Chapter 7

   I started seeing Keith every night when I was leaving work. He made sure he said something to me in passing. It was always a quick "hello" or "how was your night," just very small acknowledgements. On my last night of 2nd shift it was new years eve. My shift ended at 11. We always beefed up security on new years because of all the drinking and partying.

I was on a call that took me until 1130 to finish. The night was crazy and I was tired, angry, and ready to leave. I got out right at midnight and I blew right past Keith without even a backward glance. I was pissed off and just ready to get the hell away from that place.

DING!

My phone goes off. I grab it and look at the message. It's Keith.

"Are you OK?"

"I'm fine!" I bite back at him.

"You don't seem fine you didn't even look at me when you stormed out of the building. I was waiting for you." he wrote back.

"Why were you waiting for me?" I asked him.

"I got used to talking to you every night and I wanted to give you something." he responded.

"What was it?" I asked.

"A New Years kiss." He simply wrote.

"A what? You confuse me. I don't have time for games. I am in a very complicated situation, and aren't you married? I don't kiss married men, Sorry." I lashed out at him, everything coming out in my exhaustion.

I watched the dots dancing on my screen letting me know he was responding. After a few minutes my phone alerts me to his response.

"First of all I am not playing games with you, I don't have time for games either. Second, Yes I am married but I also told you earlier that we needed to talk. I have been pursuing you for months now and I have never pursued anyone. The least you can do is give me a damn conversation."

I glared at my phone reading his response over and over. I didn't know what to think so I just gave a bitchy response.

"You are married, I have nothing to say to you Player."

   Strangely I felt a pain in my chest sending that message, I see the dots show up again. Not wanting to see his response to that, I shut my phone off, and closed my eyes. I was about to see him everyday moving to his shift, this was a fucking mess.

I woke up the next day and turned my phone back on.

DING! DING! DING!

My phone started going off like crazy.

Keith, "I am NOT a player!"

Keith, "Why are you not responding?"

Keith, "Please just give me a chance to explain."

Bubbles pop up on my screen.

Keith, " I see you are back online, I'm sorry if I threw you off last night. Maybe I jumped the gun. I really like who you are and want to know you better. We are both in a complicated situation and I just want you to hear my side, please meet me and if you want to tell me to fuck off then I will, but please just give me the opportunity to talk to you."

My resolve crumbles. " If you want to talk meet me at the gym at 2pm Monday. I will hear what you have to say after a good workout."

Keith, "Deal, thank you for giving me a chance to explain."

   " Don't thank me yet, I really don't trust you right now." I respond.

   " I know, hopefully soon you will." he says

I didn't respond. What the fuck am I doing? I think to myself shaking my head.

Monday as I got ready to go to the gym Keith messaged me.

   "Since the storm blew in I can't make the gym today, the roads are bad and I can't make it there."

   "How convenient for you." I responded. "You know what? Forget it, it was a mistake to try to hear you out."

   "No, Please! Where I live I really can't get out, the roads are too icy." he pleads.

  "Ok last chance Playboy, I have taser training on the 7th you have it on the 10th pick a day and when we get back from training we will meet up at FanCity and talk." I tell him. "If you are serious, I wouldn't cancel on me again." I warn him.

   "I'm telling you I'm not a playboy. I will message you when I get back from training so we can meet." he responds. I can feel his temper through the message.