you are no longer part of this family.” My dad was using his usual bullying tactics that would normally work on me.

  “Oh really – well, then, I guess now it will finally be official, because for the past eight years you have been doing everything in your power to make me feel like I wasn’t part of this family anyway. So this should be a big weight off your shoulders, now you don’t have to pretend to even tolerate your fucked up daughter.”

  “You watch your mouth, young lady.”

  I rolled my eyes at him and gave him a sarcastic smile. “I am a grown woman and no longer your concern. I will say what I want, when I want. Enjoy the rest of your dinner.” I looked into my dad’s hazel eyes, for the first time not feeling afraid to stand up to him. I flung my purse over my shoulder and walked out of the restaurant. I finally confronted big bad Nick Morgan, even though I might have lost my
family in the process – it strangely felt good.

  Chapter 34

  “Are you okay?” Dailan asked as I got in the car.

  “Yup, I’m fine,” I said, trying to play it off coolly. He looked at me in disbelief. “Really, I’m good,” I said.

  He started up the car and I was grateful that he didn’t ask any more questions. We arrived back at my house and rented a movie on demand. I cuddled on the couch with Dailan as he held me tightly. Even though I didn’t tell him what happened, he seemed to sense that I needed the comfort of his arms around me. This time it was Dailan who had fallen asleep somewhere in the middle of the movie. I was still wide awake from my little nap that I had taken earlier. I looked up and watched him sleep as the tears began to form in my eyes. Strangely, I wasn’t crying over what had happened tonight with my dad. It was because at that moment, I knew I was in love with Dailan O’Maley and there was nothing I could do to change that. I rested my head back on his chest as the tears streamed down my face. I hugged him tightly and closed my eyes, wishing I could freeze time and never have this moment end.

  I woke up Dailan when the movie was over and led him into my bed in his sleep stupor. I took off his shoes and climbed in next to him. I pulled the covers over us and wrapped my arms around him, this time falling into a deep sleep as well.

  I woke up to the bright sunlight shining through my bedroom window. Dailan was already awake and laying silently as he played with my hair and kissed me on the head.

  “Good morning,” I said.

  “How did I even get in your bed last night?” he asked.

  “I carried you,” I joked. “You walked in, silly, with a little help. You were pretty out of it.”

  “Yeah, I must have been,” he said, running his hand through his hair.

  “Are you hungry?” I asked.

  “No, I actually got to get going soon. I want to take a shower and get changed before I go get Ryan. Do you want to come with me while I get him?” he asked.

  “Oh, I would love to, but I have to get caught up on laundry and lesson plans,” I said regretfully. I would much rather be spending the day with Dailan and Ryan, but I had been ignoring all my other responsibilities these past couple of days, being so caught up in spending time with Dailan.