Page 101 of A Bossy Surprise

I laugh. “So your apology is self-serving; to assuage the guilt.”

“I guess you’re right, but it doesn’t change the fact that this is something I should’ve done a long time ago.” She smiles. “I guess better late than never?”

I do my best to scowl at her. “I guess I’m not at the place where I can smile about what happened just yet. You ripped my heart out in public.”

Her face falls. “Yes, I was wrong for that. I handled the entire situation wrong, but that was in part a result of youth.”

I roll my eyes. “Rachel, that was three years ago. It’s not like we’re talking about something that happened 10 or 15 years ago.”

“Yes, I know, but I’ve grown a lot in the last three years. As I am sure you have.” I can’t argue with that, so I remain quiet. “And although I should be flogged for what I did to you, we had no business being together in the first place.”

“What do you mean? I loved you.”

“And I loved you. It’s one of the reasons we stayed together longer than we should have. The main reason was that we were trying to please our fathers. Plus, we were just too young to get married. I barely knew myself.”

Well, I can’t argue with that. We were too young and back then I was still trying to prove myself to Dad. Even though Iloved her, a huge part of that relationship was trying to get my dad to respect me.

“You’re probably right,” I finally say after a moment’s thought.

She raises an eyebrow. “Do you really believe that?”

“Yes, I really do believe that. Why?”

“I don’t know. I guess I thought I’d have to work a little harder.”

I chuckle. “You probably would have if you called me when I was single, but I’m actually in a relationship right now and I’m deliriously happy. If we had gotten married, perhaps that never would’ve happened.”

“You’re seeing someone?” She offers me a shaky smile.

“Yeah, and we have a son together.”

Her eyebrows shoot up, her eyes bulge, and her jaw drops. “You’re a dad?”

“Yes, I am.”

She struggles for words for a few seconds. “How did I not know about this? I had no idea that you were even seeing someone, let alone that you are a father. I feel like this is news that would have traveled.”

“I’ve purposely been keeping it quiet.”

“Wow…” She says, still looking quite shocked. “So how did you and your lady meet?”

Somehow, it feels weird to share Kayla with Rachel. So I say, “I don’t want to talk about that.”

She puts her hands up. “I can respect that.”

“Thank you.”

Anyway, I came here to ask for your forgiveness, and I hope I have it.”

“You do.”

She smiles, and we both go back to our meals.

Lunch doesn’t last much longer. We make small talk and then part ways.

Even though we’ve cleared the air, I actually hope to never lay eyes on Rachel again. She’s in my past, and I would like for it to stay that way.

Meeting with her has actually settled something in my spirit. That’s what I had hoped for. So I’m grateful for that. I will move on with my life with Kayla and Brady.