8 Weeks

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter 36 - Shelly

I didn't catch on at first ... Not when Sasha came by early Saturday morning to take me shopping at Kohl's. Not when she offered to buy me a Keurig, so I'd always have the perfect cup of coffee seconds away. Not when she went through my closet to help me pick out the perfect outfit for my final date with Cal. And not when she hugged me tightly, with tears in her eyes, and told me to keep an open mind, and do what came naturally.

No ... I just thought she was as emotional as I was, knowing that this was my final date with Cal.

I caught on when TJ showed up at my door instead of Cal, looking handsome as sin, with a smile just as devilish.

"What are you doing here?" I asked when I opened the door.

"Cal's been injured at the gym playing basketball and he's been calling for you. We have to hurry." He said the words in an over-exaggerated tone of worry, unlike the night of my proposal, when I'd believed him whole-heartedly and had gone racing past him toward the gym.

I stood there and looked at him, my heart both conflicted and buoyant at the same time.

"Really?" I asked, silently asking him to confirm what I thought he was saying.

"Really," TJ said with a small smile, offering his arm to me.

I looked from his face to his arm, then back again.

Cal was going to propose.

Just like he had the night of our high school graduation.

Should I go ...and possibly break his heart?

Or should I leave him there, embarrassed in front of our friends, and save myself the emotional turmoil that would come from going?

I took TJ's arm and let him lead me to his car.

We drove to the high school in silence, the events of my last proposal replaying in my head. It had been so romantic, and so unexpected.Everyone had said that our love would never last, that we were too young, but Cal and I hadn't cared. We'd believed, one hundred percent, that our love was true, and that it would last forever.

When we arrived at the school, TJ walked me up the stairs and to the roof of the gymnasium, then stepped to the side as I opened the door.

I was taken back to that night ... It looked exactly the same. Lights strung up and twinkling, flowers spread around the roof, filling the night with their beautiful fragrance, and candles flickering in the wind.In the center of it all stood Cal, handsome and proud in his suit,his hair blowing in the breeze, a giant smile on his face. This time, his smile was tinged with worry, but he looked even more handsome than he had that night, six years ago.

I walked slowly toward him, my maxi skirt swaying a bit with every movement, and I stopped a few feet in front of him.

He stepped forward and took my hands in his, squeezing them gently before he began to speak. "Shelly, I know that what I did was unforgiveable,and I won't blame you if you can't see past it and continue on in this marriage with me. I don't know if I'd be able to stand the thought of you being with another man. Honestly ... it would kill me,so I get it. I'm betting on the fact that you're a better person than me. You just are ... I'm also betting on our love. Shelly, we have both known since the moment we met that what we have is special, and most people are never lucky enough to find a love like ours. I have never wanted another woman the way that I want you,and when I woke up and realized what I'd done, I wanted to die. I knew that it would rip us a part, but I couldn't keep it from you,Shelly. I couldn't lie to you, not about something as important as that, even though I knew you would hate me for it. And you did ... I saw it on your face, and felt it in your rejection ... You hated me for it."