I Love You No Matter What

Chapter 8: Miracle

I wait with anticipation by my phone. Brandon said he was going to text me when he got off of work. I didn't pay attention to where he works. I never asked. We have gotten so close over the past weeks. We would always meet up at the park. I've become quite close with him. I'm not sure whether we're dating or not. He had jokingly said we are, but we haven't discussed it.

My phone vibrates. I move quickly in the bed to grab it. I sigh sadly when I see that it's only Hope. She says she is on her way home. I throw my phone back down. I groan and lie back in the bed. Why hasn't he texted me yet? My phone vibrates again. I slowly pick it up. This time it is Brandon. It reads:

Done with work. Want to hang out?

I smile as I write back:

Where?

He doesn't respond until two minutes later.

I'll pick you up. Tell me where you are.

I still haven't told him who I am. What if he doesn't want to be involved with someone like me. Brandon told me is from a poor background. His mother barely kept him and his brother fed. Brandon will think I'm a spoiled brat. I wait to respond to him. I don't know what to say.

You there?

My fingers linger over my phone.

Yeah. You could just meet me in our spot.

I can't let him know yet. Maybe when we get serious.

Ok. See you there.

I grab a bag and walk out of my room passing Charles' room. He's on the phone. It's probably Faith. I knew calling her would cheer him up. I want to be someone my siblings go to for help since I'm the only one who doesn't have a biological sibling.

"Where are you going?" Mom asks once I'm at the door.

"Out," I state.

"When will you be back?"

"Probably tomorrow morning," I say jokingly. She needs to chill. A man walks up next to her. He has blonde hair and pale blue eyes. James looks friendly to me. I don't know why Faith and Charles never want to see him. I would do anything to see my father again.

"Tomorrow morning? Where are you going to sleep?" Mom asks.

"Relax. I'm joking. I'll be back by six," I promise.

"Okay. Don't stay out long," Mom says.

I walk out the door and go to the garage. I really love driving, just not in Downtown Jacksonville. People just don't know how to drive in this city. Then, there are the pedestrians. They just walk out into the road whenever they feel like it. It is really annoying. But the driving itself helps me relax. The only thing I have to rely on is my sight instead of my hearing.

Stopping at the park, I can already see Brandon's car in the parking lot. Brandon steps out of his car to greet me. We exchange a hug.

"How was work?" I ask as we walk into the park.

"Good," he says absentmindedly.

"You sure? You sound like it was bad," I say.

"It was fine," Brandon snaps. I step back. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't take my anger out on you."

"It's okay. You don't have to talk to me about it if you don't want to."

Sighing he says," I got fired today."

A family of four passes by us. The children are smiling and jumping around as their parents laugh at them. They politely wave at us. Brandon seems distracted by the family. He keeps his eyes on them as they move on the path. "Let's go sit down," I suggest.

We go to a bench under a tree. "There is no way I can be that," Brandon blurts out, pointing in the direction the family went.

"Why do you think that?"

"Because I haven't kept a job longer than a few months. The only reason I have a home is thanks to my brother. My relationships don't end well once the girl finds out that I couldn't support a family." Brandon doesn't look me in the eye as he rambles on. "In fact, I don't even have a car. I only asked to pick you up to be a gentleman. I have to walk everywhere."

I take his hands in mine. "Hey, everything it's going to be--"

"Alright?" he scoffs. "My life hasn't been alright for years."

"And I'm okay with that," I say truthfully.

He keeps eye contact with me for what seems like a long time. I begin to feel uncomfortable and look away. The park is mostly empty. We have complete privacy. "I'm so glad that you said that," Brandon says.

He lifts my head to meet his clear, blue eyes. Brandon leans in until our lips touch. "So what does this mean for us?" I ask him once we pull away.

"Whatever you want us to be," he answers.

"Then I guess we can say we're dating."

"Then we are."

Brandon pulls me into a hug. I can hear his heartbeat as my ear is pressed to his chest. It's at a very steady pace. I want something steady for once. There is something I have to tell you," I say.

"Go ahead."

"It would be better to do it somewhere else." Even with a confused face, he allows me to take his hand and lead him to my car. "Trust me?" I ask as we get in the car.

"Depends on where we're going," Brando says with a playful smirk.

"No more secrets between us. You talked about your life, so I'll show you mine."