Growing Pains

Chapter Forty-Three

Bridgette

We were going out of our minds with boredom as the minutes ticked by. Only fifteen minutes had passed—they felt like an eternity—before Geoff asked if I wanted to take a walk around the lake with him. Eager to be anywhere but the anxiety ridden dinning room, I said hell yes.

There was an easy silence spread between us. I smiled softly as I turned my gaze towards the lake, which was lit with the gold of the early morning sun. It was so pretty I wanted to take a picture.

"Mornings like these remind me of Malibu," Geoff said, breaking our peaceful quiet. I smiled dimly, recalling the sandy shores of another life. "Do you miss it there?" He asked. His voice was quiet and soft, as gentle as the sweet chirping of a nearby bird.

I shrugged, not sure how to answer the question. I did, but I didn't. I didn't have a lot of solid friends out there—Brody kind of stole the show there—so whenever we went back, I only had the beach for company.

"I miss the ocean. I miss the warm summers with cool breezes. I miss California in passing waves, but..." I looked back at the cabin, thinking of my wonderful family that sat underneath it's roof.

"I feel the same," he whispered after a moment. I looked over at him to find him already watching my face.

The air shifted. It felt warm, so strangely warm in the cold winter morning. I felt my cheeks heat and my head feel lighter than air.

I wondered if he was going to kiss me and if I'd let him if he tried. But then I remembered, happiness. I chose happiness last night.

He spoke before anything could happen, "two nights ago, I made a deal with Duncan." I frowned, confused as to where this was leading, but didn't speak, letting him continue. "We promised each other that we would share something or if we were too cowardly, we would let it go."

I felt my heart race. He was so serious. His blue eyes bright with his words. I didn't know whether to love it or run away out of my own selfish fears.

"And I'm not a coward," he stared with a bit of a smile. "So, here it goes." He took a deep breath before looking at me and saying, "I'm falling for you, Bridgette." I blinked not sure I heard it right. He kept going, "I'm not sure how long I have been. Maybe since that first day of sixth grade when I saw you with that bright blue dolphin backpack and pigtail braids. Maybe since I saw you over summer. I'm not sure, and I'm no good with words, but I had to tell you. I'm falling for you and I don't want to stop."

I felt as if I had been broken and made and shattered again. I wasn't sure I was even breathing. His words were so raw, so intense, and so pure. I felt the utter truth they held and it nearly knocked me off my feet.

"You're falling for me?" I asked a bit dumbly. But he didn't mock me as he nodded his head yes.

"I understand if you don't feel the same, but I had to tell you," he said, strong and sure.

I needed to catch my breath. My body felt numb and my hands felt like weights at my sides.

I wasn't sure what to do. I knew I had budding feelings for him, but I wasn't sure if they were strong enough. I wasn't sure of anything. I wasn't sure if I wanted to tie myself to another person. So many had disappointed me lately that it was easier to never get attached.

But what he was offering... it was so blindingly bright I wondered how I didn't see it all this time.

I remembered it then, my wish. The picture of us on New Year's Eve at this very cabin last year. I wanted what Trent and Gwen had so desperately. I craved that source of love and comfort.

And here it was, offered to me without hesitation. And I was afraid. I was terrified of taking that leap. I was the coward. It was shocking.

"Can we still be friends?" He asked softly. I looked up at him, realizing now that I had been lost in the deep well of my thoughts for over a minute. He must think that I'm not interested. Was I interested?

It was in his beautiful blue eyes that I found my answer. "No." His face shattered. "I cannot be your friend, Geoff. Honestly, I don't know how I ever was." He flinched, but I took a step forward anyways.

"Because Geoff?" I said leaning so close to him that his cherry and sunscreen scent kissed my face with his warmth. "I want so much more."

And I pulled him down with a tug of his shirt, and I kissed him.

Happiness. I had found it.