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I nodded with confidence. "Absolutely! Life is too short to wonder 'what if.' Just take the leap and see where it leads."
Jenna's smile returned, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "You're right. I'm going to do it. Thanks for the advice, Court."
I grinned back. "Anytime, Jen. That's what friends are for.”
Thankful that Daddy had paid for a two-bedroom dorm apartment and the privacy it afforded, I sat on my bed and called Brad.
"Hey, Courtney! How was your first day of classes?" Brad asked, his voice warm and familiar.
"It was good, actually. I met some interesting people, and the classes seem challenging, but in a good way," I replied. "I even have this design project I'm really excited about. We have to create a unique logo for an imaginary business using the concepts we learned in class."
"Oh, that sounds interesting. I bet you'll come up with something amazing," Brad encouraged, his voice filled with confidence in my abilities.
During our conversation, I sensed his sensual tone. Despite the physical distance, we still had a strong connection.
"So, have you made any new friends yet?" Brad teased playfully.
"Of course," I replied, chuckling. "My roommate Jenna is really cool, and I've met some nice people in my classes. But it's not the same without you guys."
There was a brief pause before Brad spoke, his voice low and filled with longing. "I miss you too, Courtney. It's been too quiet around here without you."
I felt a shiver of desire run through me at the sound of his voice. "Well, I'll be sure to visit during breaks, so you won't have to miss me for too long."
“I’ll hold you to that," he replied, his voice softening. "Take care of yourself, Courtney. And don't forget to have some fun while you're there."
"I promise, Brad," I assured him, feeling a bittersweet ache in my chest as he disconnected the call.
I changed into my comfortable pajamas and climbed into bed, the events of the day swirling through my mind. As I lay there, I realized even though I was surrounded by new friends and copious opportunities, there was a part of me that felt incomplete without Brad nearby. But for now, I would have to make do with our late-night conversations and the promise of future visits. With a sigh, I closed my eyes and allowed the memory of Brad's warm voice to lull me to sleep.
Chapter Two
Brad
I turned off my alarm clock, still groggy from sleep. Memories of my Yosemite trip with Courtney three months ago flooded my mind, feeling simultaneously distant, like it was yesterday and a lifetime ago. I stretched my arms above my head, trying to shake off the feeling of sadness that always seemed to accompany thoughts of Courtney's absence.
I sighed and got up, raking my hands through my tousled hair. "Time to focus on the present," I muttered to myself.
As I made my way to the kitchen to brew a cup of coffee, I glanced out the window and saw that the sun was just starting to rise over the city. I felt a sudden urge to go for a run and clear my head, to let the cool morning air wash away the heaviness that seemed to cling to me lately.
Without hesitation, I laced up my running shoes and headed out the door, the sound of my sneakers pounding against the pavement echoing through the quiet morning streets. I made my way to the park near my garden apartment, feeling the cool breeze brush against my face as I picked up speed.
Rhythmic, short bursts of breath filled my ears, and my muscles burned as I pushed myself harder and harder. But with every step, I felt a sense of clarity and focus that I hadn't felt in weeks.
Rounding the last corner, I headed back toward my building as a sense of peace settle over me. The worries and anxieties that had been weighing me down seemed to fade, replaced by a sense of calm and purpose. I knew that Alexander Steele, the man who had wreaked havoc with our lives for years now, was about to face justice—and Courtney was safe.
As I stepped through the door of my apartment, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of my phone buzzing on the counter greeted me indicating emails awaited me. I smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude for the little things in life that brought me joy. Today was going to be a good day.
Scrolling through my phone, I checked the emails, noticing that the meeting originally scheduled for 10:00 today had been moved to 1:00. This meant I had enough time to finish my morning chores. After that, I sent Courtney a text saying, 'good morning.'
Although we had been in touch despite being apart, it didn't compare to having her physically close by. I longed for her infectious laughter and the sparkle in her eyes when she spoke about her interests. Ultimately, I missed having her presence to tackle the obstacles and enigmas at work.
I chuckled to myself, recalling the day the FBI appeared at the office and informed us that almost everyone needed to be taken into protective custody. Not Courtney and me! We hid in a closet until the building was evacuated and then hightailed it to Palm Springs in my camper, where the majority of the heavy lifting on the Shock and Awe app design was done.
That was several months ago, and a lot of time had passed since then.
While driving to Rosedale, I became wistful as the city's familiar sights reminded me of the moments I shared with her. To remember her better, I decided to listen to a playlist of special songs that held memories of our time together or captured her essence.
The first song on the playlist was Coldplay's ‘Yellow,’ a track that always made me think of the day we had a spontaneous picnic in the park under a cloudless sky. Courtney's laughter had filled the air as she playfully danced to the song, her eyes shining brightly like the stars in the night sky. Following that was ‘Home’ by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, a tune that brought back memories of our late-night conversations about life, love, and everything in between.
