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Chapter Nineteen
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I Choose You Chapter Twenty
The next morning, I sat at a table in the corner of the coffee shop while I waited for Caroline. Since I was on the opposite side of town, I’d called her only a few moments after getting home from Jacob’s apartment demanding we meet up soon. And she’d agreed without any hesitation.Besides, I knew she liked coffee shops and I knew she liked double shot espressos with caramel and almond milk. I’d already ordered her one and a vanilla mocha for myself. Her drink sat across the table and right in front of her chair in what I hoped would be an enticing sight, something like using a bone to call a dog. If nothing else I wanted to bring her mood to a level near mine, and for Caroline, coffee was always the answer.The coffee shop was bustling at nine-thirty in the morning and I appreciated being able to sit and wait contentedly. It was the beginning of a warm day without any fog that sometimes accompanied California mornings.Even the sun is in a good mood, I thought.Caroline wore a tight
I Choose You Chapter Twenty-One
The house was silent when I arrived home. Dad was at work, and Mom had left a note that she and Tommy were getting shoes for school. I had the house to myself.Well, almost to myself. Athena was still there. I heard her nails hit the floor as she jumped off the couch and ran to greet me. She danced around my ankles with the kind of smile that only a welcoming dog can achieve.“Were you on the couch?” I asked, lecturing her in tender baby-talk. “Were you sneaking in a little nap up there?”She pushed between my legs and circled back around without ever losing contact, her tail whipping from side to side.“You think you’re sneaky, but I bet if I go over there your beautiful gold fur will be all over it, huh?” I pet her head and loved on her for a moment. “You just leave too much evidence.”She followed me up the stairs and into my room.“Wanna come up?” I said, patting my bed. “Come on, come up.”Athena jumped onto my bed and circled once before plopping down onto one my pillows. I had
I Choose You Chapter Twenty-Two
For the next four hours I watched episodes of House Hunters in the living room. I wanted something to take my mind off of things. Something that would keep me from obsessing over my job and what that meant about my future with Jacob.It was seven-thirty by the time my father, mother and Tommy all got home from dinner. I'd seen more houses on TV than I'd ever even been inside in real life.“Hey, Sweets,” my mom said, kissing the top of my head as she came in.“Hey, Mom,” I replied.“You thinking of buying a house in Boca Raton?” she said, stopping behind me and noting the setting of the episode I was watching.I faked a laugh, but otherwise ignored her comment. “Did you guys see a movie today?” I asked.“Yeah, your brother and I saw that new sci-fi one,” she said, her attention more on the show than answering the question. “The one with the robots.”“How was it?” I asked, not really caring what the answer was but making conversation anyway.“It was a little much for my taste, but ask y
I Choose You Chapter Twenty-Three
My head was turned over my shoulder as I edged the corners of my car into the spot behind a truck and in front of a bulky Jeep Rubicon. It was tight, but going to school in Los Angeles had allotted me near professional parallel parking skills.I’d driven myself on my own suggestion. It didn’t feel right asking Jacob to pick me up for a lunch where I’d then profess that I was moving away to take a job that would have me not only in another city, but working crazy hours.Driving myself eliminated the car ride back, which I figured was destined to be some level of awkward. I really had no idea how the news would go over, whether it would be significant like Caroline had alluded to, or if he’d simply say, “okay, nice knowing you,” before politely shaking my hand goodbye. This way, I eliminated any awkward drives home.It was noon-thirty and the morning warmth was beginning to transition into the heat of the day. I could feel it immediately after stepping out from my Focus and onto the dry
I Choose You Chapter Twenty-Four
Six weeks later…The sun had set a long time ago when I finally parked my car in front of my apartment. Wearily, I stepped out of the driver’s side door and made my way up the concrete steps that led to the building. My eyes were half closed, as if my body was already anticipating the sleep that it so badly needed.As soon as I unlocked the door to my place, I noticed that the TV was on in the corner. It was the only light in the room, and it coated the walls with a flickering blue glow. On the couch nearby, was Lauren, my only roommate. She appeared to be sound asleep, with her hands folded underneath her head, using them as a pillow.Quietly, I closed the front door and locked it before tiptoeing to my bedroom. My bed was tucked in the corner, beckoning me toward it and I didn’t hesitate to oblige. I slipped off my skirt suit and changed into some sweat pants and a loose-fitting t-shirt. Then I crawled under my covers, wrapping myself in a cocoon made out of my blankets.I’ve been c
I Choose You Chapter Twenty-Five
I woke up in a panic and ran to my bathroom, flipping up the lid of the toilet quickly as I dropped to my knees in front of it. Then I threw up, not once but three times, one right after the other. My stomach clenched until it was all over. Once the storm had passed, I laid down on the bathroom floor for a minute. I drew in a long breath and tried to relax. The nausea was gone, but my stomach still felt tight from the throwing up.Sunlight flickered on the bathroom floor and I shut my eyes against it. All I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and die. There was nothing I hated more than throwing up. It was terrible. The nausea, the retching, the smell. I wanted so badly to avoid it. I thought that maybe a sip of water could make the feeling go away, so I took a drink from the glass next to my sink. It only made it worse, though and my stomach turned again. That water was coming back up, whether I liked it or not.Dammit, I thought. I closed my eyes and willed the water to stay down. It
I Choose You Chapter Twenty-Six
Just five minutes after I stepped out of the shower, someone knocked on the apartment door. My hair was still wet and I was wearing only a towel. I hadn’t even had a chance to think about what clothes I wanted to wear for when Jacob got in town later that afternoon.“Lauren, can you get that?” I called out.There was no reply, so I walked over to my door and poked my head out into the living room.“Lauren?”The apartment was silent and Lauren’s bedroom door was open. She was nowhere to be found. I glanced at the clock. It was two in the afternoon and I assumed that she must have gone to the gym or for a run in the park.There was another knock on the door, this time a little louder and faster than before.“Hold on. I’m coming!” I said.Crap, who’s here right now? I hope it’s not some salesman or something. I’m going to be so pissed if I rushed for that, I thought.I ran back into my room and dropped my towel, before stepping into some jeans and a t-shirt. My wet hair fell around my fa
I Choose You Chapter Twenty-Seven
We went straight back to my place after lunch. The entire drive over, it was all I could do to keep my hands off of him. I wanted to touch every inch of him and make sure he was still real. That this whole day wasn't just a wonderful dream where I got everything that I wanted.As soon as he parked the car, I grabbed his hand and led him up the stairs to the front door of my apartment building. For the past six weeks, we'd only been able to talk on the phone. We'd done our share of dirty talk and sexy emails, but it was never as good as the real thing. I wanted to touch him, to taste him- which was just something I couldn't do over the phone or in an email.As we walked down the hallway toward my apartment, our hands were all over each other. He walked close behind me, burying his face into my neck and grabbing my butt. I’d reach back and playfully touch the front of his slacks, where his bulge had already formed. His every touch sent my senses into overdrive.I poked my head into my a
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