One Chance

Chapter 24

I wait till the car is no longer in my sight to go back inside. I just said goodbye to Toby and now he's gone. I mean sure he's only like 8 hours away from my town and we are still together, but I don't know I miss him already. I walk in with my head down and bump into someone. 

"Ouch" Amanda shrieks. "I know you are sad he's gone but try not to hurt yourself or others in the process. I need you here in the land of the living." I give her a nod that doesn’t really help because next thing I know she's dragging me out of the house. 

"Nooo..." I pout like a little child. " All I want to do is make myself some hot chocolate and cover myself in a blanket and watch some rom coms. " I say trying to wiggle my hand away from her grip. 

" I really hate to act like the only adult here, but you have work to get to and so do I. Now if you go to work without any more fuss, I'll get you your favourite ice cream when I come back from work!" Amanda says while she lets me go. 

My eyes immediately light up. " Okay! " I agree almost instantly. 

Amanda laughs at that and says," it's so easy for me to convince you. Don't ever change Lucy, I don't think I'll ever find anyone like you." 

I give her a big hug and say," don't plan on it. You don't have to find anyone else; you have me always and forever." 

" Stop being dramatic and making me all emotional now. Just get to work on time" she says before walking away and handing me my purse. I take it from her and walk to my office feeling a little better. 

I reach office on time, all thanks to Amanda and get to work. By lunch time, I am so engrossed in work that I almost didn't think of Toby, at least not as much as I thought I would. We exchanged a few texts once in a while but since he's driving, we keep it to a minimum of him updating his location and stuff. I am dreading having lunch alone. I usually have lunch with Toby or with my colleagues but today I really did not want to have to listen to them ask me about Toby, all of them kept giving me reassuring looks but I guess I just want Toby to be here and not miles away. 

But as luck would have it, I get a call from my mom asking me to join her for lunch. We head to the restaurant nearby. We sit in silence for a while until my mom speaks." I really thought you'd be more of a mess than this" my mom says half-jokingly. 

" Well, I live to surprise people. " I say forcing a laugh. 

" You can be sad. Would I want you to be sad, that’s a definite no, but you can talk to me. I am here for you. " Mom says in the sweetest tone she uses when she knows I need some extra love. 

" I am okay for the most part. It's just I think I got so used to having him around all the time that knowing he won't be here anymore just makes me miss him that much more." I say looking at her but not letting any tears out. 

" Do you regret not moving in with him?" She asks with caution. 

"No, I mean do I think about it, maybe... But I don't regret not moving in with him. I guess I'm so caught up in the fact that I won't be able to see him every day that I'm making myself sad. I should be happy we are still together, and he loves me and I love him". 

By the time I finish talking my mom holds me close and says," I know Lucy, sometimes life doesn't always go the way you want it to. It throws you a curve ball once in a while. Who knows maybe this might strengthen your relationship. " 

" I guess, you are right. Thanks mom. You always know what to say. I love you " I say and hug her. 

She walks me back to the office once we are done with lunch and says," if you need some company just come home sweetheart."