The Thirty Fifth Guy

Epilogue

Epilogue

One Year Later

"Are you sure, you know honey, it's not too late to change your mind," my mother's voice tried persuading me for the fifth time that hour.

"I'm sure, mom." I told her, again.

"Okay, well, you know we love you very much and if you ever need anything to just call, right?"

I nodded as I put the last things into my Jeep, "love you too."

She smiled wearily, fresh teardrops staining her blush covered cheeks, "I'm just going to miss you so much." Her voice cracked at the end, going up in a higher pitch.

"I'll miss you too."

"All my baby's are leaving me!" she cried out suddenly, startling the birds resting in the trees, making them fly away quickly.

"Daisy said she'd visit this summer! And so did Zach," I reminded her.

"I know."

I wanted to get out of here so I could make it down to Gram's at two, but with my mother's babbling I probably wouldn't make it until next week.

"I have to go, if I want to get there soon," I exclaimed, hugging her goodbye.

She kissed my cheek, and I kissed hers back before climbing into my Jeep and pulling out of our driveway, waving goodbye.

Hours Later

When I pulled up to the familiar white house, I was hit with remorseful memories.

I felt the clamor of butterflies inside my stomach as I approached the stairs, knocking ever-so-lightly on the door.

"Chris!" I heard my grandmother's chirpy voice before I saw her. When she swung the door open, she looked exactly like I remembered her, but with a little more white hairs.

Her hair was pulled back into a bun, and she had on a checkered dress reaching her knees, with cute little Toms.

"Still having your bingo nights?" I asked her with a smile.

She grinned cheekily, her white teeth shining through, "every week! They're wonderful! I even met someone."

I raised an eyebrow, "oh? What's he like?"

She shrugged mysteriously, "you can meet him tomorrow, his name is Bart, he's a sweetie."

"Looking forward to it," I told her as I made my way inside, planting my bags at the bottom of the stairs to bring up later.

"I can't believe you're going to college! All grown up!" She gushed, "I'm going to go make some cookies dear, be back in a while. Go meet some friends!"

Pushing me back out into the scorching sun, my feet seemed to wander towards the direction of the boardwalk, and I easily complied.

I walked down to the beach, my red flip flops sinking into the sand, and I looked down past my red crop top and jeans overalls at my feet.

I stood at the edge of the ocean, breathing in the scent, before deciding that it was time for me to visit the people I really wanted to see.

I hadn't spoken to them in eight months.

The first couple months were fine, we'd talk, video chat, but then it started becoming less and less frequent until eventually, it stopped altogether.

Ian and I never put a label on our relationship, and we grew apart. I saw other people, and I'm assuming he did too, but nothing was ever the same. My heart still belonged to him.