Finding Mr. Right

Chapter 9

When I got home from work I took a shower and headed straight for bed without eating. I wasn't really hungry anyway. Instead I just laid in bed staring up at the ceiling wondering what had just happened today. I hadn't really processed the events until right now. I guess he didn't see me as anything more than a co-worker. I could be civil to him. I mean he was a great mechanic after all. But it still didn't stop my heart from hurting. I knew I shouldn't have put myself out there like that. Why was it so hard to find a nice guy who would just love plain old me for a change? Anyone but Ethan that is. Was that too much to ask for?

I eventually drifted off to sleep and dreamed about some really crazy things. Aliens were attacking earth and bears were helping them take over the planet. I needed to stop watching weird movies at night I guess. I got up, put my hair in a pony tail and then I headed straight for the kitchen. I poured myself a bowl of cereal and milk and sat at the kitchen table staring into space. That's until dad came in and asked me if I was ok.

"I'm fine dad. Why do you think something is wrong with me?"

"You've been really quiet every since yesterday morning." He patted me on the shoulder.

"I'm just excited to see Elizabeth today." I tried to play it off with the old my sisters coming home bit, instead of my heart's broken.

"Well usually when your excited you are a little more talkative. You must really miss your sister." He said with a sad smile.

"Yes, I miss her a lot. It's just been so quiet without her here." I mustered up a fake smile.

I needed to call Rachel and tell her everything. She was the only one I could really confide in at a time like this. I went back to my bedroom and gave her call. She answered half asleep and I said. "Did I wake you up? I'm sorry if I did."

She said, " No I'm up I was just laying here trying to will my legs to take me to the bathroom but it isn't working. What's up? Is everything ok?"

"No not really. Everything is all messed up and I am sad about it." I tried to speak without crying.

"Do you need me to come over?"

"Yes I really need to talk to you."

She said, "I'm getting dressed and will be there in a few minutes."

I hung up the phone and put on an old pair of sweats and sneakers. I then waited for her on the front porch. I was going to see if she wanted to go to the park so dad wouldn't hear my conversation. That was the last thing I needed for him to worry about. He would surely fire Caleb if he knew how upset I was and we really couldn't afford to lose him right now.

Rachel pulled up and I got in her car and asked if we could go to the park to talk. She knew then that it was something serious. She nodded her head and we left for the park. The whole ride there I tried to keep it together. When we arrived at the park we both got out of the car and headed for one of the empty benches that lined the sidewalk. There where only a handful of people walking around at this time of the morning.

When we sat down tears started to well in my eyes and I blurted our everything that happened at the shop. Rachel didn't say anything she just rubbed my arm and listened. But when I was done I could tell that she was like a wild animal trying to protect its young because she went off.

"What a freaking loser. Who would even ask someone a question like that? He's lucky that I wasn't there because I would have throat punched him." With that she made a jabbing motion.

I looked up at her and started laughing. As mad as she was she couldn't help but start to laugh also.

"I don't know how I am suppose to look at him everyday." I rolled my eyes.

"You'll do it with your head held high and being unapologetic for anything that you said to him. He shouldn't have assumed anything about you without getting to know you first." She gave me a big hug.

She was right I didn't do anything wrong and if he didn't like what I had to say then that was on him, not me. We decided to take a stroll since it was such a pretty morning. We talked about how work was going and about the things we wanted to do at the festival tonight. I was ready to just have some fun and forget about everything that happened yesterday. I needed a weekend spent away from Caleb. He was the last person I wanted to see this weekend.