CHAPTER 7 Paisley

　　I had gotten up earlier than usual, not by choice! I woke up at five o’clock this morning and couldn’t get back to sleep. And what woke me? A damn sex dream about none other than Professor Reeves. That is what I was calling him in my dream while he fucked me on his desk! What the hell is that all about? Yes, maybe occasionally calling him Professor, but in that dream, it was constant. It was hot and fucked up all in one. I tried getting back to sleep after and failed. I was too warm and horny!?

　　I am going to be cranky all day! So, coffee will be my fuel today. It was only seven o’clock now, and I had showered and got ready, yet my first class didn’t start until nine. On the bright side, I had time to get some breakfast and coffee without having to make either.

　　I give myself the once over in the mirror. I may or may not have made a little more effort than usual this morning. I had extra time! A part of me may have done it to get to Kyler, even if just a little. Yes, I told him I would behave, and that was the plan, but then I realised something, I don’t like behaving. It is no fun. It is not like I plan on seducing him, just a little teasing, for now.

　　I grab what I need for classes and head out. The university isn’t too far away from where I stay, so I always walk. There was a café on the way that was good and where I would get my breakfast and coffee. I am known there because I visit a lot.

　　“Good morning, Paisley. You are early this morning,” Jessica says.

　　Jessica is the owner of the café. She owns it with her daughter.

　　“Been awake since five,” I groan, rolling my eyes.

　　“You take a seat, and I will bring an extra-strong coffee for you.” she laughs.

　　I took the seat by the window, my usual one, and looked at the menu. Hmm, scrambled eggs with toast and bacon sound good. Jessica came back with my coffee, the mug bigger than usual. Good, I would need it.

　　“Do you know what you want for breakfast?” she asks.

　　I told her my order, thanking her, and she headed off, leaving me to take a sip of coffee. Mmm, yes, heaven! I get my phone, checking it. Kyler didn’t reply to my last message last night, but I guess there was not much to respond to. I soon regretted checking it because there was a text from my ex. Why have I not blocked his lying, cheating ass yet??

　　Ewan: Are you ready to forgive me yet, sweetness? I miss you! I am sorry, she meant nowt. I love you P! X

　　I groan and shake my head. P, he is the only one that calls me that. The only one I ever allowed to call me that. He isn’t sorry at all. He is sorry he got caught. There is a difference. What makes him think for a second that I am going to forgive him? We had a deal, and he broke it. There will be no forgiving him.

　　Paisley: No! And I never will! You fucked this up, Ewan. You and I are done. You clearly didn’t love me enough because if you did, you wouldn’t have cheated. Leave me alone.

　　I am still hurting over it because it was so recent. I hadn’t thought about it much over the weekend because my mind was preoccupied with other things. We had been together for three years, and I loved Ewan deeply, and still do, but I will not ever go back to him. Once the trust gets broken, that is it. Things could never be the same again, and I wasn’t going to waste any of my time on him.

　　Ewan: Come on, don’t be like that! I miss you. I need you. I promise not to do it again X

　　Bullshit! I didn’t respond to him. I set my phone aside, got back to my coffee, and stare out of the window until my food arrived.

　　“Paisley, are you OK?”?

　　I hear a male voice ask, making me snap out of my little world and look up. I am surprised to see Kyler, and he looks concerned. When did he come in??

　　“Not really, but I will be,” I say honestly.

　　“Can I sit?” he asks, “Sure.”?

　　Kyler sat across the table, and Jessica came over with my food and took Kyler’s order while she was here.

　　“You look sad and tired. Is everything OK?”?

　　There was a softness to his tone when he spoke.

　　“Just my ex, and yes, I am tired,” I respond.

　　Yes, Kyler, I am tired because of you! I wanted to tell him that, but to be honest, I’m not in the mood now.

　　“Is your ex bothering you?”?

　　“Yes, trying to get me to forgive him and go back to him,” I sigh, running my fingers through my hair.

　　“Forgive him for what?”?

　　Who knew Kyler was so nosy??

　　“For cheating. I caught him in bed with someone else a week ago,”?

　　“That recent?” he asks, surprised, and I nod, “I am sorry, Paisley, break-ups are hard enough, never mind because of cheating.”?

　　He reaches over the table, rubbing the top of my hand with his fingers.

　　“Yes. I will be fine. I just need some time,” I smile.

　　“Yes, you will be. Your ex doesn’t deserve you,” he says, “You deserve better,”?

　　“Thanks, Kyler.”?

　　I appreciate that he was trying to make me feel better. He quickly pulls his hand away, rubbing the back of his neck, and he apologised for touching me, I assume. Kyler’s breakfast arrives, and silence came between us for a little while.

　　“Why are you out so early?” he enquires.

　　“I have been awake since five. What about you?”?

　　“I am always up early, plus I need to be at work in half an hour or so,” he smiles, “and why were you up at that time?”?

　　Hmm, should I tell him the truth? I think I should because I don’t want to lie.

　　“Because of you,” I reply bluntly, “Me? What did I do?” he pouts.

　　I giggle at the pout. It was cute!?

　　“You crept into my dream, and it was dirty, and I woke up a hot, horny mess and couldn’t get back to sleep.”?

　　I kept my tone steady and soft, like I was saying the most normal thing in the world to him. I watch him closely with each word I say. He gulps, and his grip on his fork and knife tightens so much, his knuckles turning white.

　　“Are you messing with me?” he tries to laugh it off.

　　“Nope! I am serious! Would you like the details?” I smirk.

　　“It is probably best that you don’t because then I will be thinking about it all day, and that isn’t good, not with the need to keep my distance, Paisley,”?

　　“OK then, I shall keep my dirty dreams to myself, Professor Reeves,” I snicker, “Thank you kindly, Miss Ellis,” he chuckles.

　　I am glad he saw the funny side of it all. But I bet the wanting of the details are very tempting. I wink at him and take the last bite of breakfast. I am getting to him. My bad!?

　　“How did your first day go yesterday?”

　　I thought maybe it was best to change the subject. I didn’t want him getting too excited.

　　“It went pretty good, thanks for asking,” he says brightly.

　　“Good, I am glad.”

　　I am happy his first day went well, but I am not surprised. He is a nice guy, with a great personality and good looks, which I am sure many of the girls enjoyed, and let’s not forget the accent.

　　Our conversation got rudely interrupted by my phone ringing. I had a feeling of who it may be without even looking. I double-checked, and I was right.

　　Ewan!

　　I hit the reject button, but he calls right back. He would keep calling until I answered, so I hit the accept button.

　　“What the hell do you want? I told you we are done,” I snap.

　　“Paisley, please, give me another chance. It was a moment of weakness, and I will not ever do it again,” he begs.

　　“No! We had a deal, Ewan. If any of us cheated, it would be over. You cheated, so we are done! I hope she was worth it! Goodbye.”

　　I hung up, throwing my phone in the bag and shaking my head, running my fingers through my hair. I hate this feeling. It is horrible! The tears were building in my eyes, but they quickly got wiped away.

　　“You OK?” Kyler questions, a softness in his tone.

　　“Not really, but I will be.”?

　　It was the truth. In time, it will all be fine, but it was only a week ago. He took my hand in his once again and uses his free hand to reach up and wipe the stray tears away that had managed to escape.

　　“You will be OK in time, I promise. It does get better, Paisley.”?

　　I have a feeling he has had his heart broken too.

　　“I know. Thanks for being sweet to me,” I smile.

　　He flashed a dorky smile at me, which made me laugh.

　　“That is better.” He beams.

　　I am glad he was sitting here with me because if not, I would probably have been even more upset. Kyler gave my hand one last squeeze before letting go.

　　“I hate to do this, Paisley, but I need to go,”?

　　“No, it is OK. You need to get work,” I smile.

　　Kyler finished up his coffee and placed enough money on the table to cover both our bills. I told him he didn’t need to, but he insisted.

　　“I will see you in class,” he smiles.

　　“Yes, see you then.”?

　　He gave me a quick wave and headed out to get to campus. I ordered another coffee, getting lost in my little world. I was weighing the pros and cons in my head on whether to block Ewan or not, but I had to get my things from his, and he still has stuff at mine. I want my stuff back, and then maybe after that, I will find the courage to block his ass for good. I am dreading having to see him again because he has always had some sort of hold over me, and I was the same for him. Our relationship was unique in many ways, not always good, but it worked. We worked.

　　?He was the first man that could keep up with me and accept every part of me. He is the only man that has ever set that fire inside of me, and the passion between us was spectacular. It was a passion I had never experienced, well, until Kyler. I felt that same sort of heat and passion with him.

　　When I need to see Ewan, I just hope I don’t do something stupid like jump into bed with him, which would be a huge mistake.

　　Right now, it wasn’t the time to think about that; I needed to get my study head-on for my classes. I finish my coffee, pay the bill, and head out. I would meet Isla there and fill her in on everything!?

　　My day can only get better from here, right? I really hope so! I am not going to let Ewan ruin my damn day!?