Loving Mr. Collins

Chapter 10

Eight years later, I'm a 26 year old college graduate with a master's degree in business. I plan to eventually use it to create my own business. In the meantime, I'm still working and living in my own apartment. It isn't too far from my friends' places so we visit each other all the time.
We have lunch together at a seafood restaurant. We're just having a normal conversation about Christina's new boyfriend when I see him. Violet sees him too.
"Uh oh," she says quietly.
"What?" Christina asks and looks in the same direction.
"Oh," she adds.
"Do you want to get out of here?" Violet asks.
"No. I'd rather just face it head on."
"Okay. We'll be right here if you need us."
"Thanks."
I take a deep breath and approach Chris at his table. He looks the same except he has facial hair and obviously looks older. He's 34 now.
"Hi," I say.
He looks at me.
"Abigail?"
Ouch. I guess he doesn't think of me as Abby anymore. To be fair, I did stop talking to him but it still stings.
"Yeah. Hey."
"I'm surprised you're talking to me. You seemed to lose interest during the past eight years."
"I didn't. I just wanted both of us to figure out what we wanted."
"I only wanted you. I served my time so I could find my way back to you."
I start to tear up.
"Did you stop wanting me?" He asks.
"No. I've had a few relationships in that time but they were nothing major. I always wanted you."
He reaches for my hand and holds it.
"Can we pick up where we left off?" He asks hopefully.
"Come by my apartment later so we can talk about it. I have to get back to my table."
"Of course. Just give me the address."
I write it down quickly on a napkin and hand it to him.
"You can come over at six if that works," I say.
"Sure."
I nod and sit with my friends.
"What did he say?" Christina asks.
"He wants to pick up where we left off. He still wants me."
"Do you still want him?" Violet asks.
"I can't," I say in a shaky voice.
"Abby, you're not a teenager anymore. It's okay if you do," Christina reminds me.
"I know."
"Then what's the matter?"
"I'm scared. What if it's nothing like it was when I was younger? What if we waited around for no reason?"
"I love you but stop with the what ifs. You never spoke about your other exes like you spoke about him. I think it'll work out."
"You're right. He's coming over later so we can talk about what's going on with us."
"Okay. Talk to him and let us know how it goes."
"I will."
Later that evening, I have spaghetti for dinner along with a Caesar salad on the side. He arrives a little after six. I open the door for him. We greet each other and I let him into the apartment.
"It's funny seeing you in your own place. I still remember bringing you to my old place," he says.
Wow. I guess we're jumping right into it.
"So do I."
There's a brief pause.
"Did you eat?" I ask.
"Yeah. I had something before I came. Thank you though."
"No problem."
"Can we talk about this?" He asks softly.
"Sure."
We sit down on my couch.
"Do you have an answer to my earlier question?"
"No."
"Oh. It sounded like you still wanted to be with me which is why I asked."
"A part of me still does."
"What about the other part?"
"That part is worried about doing this for real. I never told you this but I loved you. I'm worried that we might've just waited for this day for no reason. Like it won't work out or something."
"Abby," he says for the first time in eight years.
My heart rate picks up.
"Yes?"
"I loved you too. I never stopped. I'm willing to do this for real and put everything else in the past."
"Okay."
"What?"
"Yes, we can pick up where we left off," I clarify.
He smiles.
"But..." I add.
"Yes?"
"I want to treat it like an actual relationship. We've always talked about wanting to go out on dates."
"Of course. I've been waiting forever to do that with you."
"Okay. That's all."
He leans in and kisses me. It takes me back to all the times when we would sneak around. The fact that we don't have to do that anymore makes me kiss him back passionately. I'd probably do it anyway but it feels different somehow. We move to the bedroom and make love for the first time. Afterwards, we cuddle in my bed.
"I said this earlier, but I want to say it officially," he says.
I turn to face him.
"Yes?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"And if this works out, I want to do everything with you that I always thought we would."
"I'm okay with that."
He smile and gives me a quick kiss.
"Get some sleep, my love."
"Only if you'll be here when I wake up."
He chuckles.
"You're not going to let me forget that, will you?"
"Of course not."
"I'll still be here."
"Okay then."
I shift until I get comfortable and go to sleep.