“The night before you came, I was so excited. I couldn’t wait to see you and tell you how much I wanted this. Wanted us,” he started, his voice cracking ever-so-slightly, catching me off-guard. I’d never seen Chris so emotional.
“Lloyd got me to go to that stupid party and I got shitfaced. Honestly, I don’t even remember most of the night,” he said, unable to hold my gaze. “One second this girl starts talking to me and then she’s attacking me. I pushed her away but she kept coming at me, I’ll admit I kissed her back but then I stopped. I knew it was wrong and she wasn’t you.” It was hard for me to listen to but I needed to hear it. “I love you. Please just give me another chance.” he begged. I looked at him, straight into those blue eyes that I used to think were the most beautiful eyes I’d ever seen. I thought about everything he was saying and realized how similar what I’d done was to him, actually it was worse. I couldn’t help but forgive him, we’d both messed up.
“Okay Chris,” I said flatly. His eyes grew in anticipation. “I forgive you,” I told him honestly, “We were on a break but I don’t ever want to talk about it again,” I said, not only for his sake but for mine.
“So, you won’t leave me, baby,” he said, grinning now.
“No, Chris. I forgive you but I’m not ready to be in a relationship right now. What happened, well it changed me,” I told him honestly. He grabbed my arm.
“Leah, please don’t do this to me. I love you, baby,” he pled, moving his face closer to mine, so that our lips were nearly touching.
“I’m not ready, Chris,” I repeated, tilting my head away to avoid his lips.
“I’ll wait for you until you are, baby. I’m not giving up on this.” He vowed and kissed my cheek. Chris left shortly after that, leaving me alone to think about it all. He texted me goodnight before I went to bed, making me wonder just how persistent he’d be.
3 months later…
CLASSES WERE IN FULL SWING, exams were starting, along with assignments, clinical, and the air conditioner could be turned off. So much had happened in those past three months, I couldn’t believe it at all still. Chris came up to me, grabbing me in a kiss and I kissed him back as he took my hand walking me to class. After more than a month of begging, I’d agreed to continue dating Chris. So, we’d been back together for more than a month now and were falling back into a routine. Chris walked me to my first and last class every day and then on Wednesday nights we’d go on a date and on Saturday nights he’d sleepover. Chelsea still didn’t approve of him after everything that happened over the summer but she also didn’t know what I’d done in Germany. No one did but me, and that sexy mystery man but I didn’t have to worry about him, I’d never be seeing him again.
“Love you,” he said, kissing me softly, as he dropped me off at my last class of the day. Neuroanatomy, a second year class. I loved my program and the four-week summer clinical I had done after Germany only affirmed that this was what I wanted to do. I couldn’t wait to graduate as a certified physical therapist. It had been my dream ever since I was a little girl and my daddy brought me to a football game where one of the players got injured. I’d asked my daddy about the people rushing out onto the field and he had explained that they were special doctors who helped fix the players back up when they got injured. From that moment on, I knew that was what I wanted to do, help fix the people I’d idolized growing up. I only had one year after this until I’d have accomplished my goal and I’d finally graduate and reach my dreams of being a licensed physical therapist. Everything was finally going right, now I just prayed it would stay that way.
“Hey Hon!” Chelsea said, waiting for me outside of my class, surprising me. I’d just finished up all of my classes for the day but I knew that on Friday she finished an hour before me.
“Hey,” I said, smiling at her as she hugged me. “What are you doing here? You finished class an hour ago,” I asked, confused but happy to see her. It had been a while since I’d seen her, what with balancing class, clinical work, and seeing Chris. It didn’t leave me much free time. I felt bad; I hadn’t really been able to balance her into my hectic schedule lately.
“Yeah, I was waiting for you.” She smiled brightly. “I haven’t seen you much lately and I missed you, so I came to kidnap you.” She giggled mischievously and I couldn’t help but laugh with her too.
“Kidnap me, huh?” I asked, amused by this.
“Yeah, you’ve been so busy with school and clinical. We could both use a fun night out,” she said and I could see the calculated twinkle in her eye. Of course, she wanted to go out. This was Chelsea after all, she always wanted to go and have fun.
“Chelsea, I have clinical tomorrow at eleven a.m.,” I told her.
“I know Lee but please!” She pled her eyes all big and wide. “For me! Come out and have fun with me,” she urged, batting her eyelashes at me, most guys couldn’t resist her when she did this. I could but I was going to choose
