Choices (Book Four)

Chapter 14

Shawn

It's been two weeks since New Years and two weeks since I've spoken to Lyla. I had been pretty tipsy at the party when I got the balls to call her. Being surrounded by all the happy couples during the countdown sent me wandering off upstairs. I past a few interested girls along the way who tried to pull me in as their midnight kiss but I politely brushed them off and kept moving. I had found an empty bedroom upstairs and dialled her number before I lost my nerve. I waited on bated breath as the phone rang and rang, accepting the fact I would be getting her voicemail when I heard her voice come over the line. I almost didn't believe it, she had picked up, that was all the affirmation I needed to get everything off my chest.

Well not everything, but the important stuff. I told her I missed her. I told her loved her still. She knows where I stand now. She may not have said it back, but she didn't deny it either. That gives me hope that she still has the same feelings for me. Our conversation was cut short when she hung up on me but I was still ecstatic afterwards. Hearing her voice was enough to knock me to me knees.

Now here I am, on the bus again driving to Oakridge this time, four hours into the five hour drive. Somehow my team schedule worked out that I had a morning practice today and don't need to be back for a practice until Sunday night. When it dawned on me I could road trip to go visit Bailey I called her right away and let her know. She had screamed into the phone so loud I think I was temporarily deaf for an hour. One of my teammates and his girlfriend volunteered to watch Rupert for the couple days I'd be gone. I spoke with Bailey again this morning before I left to catch the bus and she told me that she would pick me up at the station and that we needed to go out tonight. I didn't object one bit. If we stayed in at her apartment the slim chance I might run into Lyla this weekend would be abolished.

I wasn't looking to go out of my way to sought out Lyla, at least that wasn't my plan right now. But if luck would have it and I stumbled into her while in town then I wouldn't fight fate. Bailey had told me the plan for tonight was to go out to a bar in town and she was bringing along Milo and some of her other friends. It's almost five now so I'll be getting to the bus station around six. Bailey is going to take me to my hotel first so I can check in then back to her apartment to get a pre-drink in before the bar. I slouch down in my seat to try and get a bit more comfortable as I close my eyes and nap the last leg of the ride.

"Wait, wait, wait, back up! You called her?!?!" Bailey shouts at me as we sit at a table in the bar.

I hadn't yet told her about my New Year's call with Lyla, wanting to bask in it privately before I shared the news with anyone and allowed them to pick it apart and ruin it for me. Although now Bailey is looking across the table at me like she might murder me for not telling her sooner.

"Yes I called her," I confirm.

Bailey gasps again and Milo chuckles as he watches her in amusement. It's just the three of us at the table, a few of her other friends tagged along but they're scattered throughout the bar now.

"What did you say?!?" Bailey demands.

"I told her that I missed her and I still love her," I say casually as I reach for my beer and take a sip.

"WHAT?!?!? Oh my God! Oh My God! I need details!" She screeches out.

"That is pretty much the conversation, she didn't say much back but she didn't deny me when I asked if she felt the same," I admit a bit cockily with a small smirk.

Bailey squeals out in delight and claps her hands together excitedly. I just laugh and shake my head at her. It's just passed eleven and the bar has filled up quite quickly in the last half hour with college students looking to drown away their sorrows from the week.