As a friend. He’s fun to hang out with and talk to, but it’s nothing like that. It’s just like it is with you.” I regret the words as soon as they come out.
“What’s that supposed to mean exactly?” Now there isn’t no mixture of tones. It’s straight up anger.
“Ahh… That came out wrong. What I meant was that I hang out with him just like I do you. Where nothing happens. I’m not saying that I feel the things for him that I do for you. I barely know the guy. But it shouldn’t matter, anyways. I’m not tied down to anyone and have no one to answer to. I don’t ask you who you hang out with when you’re ditching me.” Now, I’m the one getting angry.
He sighs and pushes himself into the booth as he stretches out. “You’re right. I have no right questioning you. I just got a bit jealous. Surely you can understand that.”
“I do, Gage. I just don’t need you getting mad over a friend. Or anyone, for that matter. We aren’t in the position to do that.”
He just nods, grabs the check off the table, and heads up to the register. I pull a few bucks out and toss them on the table before catching up with him.
He drives me back up to the store but parks on the backside where my truck is. He grabs my hand and leans his head back against the headrest. His hand is strong and calloused. I feel this town has done the same to him. It’s made him have to be stronger than he should and hardened certain parts of him over time. This town probably has the capabilities of doing that to anyone.
I lean up, but as I’m about to pull my hand from his, he pulls me towards him. With his other hand, he urges my face to turn towards his, and his lips instantly meet mine. I don’t mind the familiar territory of Gage’s lips, but I do mind the feelings. Yes, it’s nice, but something about it just doesn’t feel right, which causes me to quickly pull back. I get out and shut the door, and pace back and forth beside my truck. He gets out and does the same, but in front of his truck. He runs his hands through his hair a few times before apologizing.
“Danielle, look. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that, but I still love you. You know I do. I know you still have feelings for me, but I know it’s not what it used to be. If you give me a chance, I’ll work to make you love me again... to be in love with me. Just give me the chance.” His pouty, green eyes are pleading with mine. He walks up to me, and I step back a few steps.
“Gage, just because I’m back doesn’t mean we’re meant to be together. It’s not like that after ten years the stars have finally aligned just right for it to now work… for it to turn on these feelings you want me to have. Yes, I never stopped loving you, but I’ll never love you the way you deserve, Gage. If I did, I would have never took off. I would have stayed here with you instead, but no, I took off looking for a better life. Yes, I loved you, but it wasn’t enough.”
“Danielle, I’m not expecting you to fall back in love with me instantly. I’m just asking that you don’t cross that idea off your list without even testing it out. I see the way you look at me. I know you still feel something. If after ten years, you still have feelings… That’s big,” he says, reassuring me. I can see the hope in his eyes.
“Don’t you get it?” I’m trying to control my temper, but I want him to absolutely understand what I’m saying without having to hurt his feelings. My gut is telling me that I’m just going to have to lay it all out there, and hope he understands. “What I feel or felt will never be enough. It won’t be the kind of heart pounding, breathtaking love that can stand the test of time. It will be the ‘comfortable type’. The kind that you know all too well, where you’re familiar with every bump, curve, and dip it throws at you. Nothing exciting or surprising about it. I want the epic kind, Gage. I don’t want to just settle. And neither should
“What’s that supposed to mean exactly?” Now there isn’t no mixture of tones. It’s straight up anger.
“Ahh… That came out wrong. What I meant was that I hang out with him just like I do you. Where nothing happens. I’m not saying that I feel the things for him that I do for you. I barely know the guy. But it shouldn’t matter, anyways. I’m not tied down to anyone and have no one to answer to. I don’t ask you who you hang out with when you’re ditching me.” Now, I’m the one getting angry.
He sighs and pushes himself into the booth as he stretches out. “You’re right. I have no right questioning you. I just got a bit jealous. Surely you can understand that.”
“I do, Gage. I just don’t need you getting mad over a friend. Or anyone, for that matter. We aren’t in the position to do that.”
He just nods, grabs the check off the table, and heads up to the register. I pull a few bucks out and toss them on the table before catching up with him.
He drives me back up to the store but parks on the backside where my truck is. He grabs my hand and leans his head back against the headrest. His hand is strong and calloused. I feel this town has done the same to him. It’s made him have to be stronger than he should and hardened certain parts of him over time. This town probably has the capabilities of doing that to anyone.
I lean up, but as I’m about to pull my hand from his, he pulls me towards him. With his other hand, he urges my face to turn towards his, and his lips instantly meet mine. I don’t mind the familiar territory of Gage’s lips, but I do mind the feelings. Yes, it’s nice, but something about it just doesn’t feel right, which causes me to quickly pull back. I get out and shut the door, and pace back and forth beside my truck. He gets out and does the same, but in front of his truck. He runs his hands through his hair a few times before apologizing.
“Danielle, look. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that, but I still love you. You know I do. I know you still have feelings for me, but I know it’s not what it used to be. If you give me a chance, I’ll work to make you love me again... to be in love with me. Just give me the chance.” His pouty, green eyes are pleading with mine. He walks up to me, and I step back a few steps.
“Gage, just because I’m back doesn’t mean we’re meant to be together. It’s not like that after ten years the stars have finally aligned just right for it to now work… for it to turn on these feelings you want me to have. Yes, I never stopped loving you, but I’ll never love you the way you deserve, Gage. If I did, I would have never took off. I would have stayed here with you instead, but no, I took off looking for a better life. Yes, I loved you, but it wasn’t enough.”
“Danielle, I’m not expecting you to fall back in love with me instantly. I’m just asking that you don’t cross that idea off your list without even testing it out. I see the way you look at me. I know you still feel something. If after ten years, you still have feelings… That’s big,” he says, reassuring me. I can see the hope in his eyes.
“Don’t you get it?” I’m trying to control my temper, but I want him to absolutely understand what I’m saying without having to hurt his feelings. My gut is telling me that I’m just going to have to lay it all out there, and hope he understands. “What I feel or felt will never be enough. It won’t be the kind of heart pounding, breathtaking love that can stand the test of time. It will be the ‘comfortable type’. The kind that you know all too well, where you’re familiar with every bump, curve, and dip it throws at you. Nothing exciting or surprising about it. I want the epic kind, Gage. I don’t want to just settle. And neither should
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