The Love We Shouldn't Have

Part 1 The Love He Always Wanted

Warning: I don't know the specifics of being a milkman. I'm sorry if it's wrong. For the sake of the story, Mr. Jeffreys owns a small milk delivery business so he delivers every weekday but Wednesdays, which he spends doing admin (coordinating shipments with farmers, payroll, route assignment, etc). I know this is wrong, but I'm not sure what's right, and that's not the focus of this story, anyways. 😂

David met Theodore Stevens in grade seven, when he moved into the small town David had lived in all his life. Ted, as he immediately corrected anyone who tried to call him "Theodore," was a bright if oblivious boy.

But he was nice enough and he liked football, too, which was enough to spark a friendship between the two boys. Soon, David discovered their shared interest in history – particularly wars – and they were nearly inseparable.

Every time that Jeffreys boy was spotted, riding his bike or sprinting down the street, heads turned to find the Stevens' son not too far behind.

When Mr. Jeffreys sat David down to offer him his first job – the first step in learning the family business – he sat Ted down right beside him for the same offer.

Both boys threw themselves into the opportunity. David loved taking the small route his father gave him, and the wagon hitched to his bike was easy to pull once he got used to the odd balance. Learning the office work every Wednesday wasn't nearly as much fun to him, but it was Ted's preferred job.

The years flew by quickly. Childhood crushes were left behind for first girlfriends. The work that had been fun, almost like a game, became more difficult as their routes expanded. School got harder. But they got through it together.

And then they graduated. Ted left, apologetic but hopeful, for his dream university and an internship at a large firm.

David took business classes at the nearest community college and learned even more from his father; after all, one day the business would be his.

He switched his route every few months, familiarizing himself with all the customers that relied on his father and trying to leave everyone with a good impression of the young Jeffreys. Monday, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays were spent delivering, but Wednesday afternoons he shadowed his dad as he did the rest of the not-so-fun tasks running a business required.

The years passed. The bachelor's degree meant he had a small debt to pay off but more time on his hands. Ted's visits had become less frequent, but he still looked forward to their phone calls every few weeks to catch up.

Things changed the summer after he finished his degree. It was supposed to be a day like any other. He was starting a new route and excitement and adrenaline made him tap his foot as he drove the float (he'd long since switched from bikes) down the lane.

It was an ordinary day until he knocked on the door of his eighth house, only to come face to face with most stunning girl he'd ever seen. Her golden curls were neatly arranged and she was clutching a thick textbook to her chest. Her brown eyes met his, soft and warm and the color of rich cocoa, with a quiet curiosity that made him falter for a moment.

There was something about her that knocked the air from his lungs and all coherent thought from his mind. He was scrambling, lost and falling into those eyes. His heart thundered so loudly in his ears that he couldn't quite make out her words, though his eyes caught two of them.

"...help you?"

He cleared his throat, holding up the milk a bit stupidly, and offered a smile. "Sorry. I stayed up too late last night trying to finish a book and it's put me off a bit today."