Page 13 of Always Be My Baby

I stuck out my tongue at her. “That’s fine. It’s so sweet of you to call, but I think I’ll be fine. Like I said before, the review group was awesome and everyone was helpful. I’m ready for the test.”

Leah plopped on my bed, tugging the phone so she could hear. As silly as what we were doing was, feeling like we were in high school, I let her.

“Good.” A pause. “If you’re free, maybe we could have lunch together after the test. It will be my treat.”

“No. I should be the one treating you.” I slapped my forehead. Did I offer? I wasn’t sure that was an answer because he replied.

“Great. Then it’s a... lunch. I don’t need to pick you up since we’ll be in the same class.”

“Uh?”

“It’s just lunch,” Leah whispered, lightly socking my arm. “He didn’t ask you to sleep with him or kiss him, for crying out loud, Cammy.”

“Okay, Grayson. I’ll see you in class, and it’s a lunch date. I mean—we’ll have lunch—as friends.” Oh dear God. Shoot me now.

After we hung up, Leah waggled her eyebrows. “Lunch date?”

“I didn’t say that.”

She giggled.

“Why?” I glared.

“Why what?” She played innocent, sitting up with her legs crossed.

I scooted to the bedframe, pillows supporting my back. “Why do you want me to date Grayson?”

“Because...” Leah’s face was grave or apologetic. I couldn’t tell. “Anyone is better than Lucas.”

“Is he that bad? I mean besides the thing he did?” I didn’t understand. I didn’t think he was a bad boyfriend.

Leah wiggled her toes and stared at my desk as if the answers were stored there. “When you were sick with a stomach bug, what did Lucas do?”

“He bought me medicine.”

“True, but did he stay? Did he get you something to eat?”

I almost said yes, but... “I don’t remember. I’m hardly ever sick. He called to check up on me.”

She cocked an eyebrow. “I remember. He didn’t do shit. You are so sweet and kind and giving, Cammy. You don’t expect much from others, yet you give one hundred percent of yourself to others. Because you know Lucas can be selfish and all about himself, you don’t expect anything from him. So everything is fine. But you know what, Cammy? It’s not fine. You deserve someone who will tend to your heart, if not more, as you do his. You deserve someone that cares about you when you’re sick. You deserve someone that walks you home. Grayson walked you home. That’s why I like him for you.”

“Leah.” It was the first time she had spilled so much about me, I didn’t know what to say.

“Let me tell you from my own experience. There are many guys out there.” She pointed to the direction of our campus. “They would love to go out with you, but only a few would treat you like a man who truly loves his woman with everything he is. And when you find someone like him, you don’t let go. I believe Lucas finally figured out how awesome you are. The reason why he’s having difficulty letting you go. He told you he didn’t kiss her back, but your own eyes do not lie. Your mind knows the truth, but your heart refuses to believe it. I know that feeling. I’ve been there before.”

I knew Leah had a bad break up, but it had happened during the summer. She went back home to Michigan and didn’t tell me much about it. We talked about it over the phone, but she had told me she was fine. And every time the subject of her ex came up, she spoke as if they broke up on good terms. I still didn’t understand the full story. Leah was private at times, so I respected her boundary and didn’t probe.

“Was it bad, Leah? Your break up?” I tried again. Perhaps she would be willing to share more since we were on the subject—sort of.

“I realized he wasn’t the man I wanted forever with. He was selfish and cocky. Everything was about him. And when we got into a fight, it wasn’t our fault. It became my fault. So I was the one apologizing all the time. I was tired of saying I’m sorry. To him, he was always right and never took the responsibility that perhaps he was in the wrong. Lucas reminds me a lot of my ex. I’m sorry, Cammy. I don’t mean to tell you what to do. You are a grown woman. You make up your mind and you sleep on the bed you make, but I hate to see you waste your time on a guy that doesn’t deserve you. I get it. He’s your first serious boyfriend. But when you find the one you’re supposed to be with, the one you want forever with, you’ll forget about Lucas.”

Confused, hurt, and angry, I soaked in everything that poured out of her heart and then sobbed in her arms.

Chapter Ten

Bird Poop

Cammy