Chapter 8: Forgotten feelings

The party was a success. Noel enjoyed it to the maximum and that was the most important thing.

She was happy that everything went as she planned, even she tried her best not to show how nervous she felt.

Seeing Matt again after years, she felt her heart doing a flip-flop. Seeing him standing there singing a happy birthday song, surrounded by children, so tall that she even forgot how tall he truly was, jet dark hair that was tousled and little longer than she remembered, golden skin and he looked a little more muscular than he did back then.

He was an eye-candy years ago and he just seemed as he grows older to add to his stricken sexy charm now added also a masculine more mature one.

When their eyes locked with each other it was as thunder and lightning that took her breath away.

He always had that effect on her. His eyes so blue that make her get lost in them, Ahhh get a grip woman, no point in going that road.

She is a married woman, a mother now, so not going that road now. Yes, she said to herself as she kept repeating that in her mind.

Feeling arms circling her waist, she shrieked.

Turning her head, she saw Luke who was chuckling at her reaction.

"Why have you so tensed babe?"

"You scared me, I didn't hear you." She continued cleaning the dishes.

“Hmm… now now babe… you looked tensed even before. How about you leave this and we go back upstairs and I can help you with easing that tension away?” kissing her neck and sucking, his arms pushed her body closer to his.

“Luke, I need to finish cleaning and I am tired, but you’re welcome to help with cleaning up.” She smiled at him.

“Seriously? Fine do what you have to I am going to bed.” He breathed out frustrated and went upstairs.

She felt even more tired. She was tired because of planning for the birthday and setting everything up and she just wanted after the party finished and she placed Noel to sleep to as well just lay in bed and sleep and rest, but the house won't clean on its own so here she is and she wasn't surprised that Luke wouldn't help up.

He was more kind of way of thinking I am a man and your my woman, men don’t clean and cook, we provide and protect….that sometimes infuriated her.

He expected when he is back from work that meal is on the table; the house is cleaned, and when he is in the mood that she is too.

She wondered thinking back in the past when did he change and why or did she never seen such a trait in him as she does now.

Sometimes when they fought he would get so mad that breaking things wasn’t strange for him.

Thankfully, Noel was never around to witness those times. She never wants her child to be exposed to such things, and she knew Luke didn’t either and would feel as he always does after they fought.

Finishing the last of the plates, she put them aside and took the garbage outside.

She felt nervous about tomorrow as she thought about what she should expect from it.

Drying herself in the bathroom and putting her lotion on as well as her pajamas, she switched off the lights and went to bed.

Luke was asleep, and she was grateful for that. Maybe she was a bad wife, but she truly couldn’t deal with anything more than just sleep.

She thought of the blue eyes as she has fallen to sleep.

“Mommy! Mommy! Wake up! Wake up!” jumping on the bed, Noel was excitedly doing his best to wake her up.

“Wh…what? Noel, what is it?" she rubs her eyes as she yawned.

“Mommy did you forgot? We are going to the ZOO today!”

The door of the bathroom opened and inside the room came Luke.

He laughed at Noel and said, “I think mommy is awake bud. How about we let her get ready and surprise mommy with some cereals?”

She was surprised as Luke never did such.

"Yeeee… let's go." Running out of the room, Luke went to follow after him.

“Sorry babe I can’t go with you two, but I have an important meeting this morning. But I’ll make it up to you tonight when I get back.” He looked at her with a mischievous smile as he winked and left the room.

Oh boy, she thought. She got up from the bed and went to shower and that’s when she realized they are going with Matt alone.

Fuck… she hated feelings she had as she fought them for years and thought perfect they are gone but nope, just one look at him and it proved her how fucking wrong she was.

Looking at her closet, she took her white summer dress that had little color patterns on and while summer flats.

Her hair was always a challenge for her as it was like it had its own will and mind. So she just put it in a little ponytail and put on some light makeup.

Looking at the mirror she shook her head as approval as she didn't want to seem she was making any effort to impress.

“Mommy you look beautiful.” Little Noel said from his chair as he was eating his cereals.

“Mommy does look yummy.” Luke came towards her as his lips captured hers and kissed her hard and deep. It was like a claiming kiss, a possessive one.

Smiling at him, she thanked him for her breakfast and they all eat in silence.

“Okay, I have to go to work and you two have some fun and you will tell me all about it tonight.” Luke kissed Noel at the top of his head as he came towards Vivian and kissed her on the cheek.

They said their byes and cleaned up the dishes.

The doorbell rang a few minutes later and Noel ran towards the door as Vivian was shouting after him to wait for her.

As the door opened, on the other side was Matt and the sight of him took her breath away…. shit… she thought.

“Uncle Matt!” Noel exclaimed excitedly as he ran towards Matt.

Matt took the little boy up in his arms and turned to Vivian.

“You both ready?”

“Yes.. yes we are. O just my purse.” She took her purse, and they went to Matt’s car and drove to the ZOO.

Thankfully, the day was beautiful and warm.

Matt bought their tickets, and they went through the ZOO, visiting each and every exhibit there was.

At one moment after some time, Noel felt tired walking so Matt put him on his shoulders as he carried him around and they laughed excitedly as they goofed around running like that.

Matt was so amazing with Noel and so patient.

Noel was so full of questions and Matt did his best to answer every one of them.

He thought him about giraffes and their habitat, as well as elephants, tigers, wolves, bears, monkeys….every animal they got to see.

Also, thankfully there was a huge info post in front of every exhibit, so that also helped a lot.

Vivian truly enjoyed watching her son and Matt together like that. It was as they bring out all good from each other. That brought a little pang to her heart as she thought of that.

As the day was going by, they went to eat at the near family restaurant together. And all the while Noel was radiating with pure happiness.

“Are you two having fun?” Matt asked, smiling at the two as he was eating his French fries.

Noel couldn't answer as his mouth was full of his cheeseburger, but he was nodding his head as his answer. Vivian laughed, looking at her little boy like that.

She turned and looked at Matt, and her smile didn’t fade away. “Yes, it’s really fun and thankfully we got an amazing sunny day to add to it.”

He smiled as he looked at her and nodded.

"I would love to take you as well to the carnival but unfortunately, it is getting a little late today so maybe if you want we can go some other day?"

Noel with his mouth half-full jumped at hearing that and faster than Vivian could say anything he said, "Yes! Mommy, we have to go see the carnival." He looked at her with his big blue pleading eyes.

She was looking at him as she looked at Matt as well and having them both looking at her expecting an answer. She felt her throat go dry.

“I… ummm.. well… I—I guess we could.” She said looking at them both.

“Can we go tomorrow?” Noel was now jumping up and down.

Laughing at his reaction, Matt looked over at Vivian and turned back to him and said “Well I wouldn’t want anything more than to go with you tomorrow buddy but unfortunately, I have some things to do, but how about a weekend?”

Noel looked at him and his mom and nodded his head “Okay that is ok, we can do weekend then.” Diplomatically, he said and happily went to eat his cheeseburger.