to force myself into, but if I’m going to get my friend back, my life back, I have to. I don’t have a choice anymore. It’s quite literally do or die at this point.
So, tonight. Tonight, I’m going to talk to Drew. I’m going to tell him everything. I’m going to open up about Shane. I’m going to tell Drew that I’ll move with him, but only after I finish my teaching contract at the end of the school year in May. Maybe that will be enough for Callie and my parents to think that I’m a human again. Maybe that will be enough for Drew.
Well, maybe tomorrow. Yes, definitely tomorrow, once I get some sleep and don’t look like a zombie. Then, Drew and I will have a long talk, and he’ll finally know everything.
“Hey, babe,” he steps out the front door with another cup of coffee. “I have to run. My parents are going to be arriving at my house in a couple of hours. Are you going to be okay?”
I nod, a little curious about why his parents are in town. “Yeah. I think I’m just going to shower and maybe go shopping for a bit to get out of the house.”
“Good. You really should. Do you think you’ll be up for dinner with my parents tomorrow night after school? I would really like for you to meet them.” He rocks back and forth on his heels, waiting for my answer.
Meet his parents tomorrow? Well, if his parents are there, I guess I won’t be telling him about Shane, so I’ll happily push that back another day. “Wow, okay. Sure.”
“ Are you sure?” Those dark chocolate eyes sense the tiniest hint of apprehension on my face. “I know it’s kind of a big deal, but they already know all about you, and they’ve been begging me to meet you.”
If I’m going to be forcing myself into the next step with him, this is going to have to happen eventually anyway. “I’m absolutely positive. I can’t wait to meet them.” Not exactly true, but I don’t regret the white lie at all when his face lights up.
He leans in to kiss my cheek, his lips a soft whisper of warmth on my chilled skin. “If you need me, call me. I can be here in five minutes.”
“I will,” I call out as he steps off the porch. “And Drew?”
He pauses mid-stride and cranes his head around to look at me. “Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
He grins wide, showing his perfectly straight teeth. “You don’t have to thank me for taking care you. You’re my girl, and that’s my job.” He turns back to take the last remaining steps to his truck, jumping inside the cab in one swift motion.
Once he’s gone, I smile. He really is a sweetheart, and if I’m going to force myself into anything, I’m glad it’s with him. I’m hoping that his lovable, easygoing nature makes it easier for me to bear. Although, just the thought makes me feel a little queasy.
After my shower, I have an urge to get out of the house, but I don’t feel like shopping at all. I could go for a walk, but exercise is not in any way appealing today. I want to do something that will help my mood, make me feel better about myself. Maybe I can do something nice for someone. Bringing a little cheer to someone else’s day always gives me a little purpose.
My mind immediately goes to Sawyer. I wish I could do something for him, but I wouldn’t know where to begin. He’s so far away, and it’s the middle of the day, so I can’t talk to him. But now that I think about it, there is someone else that I can help, which will, in turn, give Sawyer some peace of mind. His surrogate grandfather.
We talked about him a little just last week. I remember that his first name is William, and I already know what nursing home he’s in. Sawyer told me that he has a weakness for boxed chocolates, and he loves Tolstoy, so I think I know how I can make his day. That is, if he’ll even allow me near him, but I have to at least try.
I peruse my bookshelves for the only Tolstoy novel I own—Anna Karenina, and I squeeze it carefully in my already stuffed purse after I dig for my
So, tonight. Tonight, I’m going to talk to Drew. I’m going to tell him everything. I’m going to open up about Shane. I’m going to tell Drew that I’ll move with him, but only after I finish my teaching contract at the end of the school year in May. Maybe that will be enough for Callie and my parents to think that I’m a human again. Maybe that will be enough for Drew.
Well, maybe tomorrow. Yes, definitely tomorrow, once I get some sleep and don’t look like a zombie. Then, Drew and I will have a long talk, and he’ll finally know everything.
“Hey, babe,” he steps out the front door with another cup of coffee. “I have to run. My parents are going to be arriving at my house in a couple of hours. Are you going to be okay?”
I nod, a little curious about why his parents are in town. “Yeah. I think I’m just going to shower and maybe go shopping for a bit to get out of the house.”
“Good. You really should. Do you think you’ll be up for dinner with my parents tomorrow night after school? I would really like for you to meet them.” He rocks back and forth on his heels, waiting for my answer.
Meet his parents tomorrow? Well, if his parents are there, I guess I won’t be telling him about Shane, so I’ll happily push that back another day. “Wow, okay. Sure.”
“ Are you sure?” Those dark chocolate eyes sense the tiniest hint of apprehension on my face. “I know it’s kind of a big deal, but they already know all about you, and they’ve been begging me to meet you.”
If I’m going to be forcing myself into the next step with him, this is going to have to happen eventually anyway. “I’m absolutely positive. I can’t wait to meet them.” Not exactly true, but I don’t regret the white lie at all when his face lights up.
He leans in to kiss my cheek, his lips a soft whisper of warmth on my chilled skin. “If you need me, call me. I can be here in five minutes.”
“I will,” I call out as he steps off the porch. “And Drew?”
He pauses mid-stride and cranes his head around to look at me. “Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
He grins wide, showing his perfectly straight teeth. “You don’t have to thank me for taking care you. You’re my girl, and that’s my job.” He turns back to take the last remaining steps to his truck, jumping inside the cab in one swift motion.
Once he’s gone, I smile. He really is a sweetheart, and if I’m going to force myself into anything, I’m glad it’s with him. I’m hoping that his lovable, easygoing nature makes it easier for me to bear. Although, just the thought makes me feel a little queasy.
After my shower, I have an urge to get out of the house, but I don’t feel like shopping at all. I could go for a walk, but exercise is not in any way appealing today. I want to do something that will help my mood, make me feel better about myself. Maybe I can do something nice for someone. Bringing a little cheer to someone else’s day always gives me a little purpose.
My mind immediately goes to Sawyer. I wish I could do something for him, but I wouldn’t know where to begin. He’s so far away, and it’s the middle of the day, so I can’t talk to him. But now that I think about it, there is someone else that I can help, which will, in turn, give Sawyer some peace of mind. His surrogate grandfather.
We talked about him a little just last week. I remember that his first name is William, and I already know what nursing home he’s in. Sawyer told me that he has a weakness for boxed chocolates, and he loves Tolstoy, so I think I know how I can make his day. That is, if he’ll even allow me near him, but I have to at least try.
I peruse my bookshelves for the only Tolstoy novel I own—Anna Karenina, and I squeeze it carefully in my already stuffed purse after I dig for my
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