“Luce, I’m sorry.” He takes my coffee cup from me, and I open my eyes. He wipes a tear from my cheek. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
I shake my head. “We lost all that time together. You should have been with me at college.”
He pulls me into his arms, and I let him. We hold each other tight for a few minutes; the whole time, I feel his heart beating fast.
“I’m sorry I hid in my room last night,” he says. “I needed space to process everything.”
I nod into his chest. “I’m so sorry about my father.”
He pulls back. “No. Don’t apologize for that man. You didn’t have anything to do with his actions.”
I let out a sigh. “You know, I shouldn’t be surprised that you ended up in the military and are now working security. You always were a protector. I always felt safe with you.”
It’s true. From the moment we became a couple, I knew he always had my back. That was why it hurt so much when he left with no explanation.
He moves a few stray strands of hair from my face. I revel in his touch. “Can I take you out to dinner tonight?” he asks.
“Dinner? You mean like a date?”
He nods.
I grin. “Yes, I’d like that.”
He smiles and his hazel eyes light up. “Good.” He then releases me and pulls out two pans, a carton of eggs, and a jug of milk.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m making breakfast.”
“Why?”
He chuckles. “Still not a morning person?”
I yawn. “Remember that time you insisted I meet you to watch the sunrise?”
“I do. You were such a grump, I thought you were mad at me.”
“I was. I wanted to sleep in.”
He laughs and cracks eggs into one pan. “But you met me anyway.”
“I did.”
I grab another mug from the cupboard and pour him some coffee. Once he finishes cooking, he plates the food, then we sit at the table and begin to eat in silence. But I have to get something off my chest. I’ve been turning it over and over in my mind.
“Cody, I’m still mad. I think what you did was wrong. But I think I understand a little bit now.”
He nods. “Okay.”
We continue to eat in silence, which is actually nice. After I put my fork down, he leans back and looks at me like he’s trying to figure me out.
“You planned on becoming a doctor. When did that change?”
I shift in my chair. “I never wanted to be a doctor. My father wanted me to be.”
“Huh. I just assumed, since you often talked about your goal and how Havenwood University had one of the best pre-med programs.”
I nod and consider my answer. My parents fed me that dream daily, to the point I almost started to believe it. Thank god I found my passion before it was too late.
