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Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Interview and Connor

"Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today." -Thomas Jefferson

The following morning, when my alarm woke me up at 8:00, I crawled out of bed and stretched. I was surprised to realize that I didn't have a nightmare last night.

I grabbed a ruffled pearl white skirt and a blue blouse before I ran off to the bathroom.

I stripped out of my pajamas and turned on the shower. I jumped into the water when it was warm enough and started to bathe myself really good. I practically scrubbed myself raw.

When I finally shut off the showerhead, I reached for my towel and then climbed out of the shower to dry off and get dressed.

I went back to my bedroom and slipped a pair of sandals onto my feet. I grabbed my phone from the charger and then I opened Tucker's cage to let him out. He followed me to the front door and I opened the door to let him out.

I checked the time again and it was only 8:35. I decided to sit in the kitchen with a bowl of Frosted Flakes and munched away.

I heard Tucker's muffled barks and I figured he had found a squirrel or something.

I finished my cereal, and I got up from the table to rinse my bowl in the sink. I washed my hands and started to go to the bathroom to brush my teeth when there was a knock at the front door.

I made my way to the door and unlocked the knob and deadbolt. I pulled open the door and Tucker shot past me, his tail waging excitedly.

There stood Connor at my front door.

"Good morning, Leilani," he said with a smile.

"Good morning, Connor. What brings you here?" I asked, letting him inside.

"I woke up early this morning and when I saw your truck still here, I figured I'd take you to Starbucks for your interview, since I'm going to take you out tonight," he said with a cheeky smile as Tucker started sniffing him and waging his tail.

As I responded, Connor knelt down to pet Tucker. He laughed when Tucker licked his face and jumped all over him, and that made me crack a smile. "I don't want to be a bother, Connor," I said.

He looked up at me with those captivating bright blue eyes while he continued to stroke my dog's head. "Nonsense. I offered. I want to take you to the interview. I'm going to Starbucks anyway. I have to go on a coffee run for me and my brothers," he said.

"But still..." I said, trailing off. I looked at my feet and scuffed my sandal on the carpet.

"You're doing it again," he whispered sadly.

"What?" I asked quietly.

I could hear him shift and he stood on his feet. He placed his cool fingers under my chin and lifted my head so that our similar blue eyes danced in each others presence. "You're pushing me away again. I can feel it," he whispered sadly.

"I-I'm sorry. I'm trying, but it's difficult," I whispered back. I tried to think about what Toby told me last night. I tried to think that Connor is better than Joshua, in so many ways. He really is, and he deserves a better life than what I can give him.

"I want to help you, Leilani," he mumbled, stepping a little closer to me. He took it easy, somehow knowing that I might back away from him.

"I know... I'm sorry, but I just... I'm sorry," I said, unable to think of anything else to say.

"Stop apologizing. You haven't done anything wrong. Let me help you. But I need to know why your pushing me away," he said.

"I-I can't. Not yet.." I said, wrapping my arms arond myself as I looked away from his captivating eyes.