The restaurant was dimly lit and quite crowded. Luckily though we didn't have to wait long for a table. The waiter ushered us towards the far right corner in the back to a set of booths.
"Drinks? Or do you need a few moments?" he asked.
"A strawberry margarita for me please." I responded politely. With everything that has happened alcohol is exactly what I needed.
"Miller light for me." Chase responded, picking up his menu.
With that the waiter walked off as we probed the menu for something good to eat.
"Have you ever been here before?" I asked, trying to break the silence that was seemingly uncomfortable.
"A few times. The shrimp fettucini is good. So is the chicken parmesan. Really anything here is good." he shrugged.
Then he put down the menu and looked at me intensely with his electrifying blue eyes. For a moment I was stuck in his trance then I shook my head away and focused intently on the menu while slowing my rapid heart.
"Your strawberry margarita and your miller light." the waiter said placing down our drinks, "are you ready to order?"
I chose the first thing that I seen on the menu, "shrimp caprese' " I said meekly.
"I'll have the same." Chase said, handing the waiter our menus.
The guy walked off towards the computer to key in our order and Chase turned his attention back to me.
"Erin, you really have some explaining to do." he said with a frown.
Alright, I'll give him that. I left seven years ago without a goodbye, without hearing him out and that was just completely shady on my part.
"Well, first off I'm sorry for running away seven years ago. I'm also sorry I kept Riley from you without you knowing. I figured it was easier that way. You could go back to Sherri and I wouldn't be there to ruin your life or your job."
He started to say something but I cut him off. If he wanted to know everything I'm going to tell him everything.
"Once Riley was born we noticed she was much smaller than normal. My doctor assured me she was just petite and would catch up. By age 4 she had this lump appear on her head as if she had bumped into something and had a goose egg. After a week of the swelling not going down I took her to a neurologist, he ran a scan and noticed it was a tumor. It was just my luck that the tumor wasn't benign and he made a call to an amazing oncologist. A year of chemo and Riley was in remission however, that was short lived because they found more cancer cells that were hidden so they wanted to try a new drug on her. I, of course completely complied to everything and after three short months on it the doctor decided to go back to the chemo since it wasn't as harsh on her body. She spent her sixth birthday and christmas in the children's hospital and nothing was working. It was as if the chemo was feeding the cells instead of killing them off. Three surgeries later it was still spreading rapidly. Two more experimental drugs later they are telling me there's nothing further they can do. That she's got six months to live and I need to make the most of it." I heaved a sigh and blew my nose into my napkin.
I probably had mascara running down my face. Chase then proceeded to get up from his chair, where was he going? Was he running away? Are you kidding me right now? But instead he sat in my booth with me, tears coming out of both my eyes and he held me close. Now, I was crying for a few more reasons. Guilt, shame, heartache. This was just to much for me.
"It was her last wish to see you and get to know you." I said after the tears stopped free falling.
"Then I have a short amount of time to make up for seven years of being absent don't I?" he replied while wiping away his own tears.
"Just answer me this," I began as we walked back towards his truck from the restaurant, "the night I told you I was going to keep the baby why did you get up and leave? I mean I wasn't trying to trap you or anything. I knew you were married and that you and Sherri were trying to work it out and all." I began to babble so I bit my lip to shut up. He let out a small chuckle and then decided to speak up.
"I guess it's my turn to explain. Do you have a little more time?" he gestured for me to sit in front of the place on a bench and I complied.
He sat across from me, our knees touching together, why oh why can't I get over this guy?! I locked gazes with him for a second; Was that love in his eyes? No, it can't be, hes married.
"I guess I'll start from the night you told me. I admit I was scared. Sherri and I had just gotten married a year before and that was the very thing that caused our separation. Of course you knew that. The thing is, the very reason that caused Sherri and I to split was the very same reason I wanted to be with you. It wasn't the baby that I didn't want to have with her, it was her I didn't want to have. So I went home to tell her that. She flipped out. She threw my phone against the wall and it shattered. By the time the cops finally showed up I pressed charges of assault, they hauled her off and I was finally headed back to tell you. When I made it to your house Danny said you were headed to the airport. I raced back to my truck and sped all the way there. I made it in time to see you board your plane. I was calling after you until your dad socked me right in the jaw. Then your mom said to leave you alone and give you time to think. I obliged but if I knew it was going to take seven years!! I would have fought a little harder!!"
"So, you, um, you loved me?" I whispered, not really trusting my voice to speak.
"Loved you? Hell Erin, I still love you!" and with that he grabbed my face and kissed me.
The kiss was urgent and passionate. The way his lips felt on mine was like pure cashmere, so soft and silky. He nibbled at my bottom lip and I parted them slightly, allowing access for him to deepen the kiss. When his tongue entered my mouth it brought on a whole new wave of emotions. I kissed him back with just as much passion as he had but it was abruptly ended by my phone ringing.
I noticed the name and dipped my eyebrows in confusion. Danny never calls me. "Hello?" I asked, slightly confused.
"Erin, oh thank God! You need to get to the hospital quickly. Riley fell and hit her head in the tub, hard. She's still unconscious." he screamed back into the phone. I dropped my phone and sat there frozen.
"Erin, what's going on? Is everything ok?" Chase called after me.
