A Bond Never Broken

Chapter 5

"So what is it that you have to tell me?" Brooke asked.

I looked at the wooden structure and sighed. it's going to be like teaching kindergarteners pre-calculus and telling your father you were at a friend's house after you come home at three in the morning. Brooke wasn't going to understand or believe a single word I was about to tell her.

I stood up and wiped the sand off of my shorts. "Come with me." I bluntly said as I made my way over to the wooden structure.

I didn't turn to see if Brooke had even followed. I just kept walking. For a moment, I stopped at the spot where Luke had stood while filming the Roller Coaster video. I have no idea why. It just felt like something I needed to do.

As I reached the structure, I looked for our names carved into the wood. It was where we had left it 21 years ago. Luke and I had carved it two years before we went our separate ways. I cringed at the thought of 'separate ways'. Why the hell was I cringing? I didn't have feelings for Luke. Not that I had much of any feelings for Chris either, but I definitely had none for Luke. how could I? It's been nineteen flippin' years.

I trailed my fingers over our names that were carved into the structure. It was a memory stuck in the wood. I sighed as I realized Brooke had made her way over to me.

"I want you to take a good look at this before I say anything more." I moved over so she could see it.

Brooke glanced at it and then back at me. Her facial expression was a mixture of "I don't even want to know.", "Oh, tell me more!", "You're crazy,", and "No freaking way Caroline. This must be a joke."

"Caroline-"

I cut her off. "You're not going to believe anything I say, but just know that it's the truth."

She nodded her head.

"Luke or Luke Bryan, and I were in a very serious relationship in college. Serious as in 'in love'."

Brooke's eyes bulged as I told her this. I took her hand in mine. "I'm not messing with you in any way possible, Brooke," I said with a solemn face.

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Why would you think I didn't believe you? I have nothing to hold against you. And I certainly don't think you're crazy. Only crazy people and crazy fans would insist that they were in love with Luke Bryan and he was in love with them."

"Thank you," I whispered. "As I was saying," I cleared my throat. "Luke and I were in love about nineteen years ago. We met at Dingus Magee's, a local college bar that was just down the street from my dorm. I was a freshman and he was a senior. I noticed him checking me out, but it wasn't in a lustful way. Once he made his way over to me, I was surprised to find out he of all people, being the hunk of our school, would take interest in me, especially being a senior." I stopped talking for a moment and remembered the sparkle he had in his eye when he would talk to me.

I smiled for a moment, but it quickly formed into a straight line. I had no feelings for him so there was no point in smiling. Brooke didn't need to get any ideas either. Knowing her, all the way back to the resort she would pester me and chant "Caroline is still in love with Luke!" in a schoolgirl's voice. Then most likely Chris would hear. He wouldn't take much note of it until later tonight when we were alone. I shuttered and started breathing heavy as I remembered what Chris has done in the past when he thought another man was between us.

(THIS IS GOING TO HAVE SOME VIOLENCE IN IT. PLEASE SKIP IF YOU FIND THIS HARD TO READ, OFFENSIVE, OR DON'T LIKE VIOLENCE.)

I fumbled for my keys in my purse. I was pretty happy today. I had delivered six children today; all happy and healthy. As I inserted the key into the keyhole, I heard a loud crashing noise. It sounded like glass. I froze, immediately beginning to shake and fear the worst. Dear Lord, please don't have let him come home drunk again, I silently prayed. I turned the doorknob and stepped inside. I looked around the corner and no one was there. The lights were all off and I heard nothing but the sound of the grandfather clock. Suddenly, I was jerked by my shirt collar and thrown against the wall. The door slammed shut and before me stood Chris.