Illicit Affairs

Give Me Time

Lara Jean was back in a familiar setting. After a day of driving around aimlessly for hours to avoid being found, she sat in the treatment room with her dad by her side. Since the surgery, he just had a one more treatment to make sure the new non-cancer cells were growing.

She stared down at her phone, thinking something would change if she looked at it long enough. She had blocked Peter's number yesterday afternoon when he texted her for the 50th time. It didn't matter to her if there was a story. LJ couldn't bear to hear that his perfect fiancé was back and he was getting back with her. She couldn't take losing him like that.

"Are you okay, sweetie? You look like a Tim Burton character this morning. No judgement." Dr. Covey asked as he adjusted the seat of his chair.

"Boy problems." She rolled her eyes knowing her Dad knew about Peter from her conversation with Trina.

"What did Peter do?" he asked calmly. "Last time I saw you two, your eyes were sparkling at each other. You both seemed happy."

"That seems like forever ago." She said playing with her hands in her lap.

"It was two weeks ago." He sighed. "But we've certainly had a lifetime of stress in the meantime, heh."

"His fiancé is back. Well former fiancé... I think."

"I asked Trevor and he said they had broken up a while ago."

"You talked to Trevor about it?" she questioned and he nodded. "That's what Peter told me too." He shrugged looking at his daughter. "I talk to people too." He tried to make her smile.

"But she's back and she's wearing the ring still. I went over to his apartment this morning to make up. We had a fight the night of your surgery. We were both stressed and said dumb stuff that I don't think we meant. I was ready to grovel for the mean things I said about him & his dad."

"He left his mom when you guys were in middle school?" Dr. Covey wanted to get the facts straight.

"Young high school, but still." She shook her head. "I brought some of those snicker doodles I baked two nights for Margo's flight home and she, Daisy is her name, answered the door. I have never felt more awkward in my entire life, and you know how awkward I am on a normal level. I didn't know what to say. She thought I was a cookie delivery person Dad." She cringed and let out a small laugh.

"Well what did he have to say about it?" her dad pondered.

"I don't know. Honestly. I left in a hurry. My head was all over the place. He wasn't even there. He ran up to my car in the parking lot. He was trying to talk to me but I kept my window up. It's all a blur. I think he said she showed up randomly & nothing happened. But then she was still wearing her engagement ring." She paused for a moment. "I'm just so confused. I feel like I should have it more together by now. I'm sorry Dad."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Her dad tried to move his arm not remembering it was hooked up to an IV. "You have zero to apologize for to me. I'm sorry that you haven't wanted to talk about this stuff with me lately. I know it's a lot going on, but still."

"Don't worry about it, Trina saved the day." She tried to bring in some lightness.

"Right on. Well, if you are asking your dear old dad, I think you should let him explain. Hear him out. You will always be stuck on this if you don't. Your mother would call it a "Come to Jesus" moment." He made quotations with his fingers. "We would have a hard talk. Most of the time it was one we were putting off having. We weren't allowed to leave the room, eat, or drink until it was sorted. Most of the time, we were just scared to say what we were really feeling. Sometimes it was fear, sometimes anger. But it was all out on the table. We were able to make the best decision for both of us once all the cards were laid out."