Read Don't Explain for Free Online

on a puppet show for the
kids. These really sick kids with problems that you wouldn’t wish on anyone. And
they were laughing hysterically like they didn’t have a care in the world
because of her stupid puppet show.
    “That was when our relationship began. That’s when I fell in love with
her.”
    Margaret had found a way into Michael’s heart just by being herself.
Something Caitlyn couldn’t accomplish in four years of trying.
    “Margaret and I dated for four months, and we got in a rhythm. I was
comfortable with her, so I asked her to marry me,” he paused. “She said yes;
and now, a month later, she’s gone.”
    “Why?”
    “I don’t know. She didn’t say.”
     Caitlyn saw him shaking slightly, and he let out a deep, audible breath.
She scooted close to him and put her arm around his shoulders. She gently grazed
his shoulders with her open hand to comfort him. Then she whispered, “There has
to be a reason, and I don't think that reason could have anything to do with
you. Don't let her get to you. If I had you, I would never let you go.”
    She dropped her head down and forcefully closed her eyes, cursing herself
and knowing that she shouldn't have said anything. If this was her version of
comfort, she needed to keep her mouth shut. She should have just let him be
angry for the moment. Sometimes he just needed a moment to release his anger. She
looked back up at him.
    He turned to her, looking through the darkness and caught her shimmering
eyes with his, and a smirk spread across his lips. “If you had me, huh?”
    “Hypothetically,” she paused, but then continued rapidly and without
forethought. “In college I was in love with you. From that first moment you
walked in without a shirt on, I wanted to be with you. But you were always
dating someone or just broken up, so I never found the right moment to—you
know.” Sweet Jesus, she thought, what was her problem? She could be a perfectly
reasonable person when he wasn’t around. Why’d she have to word vomit her dirty
laundry all over him after all this time? How could she just spill her secret
when she kept it for four years of being around him every day?
    The smirk disappeared. Michael tried to say something but couldn’t manage
to form any words.
    She placed her hand on his tense shoulder. “If I had roped you in then, I
wouldn't have let you go. I knew you pretty well for four years, and that’s
enough to know that this woman was a lunatic to walk away from you.”
    Caitlyn was considerably embarrassed by her confession, but at this
point, she might as well accept it.
    Michael remained silent.
    “Take a right at the mailbox.” She pointed as she slinked back to her
side of the car.
    Michael maneuvered the car down the long and steep driveway and pulled it
around the wide area at the bottom so that the passenger side faced the front
door. He got out of the car and jogged to other side. Caitlyn stepped out and
looked directly at Michael.
    “Thank you.”
    He leaned toward her, slid one hand around her waist, combed the fingers
of the other through her hair, and gently kissed her soft lips. She let it
linger for a moment, but then pulled back.
    “I should go.”
    Michael pulled her back to his lips, and hers parted under his pressure. His
tongue darted in her mouth, and she flicked it with hers. Her body pressed
against his tightly as she looped her hands around his neck.
    Caitlyn’s whole body radiated with heat, and she wished she wasn’t
wearing a jacket. She wanted to be closer to him and to have the night air cool
her down a bit.
    His mouth ran along her cheek, and his hot breath hit her ear. “Aren’t
you going to invite me in?”
    Caitlyn shook her head, “I shouldn’t.”
    Michael ran his hand along the side of her neck, sending shivers through
her burning body. He placed his mouth on hers with a quick, soft kiss. “Why
not?”
    “It’ll complicate things,” she said through three more soft caresses with
his