Page 11 of Always Be My Baby

Leah twitched her eyebrows, giving me a mischievous smile. “You know Grayson.”

My cheeks warmed. “I can’t. I barely know him. And besides, I need to be in his study group. It was the best study group I’ve ever attended, not that I’ve been to many, but it was helpful.”

Leah leaned back into the chair, her fingers still hugging the mug. “How can you compare? In all three years I’ve known you, you’ve only been to two group studies. That’s not much to compare, Cammy. So don’t make up any excuses. Besides, who else can you ask?”

I shook my head. “I made a stupid bet out of anger. One of us is going to get burned.”

“It ain’t going to be you, sista.” Leah gazed at me under those long eyelashes. Lucky for her, she didn’t have to use mascara.

I tapped on my mug. “Honestly, I don’t think I can go through with this.”

“I won’t tell you what to do, Cammy, but either do this and get it out of your system or take Lucas back or dump him. Make a decision.”

“How do you leave someone you love? I still love him. I’m just so angry at what he did. He’s truly sorry. I know he is.”

“I understand. This is your first real relationship. The first break up is very difficult. But if Lucas isn’t the one, you have to let him go. I want you to find the kind of love you can’t let go. And if you can see yourself without him, then it’s over. Don’t try to mend what is already broken and unrepairable.”

My fingers slowly traced the brim of the empty mug. “You’re right. I still don’t know what I’m going to do, but you’re right.”

She waved a hand. “Just let it happen or sleep on it. That’s what I always do.”

“The reason you’re always relaxed and the reason I’m stressed as hell.”

Leah giggled. “When you’ve been through hell and back plenty of times, you learn to laugh about it. It’s all good. Anyway, your mom called and left a message on the answering machine.”

“Thank you. I mean for everything.”

Leah reached over and rested her hand on mine. “Anytime. You’re my nurse and I’m your therapist.”

We shared a laugh.

“You working today?” she asked, finishing her coffee with a long gulp.

“It’s Sunday, remember?”

“Having a high temperature can do funny things to your brain.” She snorted. “Well, I don’t feel like studying, and I don’t want to be indoors. Let’s go shopping.”

“Are you okay to be out? I mean you just got over a fever.”

Leah stood up and took my empty mug. “Don’t be my nurse right now. We both need some sun, Snow White.”

I glanced down at my arm and then to Leah’s smooth, golden brown skin. Lucky.

“Fine,” I snapped playfully with a flip of my messy blonde hair.

Chapter Nine

The Phone Call

Cammy

Leah and I had a blast shopping. We spent three hours at the mall, grabbed something light to eat for dinner, and then finally came home. After I washed and plopped into bed, I called my mom.

“Cammy. How are you?”

“Good. How are you?”

“I’m calling because I haven’t heard from you.”