Playtime Rules

Rule #29 Let Go of the Past

Yancy realized some things about herself she was in denial about.

She missed her parents. She lost them way too young and she envied everyone who still had their parents. If they were still here they would help guide her.

All the guys and the mindless sex with them had been a way to cope with that loss. Not just her ex, Alistar cheating on her. That was just an excuse for her to not get her feelings involved while dating various guys.

And three, money meant nothing without love.

That was something JeVonte was teaching her without even knowing it. No, she was not going to give all her money away or take a pay cut and not work as hard, but she was not going to let it rule her life.

"So, what do you have to do? Pack all of your things up and just be gone like that?"

They were at the Anderson's place doing laundry and cleaning the house before the professional cleaners came to thoroughly get the place together. JeVonte was getting his clothing and personal items together to pack. It felt kind of weird to her that this was not his personal home and that he would be moving on.

They were in his room after washing everything and now making the bed.

"I don't have that much stuff here." Jevonte tucked the corners of the fitted sheets under the bed then smoothed it out with his hand. "I'm only here four months out of the year, and I don't bring many things outside of my clothes and grooming stuff."

"You don't come back and housesit any other time?" With her side of the bed all done, she helped him with the flat sheet.

"No, not really. Whenever they do vacation in winter, they may ask me to stop by for little things but not live here. And then I am here a lot when I am training them or preparing meals."

"Will you miss being here?"

"No," he simply stated, as they continued to make the bed, adding the comforter on top. "It's not my house to miss."

That was where were they different. It was not her house but she would miss it. Maybe because she connected with the house, as something she could obtain one day, but he saw it as simply what it was. Someone else's house that he could never own.

"I really shouldn't make you clean with me," he stated as they grabbed the pillows to put on the bed. "I have to do all the other rooms, and vacuum and the bathrooms-"

"Why? I made a mess with you here, so I should help."

"I know, but you're my girlfriend, and I should be taking you out doing something fun instead of cleaning."

"But I like cleaning."

"But it's my responsibility. Just sit back and relax until I finish."

"Are we going to argue about this or just get it done?"

Now finished with the bed, he walked over to her side and leaned over to kiss her. "We are not arguing, baby. Just a little squabble. And after we're done with this, let me take you out."

"Or," she said as she wrapped her arms around his waist and held him close to her. "You can cook for me, I love your cooking."

"Let me take you out. We always stay in." He planted several kisses on her lips, and even though she yearned to mess up the bed they just made, she pulled herself away from his kisses.

"Okay, okay! You've convinced me."

It was true that they always stayed in, but in her mind, it was that way because he never had money to take her any place. She would not say anything or bring up money. If JeVonte wanted to take her out she would let him.

Once they finished, they showered changed, and got ready for their date. He dressed in some sexy, short gym shorts and a tank top. It was an outfit like that she first saw him in and had her in lust at first sight. His muscled, tatted arms, perfect body, and that smile.

She followed his lead and dressed in shorts, a t-shirt, and Nikes, then pulled her hair back into a ponytail.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Surprise," he said with a smile.      

They took his car, and she said no words about the lack of AC or the cranking noise it made. As long as they got to where they were going. He drove for a bit but did not cross the bridge to go to St. Louis County, they stayed on the St. Charles side. He pulled into Climb So Ill Steel Shop in St. Charles. It was a wall-climbing place. This made her laugh out loud when she saw the place.

"Of course, it's something fitness-related." She slapped her forehead and groaned. This was so JeVonte's thing, fitness everything. She was not mad at it, she was in the best shape of her life thanks to him.

"Well, I'm always down for burning some calories...and not just in the bed."

He took her hand as they walked into the place. She had never been there, nor had any desire to ever go, but with JeVonte, she was excited about the adventure. Because it was with JeVonte, a guy she loved and trusted.

Why couldn't she tell him how she felt and let the chips fall where they may?

"I have a friend who works here and he is hooking us up with one-on-one lessons."

"You mean...you've never done this?"

"Not at all."

Climb So Ill had several places across the St. Louis and St. Charles area. They offered more than just wall climbing, they also held yoga classes, cardio or weight lifting classes, and many things for kids to do. The place was huge.

"Hey JeVonte," a guy walked over to them as they stepped to the front desk. "I got you and your lady friend all ready to go with some gear and things. Let's head back and get started."

"Gary, this is my girlfriend, Yancy. Be gentle on my baby man, she is new to this." JeVonte wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.

She could just melt right there.

Gary took them through an orientation about wall climbing, which was supposed to imitate rock climbing, but easier. Climb a wall with handles, sounded easy to her.

Turns out it was a lot of hard work. Used a lot of arm and upper body strength she did not realize she had. Thanks to all the weight training gym sessions with her man, it was a lot easier. Still tough to coordinate her whole body to cling straight up a wall. Thanks to the attached harness she felt a bit safer.

"Babe, you're doing good." JeVonte was under her, making sure she was good in case she fell. Well, that's what she told herself he was there for. "You got this! I got you."

There was no fear in her because she knew JeVonte had her. Once she made it to the top she felt a sense of relief. Not only had she conquered the wall, she conquered her fear of letting go. Let go of the hurt and the pain of her past and let someone else in. Trust again. Love again.

"Baby, you were awesome for a first-timer." JeVonte grabbed her in a hug once he made it to the top with her.

"Thanks to you."

She felt like crying, but she held it in.

Something so simple took a big weight off her shoulders. To just let go. It was time to live for the now, not build her life off the past.

A/N: Growth! We love to see it. Yancy has come a long way.

I wanted to use her growth in mental and physical thanks to JeVonte so that's what the wall-climbing date was trying to capture. She needed to let go and just trust someone.