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The sun was still high as we headed north out of the city, so the windows were up, and the air conditioning filled the vehicle with cool air. “If it’s okay, I’m going to take the fastest route on the way up and we can come back through the national forest and Smokey Mountain National Park.” I decided to drop the subject. Depending on how the weekend went, I could always bring it up again.
“You’re driving.” Remi settled back into the seat. She looked around the inside of my new Toyota. “Was this a graduation gift? It’s super nice.”
“I like it, and yes, from the folks. They’d never tell, but I think Chase and Teagan contributed as well.”
“It’s my favorite color,” she observed with a nod. She had never been jealous of anything her parents ever did for me. She was so unassuming of the wealth or fame associated with the surname Forrester.
“I remember.” I inhaled and considered my next words. I was aware it was her favorite color when I picked it out. I did so, never knowing if she’d ever see it. “I didn’t know if you’d even get to see it. Considering,” I hedged.
Remi shifted in her seat and turned to look at me. I could feel her eyes roaming over me. “I’m sorry I left,” she said simply.
“I wish you wouldn’t have.”
“I felt like I was in your way, and I was feeling sad about how things had changed between us, and I didn’t want to be a downer. I couldn’t focus on school feeling sad all the time.” Her tone was contemplative, but I could still physically feel her gaze on my flesh. It was unnerving. “I thought it was best for both of us.”
I nodded. Remembering, it made sense why she felt the way she did. I was finally able to acknowledge my role in Remi leaving Clemson.
“I was royally pissed at you in the beginning, that’s for sure. We had all these plans and then you left… but I get it now. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Remi said wistfully, but I can hear remnants of sadness in her voice, and it filled me with regret.
I wondered what made her sad back then. Was it that our lives were changing, that I was so busy or maybe the girls always hanging around me? I’d always had girlfriends, and it never seemed to bother her in high school. I wanted to ask but didn’t want the conversation to get too deep on this leg of the trip. This weekend was about having fun and I didn’t want to get mired down by our separation. “I figured you’d have a new Mercedes or something else extravagant from your folks.”
Remi wrinkled her nose and chuckled. “Have you been talking to Bliss? She’s the one with expensive taste. My Altima is fine. Maybe when I graduate from med school, I’ll get a new car, but I took some loans out for undergrad and mom and dad are helping with those so that’s more than I can expect.”
I was always amazed at how unassuming and humble she was considering her father was one of the world’s most famous soccer stars ever and a multi-millionaire, but she had a full ride to Clemson, so I was confused for a moment, then I understood. “So, transferring to U of T… you didn’t have a scholarship,” I observed astutely.
Remi shook her head. “No, I didn’t have time to apply. I did get a partial the last two years, but still, I have about a hundred thousand in loans. My mom and dad said they’d pay, but I didn’t think I should impose on them because I changed my mind on which school I wanted to attend. For medical school, they’ve insisted, so I told them I wanted to wait on a new car. Daddy wanted to buy one for me, but my Altima runs great and it’s only four years old. I don’t need a new one. They’re paying for school and my apartment, and that’s more than I can ask.”
Highway 178 stretched out in front of us as we left the city behind, heading to Asheville where I’d hop on I-40 for the last half of the journey. My mind raced with how different Remi was from Christy and many of the other women I’d dated. She was so grounded and down-to-earth; more concerned with what she could offer the world than what it could offer her. I swallowed at the emotion welling up in my throat. How could I have forgotten how fantastic she was?
Maybe I hadn’t completely forgotten but being away from her had certainly dimmed my memory. Honestly, I doubted she’d even accept a new automobile after the incredible accomplishment of graduating medical school. Maybe she wouldn’t from her folks, but hopefully, I’d be making bank by then and I could get one for her.
“I should have known you wouldn’t ask for anything.” I smiled and glanced at her. She was the best person I’d probably ever meet in my life. I knew it in my gut.
“Yes, well when you get your huge payday playing with UNMT, I’ll expect huge donations to St. Jude!”
It came off as teasing, but I knew she was serious. Knowing she’d suffered childhood cancer, took the humor out of the issue. It was no wonder the cause was close to her heart.
“I promise. Especially knowing what you went through.” I didn’t know exactly what she went through, and she didn’t speak about it much. What I learned had been through my parents. My father was married to her mother at the time and so had lived through it with them, so he knew the pain and suffering she’d endured and had shared. “I’m sorry you had to go through that, Remi.”
Remi was silent for a few seconds. “It’s a long time ago, and really, I don’t think I’d have the life I have if it weren’t for my leukemia. Who knows if my dad would have ever known about me, or if Jensey would have married your mom? Everything works out the way it’s supposed to. And I might not have wanted to be a doctor, and you wouldn’t have been part of our family. You might not have wanted to play soccer.”
I loved that she still called my dad, Jensen, Jensey. “And, I may not have gotten drafted if it weren’t for Chase.”
Remi shook her head, resolutely. “Maybe the love for the game was nurtured because of my dad, Dylan, but you succeed because of the hard work you’ve put in. The National Team wouldn’t have drafted you if you sucked, and trust me, Daddy wouldn’t have endorsed the decision. He loves the game too much.”
She was right. Chase’s reputation would have been on the line if they really didn’t want me. “Thanks for pointing that out.”
“Are we staying at the resort?” Remi asked. She glanced at me over the top of her sunglasses. “We are staying on property, right?”
She knew me too well. “Of course. I reserved one of the cabins.” It was one with two bedrooms so we could be together yet have our own space. Not that I needed it. We’d slept in the same bed last night and many nights growing up, but my feelings were simmering just below the surface, and I still wasn’t sure about the status of her relationship with Alan.
Ugh!Alan, I ran over the poor bastard’s name in my head. I decided that I’d find out the answer to that question before the end of this weekend. Surely, she wasn’t expecting him to join us, or she would have said so before this? I couldn’t bring myself to ask; mostly because I wanted to forget he existed.
“I’m surprised any were available at the last minute.”
“I got lucky,” I answered, flashing a smile in Remi’s direction. I reached over and took her hand. “Someone canceled. I’m glad you’re here; happy we have this time together.”
