An Unexpected Love Story

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

My legs gave out and I leaned against the railing I had been standing near. My mind tried to process what he just said to me. I tried to push past the lump in my throat so that I could bring oxygen into my lungs. I didn't know what to say. We weren't a couple. He hadn't really asked me to be his girlfriend. I had another boyfriend. I considered the whole situation and all of my options. I thought an eternity had passed since those words had reached my ears, but really it had only been seconds. Drew was still standing in front of me with an expression of pain. He obviously was conflicted and I wasn't helping things by falling apart. I shook my head to clear my mind of disturbing images and cleared my throat. Drew glanced back at me and tried to smile, "I'm really... completely... just, unendingly sorry."

I tried to smile back, but I didn't want to see it in a mirror. I was sure that it was not very convincing and probably pain filled. "I can tell. You really don't owe me anything."

"But, Grace," he said, inching closer to me, "I want to owe you everything."

I blinked at the moisture that had sprung to my eyes. I didn't know what to say to that. I was giving him an out. There was a persistent though in the back of my mind, 'He's giving you an out too. You should take it.' But I shook myself out of that frame of mind. I didn't want an out. I wanted this complicated incredible man. I smiled through the veil of hair that had fallen into my eyes. Drew's hand came up reflexively to put the strand behind my ear. I touched his hand and leaned closer to him. Drew took that as the invitation that I was trying to convey without words. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he pressed his lips to mine. I opened my mouth slightly. As we kissed, it felt like coming home. I felt as though I had been living in a foster life for all my 16-and-a-half years. Kissing Drew was like being reunited with my real life. Boundaries in my mind that I hadn't known existed crumbled and I felt free. As all things do, the kiss ended and I blinked up into his eyes. There was an intensity there that hadn't existed before. We both knew that there was another level to this and we wanted to explore it. I knew that this was the wrong place and time, so I cleared my throat and smiled at him. "I should maybe go back inside... I want to spend more time with you. I need to spend more time with you," I said, looking down.

Drew lightly lifted my chin so that he could look in my eyes, "I need that too, Gracie."

I smiled softly and turned to go back inside. He lightly touched my arm and said, "Do you forgive me?"

"Before you even asked me to," I replied without turning around. He let me walk back into the building without stopping me again. I didn't know when we would talk or when we would be spending more time together, but I knew I needed my job. I figured the 15 minutes I had already been outside would be forgiven. Marcus had known all along what happened and kept it from me. If necessary I could use that to my advantage and play the guilt card.

"You don't have to stay until close, you know?"a small voice said from beside me.

I glanced over to find the owner of the voice. I smiled when I noticed Marcus, sitting on one of the many couches throughout the lobby. He had a book in one hand, a phone in the other, and a strange expression on his face. I shook my head, "I didn't know that."

"Gracie, I put you on the least needed spot tonight. So unnecessary that you barely had anything to do."

I chuckled, "Yes, you did."

"I knew that something like this would happen eventually this evening. I understand that you need to sort things out with Drew. Feel free to take the rest of the night off."

I smiled gratefully and moved to clock out. "I really appreciate your understanding, Marcus."

"Any time, Grace."