“Josh!” I screamed as I jumped into his arms, my legs wrapping around his waist. “What are you doing here? Wait. Where is here?” For the first time I really started looking around to see where I was.
Caroline came up beside me and patted me on the back while I was climbing down from Josh.
“You always said you wanted to skydive, so today we are going to work on that life list of yours. But, just so you know, we are marking through a few on your list today.” Josh smirked at me as I found myself still in his arms.
I couldn’t help but admire how attractive he is. Just over 6-feet tall with beautiful brown eyes, jet black hair and enough of a beard to make him have that edgy bad boy vibe. His tanned skin covered in black designs of swirls and geometric patterns that I have traced with my fingers too many times to count.
Josh and I had dated the summer after I graduated high school. It was our first semester at the University of Georgia. Since we were second year students, Caroline and I had a co-ed dorm. Josh was on the same floor as us and we meet during a social mixer the first weekend. We were inseparable until my insecurities got in the way. I broke things off with him but we remained best friends. Strange, I know, to be friends with a guy you had sex with, but I was never in love with Josh. I had very strong feelings for him, and the sex was amazing, but the love never developed. I never allowed myself to open that part of my heart to him. We have hooked up a few times through the years but I decided recently we were better off as friends and, so far, we’ve been able to stick to that agreement.
I even set him up on a blind date a few months after we broke up. Again, strange, but I couldn’t not have him in my life and I wanted him to be happy… just not with me.
I backed away and put some space between us. I can feel the blush overtake my face and I try to look down to hide my embarrassment.
Josh lifted my head with his finger looking me straight in the eyes. “Today is all about you and making your dreams come true. You do so much for everyone else, you put so much work into your degree and volunteer work, and you barely allow yourself any time to relax. Please, Honey, let us do this for you. Let us show you a good time today and let’s celebrate your birthday in style.”
I loved when he called me Honey. It was his pet name for me and it was our inside joke as to how he came up with that name. Let’s just say I will never look at a jar of honey the same way.
As I peered into his eyes, I saw all the love he has for me. Only he had never uttered a word about it. I’ve known Josh has been in love with me since we dated, but I kept him firmly planted in the friend zone, occasionally with benefits.
Harsh, I know, but necessary. I didn’t want to hurt him any more than I felt like I had already had.
I’ve never allowed myself to be open with a man and I don’t think I ever will. After all the crap I saw my mother go though, having a man say they love you, get you pregnant and then leave you would destroy me. So, I keep them at arm’s length where I am safe. Sex is fine, just not love.
“Let’s do this” I screamed as I flung my arms in the air. “Let’scarpethe hell out of thisdiem” I laugh as they started dancing and jumping around with me.
Holy crap, I’m about to jump out of a plane. What the hell am I thinking?!
As I parked the car in the lot around the corner from the coffee shop, I paused to look at Maddie’s picture again. She is so beautiful and from what I have found out about her and the life she has had, she’s a good person as well.
She volunteers at an area nursing home a few days a month spending time with the residents and she’s been involved in literacy programs with area libraries since she was fifteen. Impressive for a teenager.
This woman has accomplished her goals without the assistance of her father or his money. She was an orphan who climbed her way out of the situation she found herself in and I couldn’t be prouder of her or her accomplishments.
I exited the car and began the walk toward a meeting that has been too many years in the making. I just hoped I could keep Jason from going off the deep end and trying to find her today. She deserves to find out the truth about her past, but I don’t want it to ruin her birthday. Hopefully, Jason would give it some time before he beats down her door to see her.
I walked into the coffee shop, grateful for the air conditioning. That’s the one thing I haven’t become accustomed to living in Georgia for the last 12 years, the ridiculous humidity. Today was going to be a hot day in the city and it was only April. I’ll take the cool breeze from the ocean any day.
I looked around and spotted Jason sitting in the back of the coffee shop, starring at his hands. His body full of tension.
He looked up and motioned for me to sit down.
“I grabbed you a coffee, black, one sugar. I hope that’s okay.”
I’ve never seen Jason like this. Nervous and anxious. He’s always been in control of the room and the people in it. His ability to read people led him to becoming a pioneer in media and communications but the man in front of me appeared broken.Lost.
I knew that meeting his daughter and setting the past right has weighed on him for the last twenty-one years and I hope the news I’m going to give him will help settle his restless soul.
I’ve known Jason since I was a little kid. My dad and Jason were best friends before I lost him suddenly to a car accident when I was fifteen.
My mom tried everything she could to keep me from getting in trouble, but I was angry at everyone and everything for losing my dad. I started skipping school and experimenting with drinking and marijuana.
At the end of her rope, mom contacted dad’s friend Jason and he agreed to let me move in with him. I needed male guidance and structure that my mom couldn’t give me, while taking care of my younger brother and sister. So, I moved from California to Atlanta and my life completely changed.
Jason took me under his wing and helped me to achieve success that I would have otherwise not had access to. He guided me through my anger, taught me constructive ways to channel the frustration, and eventually, I was back on track for a successful future.
I wanted to make my parents proud and I wanted to show Jason that all his hard work and guidance had been put to good use.
He helped me earn my degree, showed me the ins and outs of his business, and put me to work right out of college.
