I will make you forget

Meagan's heart skipped a beat. Mason's name still held the power to take her breath, and injure her soul. She paused, collecting her thoughts.

"Mahalia..." she began, her voice gentle.

But before she could continue, Maren and Matilda interrupted, their voices in perfect sync. "You had to ruin a wonderful day, didn't you?"

Mahalia glared at Maren, her eyes blazing. "You're one to talk about embarrassing someone. Ben's still recovering from your little wicked display earlier."

Mahalia scoffed, her lips curling. "At least I don't deceive people I don't even like. You are an expert at pretending."

Mahalia's face reddened, her pert nose flaring. "I'm not heartless, unlike some people."

Maren's eyes narrowed, her voice dripping venom. "That's being kind."

The air thickened with tension as the sisters' argument escalated. Meagan intervened, her voice calm but firm.

Enough girls! I hope you had a good time today?" Meagan's voice had lost the spark it had earlier, even if she tried to hide it. 

"Yes Mom, thanks for today, i love you" Matilda kissed Meagan as she strode tiredly towards her room. 

"Matilda, didn't you notice Alice was here?" Mahalia's lips curled up in mischief. 

Matilda paused mid stride and looked at Mahalia nonchalantly, raising a brow she asked. "And so? I did notice she was" 

Mahalia shrugged, then threw an amused gaze at Meagan. "Mom, everyone knows that Alice has a huge crush on Matilda, so… I was thinking. 

Matilda threw an angry glare at Mahalia and with clenched teeth she stormed towards Mahalia, who stood up defiantly.

Meagan saw that a cat fight was about to begin, if she did nothing. So she banged her fists on the arm of the couch where she sat and that stopped Matilda. 

After taking a deep calming breath Meagan spoke. "Okay… girls, you know what we do on summer breaks, we have got a wonderful private ship cruise!" 

The girls shrilled excitedly, clapping their hands as they jumped excitedly like kids. 

Spinning and flipping her hair in a sassy but very chic move, Mahalia's eyes sparkled as she envisioned herself on an exotic boat already, ordering the sailor around. "Can you turn the boat around kind sir? I love the view of that exotic island" 

Everyone laughed at that, as she kept spinning. 

"We are leaving next week! So we have got…

"A mummy and daughters shopping spree, yes!!!" The girls said in unison and Meagan laughed with them, the doorbell rang, and that seemed to make the celebration stop abruptly. 

Matilda went to the doorbell screen and after she saw who it was, she wriggled her brows playfully at Meagan. 

"It's the sophisticated, sweet and utterly smitten Mister Ryan at the door ma'am" Matilda finished her sentence with a mock bow and Meagan rolled her eyes at that. The girls made cooing sounds as the dramatically acted flushed. Fanning themselves.

"Okay that's it girls, go to bed!" When they all seemed reluctant to do that, Meagan narrowed her gaze, and asserted more firmly. " Now!" 

The girls' shoulders dropped as they walked into their rooms. Meagan turned to the screen and with a deep sigh, she allowed Ryan to be able to see her too. 

"Hi Ryan, it's pretty late" Meagan's voice was flat.

"Okay… hello Meagan, can I atleast have this conversation with you physically? And not through your security screen?" Ryan chuckled dryly, as he ran his hands over his beards. 

"Okay… but I can't stay up for more than ten minutes, we have a lot of events for tomorrow" Meagan spoke up and she proceeded to let him in. 

Immediately Ryan entered, his soft gaze and tender eyes caressed Meagan, but she crossed her hands over her chest and held a blank face. 

"Okay, what was so urgent, that you had to be here this late" Meagan's voice held a hint of worry. 

Ryan glanced around the living room, a look of shock registered on his face, and Meagan realized that the place was a mess. 

"Pardon all these, the girls had a birthday party and some friends over, that's part of the busy day we will be having tomorrow, a big clean up'" 

Ryan passed a gift bag to Meagan, who just noticed it for the first time. "Yeah, I wanted to give this to them too, and…" Ryan hesitated, then Meagan took the gift bag and smiled at him. 

"Thanks, I will let them know, they will be happy"

"This is for you Meagan" Ryan held out a wrapped box, but Meagan pursed her lips and furrowed her brows as she stared at him suspiciously. 

"It's not my birthday Ryan, I can't take this from you, until you tell me exactly why you are giving it to me" Meagan looked him dead in the eyes, not a hint of acceptance. 

Ryan swept his hands through his hair, and with an exhausted sigh, he pulled Meagan in, on swift motion, kissing her stunned lips with all the emotions he had for her. 

Meagan's eyes went huge as she allowed herself be pulled into the surprise kiss, till he pulled away from her. Meagan blinked rapidly as heat crept to her face. 

"Meagan, I want you, I need you and I know I can make you happy, more happier than you are now, I will help you forget Mason, and the hurt with your boys" Ryan's chest heaved as he rushed the words. 

Matilda who had been spying on them with Maren and Mahalia behind her suddenly hit her hand on her forehead as she rolled her eyes, and with a silent frustrated sigh. 

"He ruined his chances already, he didn't have to mention Mason!" Maren muttered with a sigh too. And they all tiptoed to their rooms. 

Ryan watched the emotions creep through Meagan's face, her eyes became so cold and distant, every lively express on her earlier dissapeared leaving only a a blank emotionless look. 

Meagan angled her head, then turned towards him, her face devoid of emotions. "I am flattered by your feelings, and you have been a great friend since the first day we met last four years. But this is where this friendship ends, please leave" Meagan turned away without another word to him. 

"I am sorry Meagan, I can't do that, however, I can give you your space, you need to let go at some point" Ryans voice went soft, but Meagan stopped walking and turning a murderous glare at him. 

"Get out! This instant!" Her voice broke, so she ran inside her room, and a devastated Ryan walked out. 

Meagan laid on the bed and the tears she held in since she the boys birthday passed flowed freely, they would have been seventeen too. Stifling the chocking sound, she sobbed uncontrollably. 

Meagan didn't know when she fell asleep, but then she frowned with her eyes closed as she felt like she was being watched, and intently, a shiver ran down her spine.

Meagan's eyes fluttered open and her eyes locked with an unfamiliar pair of eyes so close to her face.