Collin Is Coming?

Henry's POV

By morning I was already at the airport waiting for Flora to show up. I barely had any sleep last night.

Then I saw Flora coming with her luggage. She had on frayed jean shorts and a tank top, with a plaid shirt tied over her waist. She wasn't exactly tall, neither was she short… just average.

She was pretty, with curly ginger hair. Her face lit up the moment she saw me.

“Ahhh!” She squealed in excitement, not caring whether people were staring at her like she needed to have her head examined.

Then she left her luggage and ran towards me. I spread out my arms, smiling broadly. She jumped and dived into my arms, I caught her and if not for my stammerer, I would have fallen on the floor.

“Mwah! Mwah! Mwah!” She began showering my face with kisses.

People would think we were couples.

“It's okay! It's okay!” I said dropping her on the floor, but she hugged me tight, still.

“I've really… really… really missed you Henry.” She said, placing her head on my shoulder.

“I've missed you more,” I whispered, hugging her tightly.

This is why I love Flora… she makes me feel at home. She's the only person who I can be comfortably vulnerable with and vice versa.

We disentangled from the hug and I cupped her face in my hand, squishing it.

“Aww, you've gotten so much prettier.” I teased her while she giggled in response.

I moved past her and got her luggage.

“Okay, now fill me in on everything,” I said as we headed toward the exit, “How are things with your new boyfriend?”

She rolled her eyes, “Psh! Turns out he was married with two kids and just wanted me as a side chick.”

“What?” I asked in disbelief, “You never told me that.”

“Well… because… I was too embarrassed to tell you at the time.” She replied, “Ugh! I've never experienced such embarrassment in my whole life. His wife embarrassed me in front of everyone, cursing at and calling me a home breaker and all that.”

“I'm so sorry that happened to you,” I said apologetically.

“It's okay.” She said, her tone emotional, “I've already gotten over him.”

“Do you need a hug?” I asked noticing her teary eyes. “Do you need me to board a flight and go beat him up?”

She chuckled a bit, “No, it's okay…. But I really loved him.”

“Come here,” I took her in my arms, patting her bag, “I got you.”

“I know.”

After a while, we disentangled.

“How is Maggie doing?” She asked, wiping her tears, “Good… I guess?”

“I wanna go visit her.”

“Cool … I guess I'll see you tonight then.”

“No, I want you to come with me.”

“What? But I'll be late for work.”

“Come on.” She grabbed my arm, dragging me into a cab she flagged down and told the driver to drive to the hospital.

All through the ride, the driver never heard the end of us. Flora and I chatted till we reached the hospital.

The relief in his eyes when we got off was palpable.

We headed into the hospital and rode up the elevator to Maggie's room.

“Hey, Maggie!” Flora squealed, going towards Maggie's bed to hug her.

Maggie's face lit up.

“Aww Flora, when did you get back?” Maggie asked as Flora disengaged from the hug.

“My flight just touched down so I decided to pay you a visit first before going back to my apartment,” Flora replied.

“Aww, that's so sweet of you,” Maggie said.

“Look what I got you. I got you a comic book … spicy ones… puzzle games, and fashion magazines.” As she talked, she brought them out of her bag one by one.

“That's so sweet of you, Flora,” Maggie said thankfully. “Come here, let me give you a kiss.”

Flora brought her cheeks closer to Maggie and she picked her on the cheeks.

“Hey, Maggie,” I said, coming closer. “How are you doing? Getting better.”

“The doctor says that I'm recovering quickly and that if my healing process progresses, maybe I'll be out here in one month.”

Good news! Please take back your job! Thanks but no thanks!

“That's great then.”

“What do you think of your new boss?” She asked and Flora and I exchanged glances.

But Maggie caught us exchanging glances. Nothing ever gets past her.

“He's… well … a douche, but the pay is good, so…” I let it hang, shrugging my shoulders.

“There's something you're not telling me, isn't there?” She asked, her eyes glancing from Flora to me.

“What? No! Everything is fine.”

“Okay, if you say so.” She said, shrugging her shoulders, “I'll find out eventually.”

And she always does! Trust me!

“Where's Kendall?” Flora asked.

Kendall was Maggie's wife. Well, she didn't really like me. When Maggie had found me out on the streets years back and brought me home, Kendall was against the idea. She hated my guts.

Well, I nearly caused caused their marriage to end. But Maggie had stood her ground, and believe it or not, Maggie won the argument and finally, I got to stay. That's why I'll forever be in debt to Maggie. She's one kind soul.

One would think I'd finally grow on her, but I didn't. The more she saw me, the more her hatred grew.

Oh, and she didn't like Flora either. She hated anything related to me.

“Oh, she'll be back any second.” Maggie answered, “I sent her on an errand.”

Well, I gotta go before she comes back and gives me that deadly glare of hers I hate.

“Well, I gotta go,” I said, coming to kiss Maggie on her forehead. “See you soon.”

“Oh, Henry dear?” Maggie called out, stopping me in my tracks.

“Yes?”

“Will you please do me a favor?”

“What is it?”

“My nephew, Collin is flying in tonight. Will you please go get him when he arrives?” She asked, “You see, Kendall and I will be here, so there will be no one to keep him company back at my home. Will you get him from the airport and stay with him back at my home just for a few days.”

My heart lurched. Collin is coming? Oh no!

“Yeah,” I smiled at her, “Sure. Anything for you Maggie. See you later Flora.”

“See you later Henry.”

I walked out the door and down to the elevator.

Collin is coming? God! What the fuck is happening to me lately? First, finding out my one-night stand is my boss and is also straight, now Collin! I don't think I can handle seeing Collin! Not after what happened between the both of us!