Turning, I see Coach. I skate my way over to the side of the rink where he waits.
“It's good seeing you,” I say with a hug.
“How's college, son?”
“It's good. I actually just got back from a camp in Canada, and I'll be heading to Jersey soon.”
“Yeah?” Coach's eyes twinkle with excitement and pride. “That's great, son. I'm so happy for you. How was the camp?”
“It was amazing.” At the sound of Emily's laughter, I turn my head to see Drake pulling her around the rink.
“I look at my wife the same way you look at Emily, you know. There are but a few loves like the kind we have found. I just wanted to stop by for a moment, but before I go, I want to give you a piece of advice. You love her, right?”
I nod.
“Make sure that for every second she knows that. Never allow her to second guess your love and what you would do for her. People make mistakes and you will make some, for sure. But she should never think twice about how much you love her.”
“You know, sometimes, I feel as if I'm still battling her past for her. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather do it than her, but she's got to fight too.”
“Once she figures out how she's going to handle it and feels comfortable with it, she'll fight it.”
“Thanks, Coach. I'm just worried about her.”
“Give her time, son.”
Coach wishes me luck, says his goodbyes and the rest of the day is spent with my two favorite people. It's a good day filled with laughter and absolutely no worries.
19
Emily
While skating around the rink, I have done lots of thinking. I can't wait to have some alone time with Jake and tell him what I've decided. However, Jake has other plans. He asks me to drop them off at his house for some brother time. I just hope I don't change my mind.
I bite my bottom lip as I lie in bed. I can't sleep, so I run over to Jake's. He opens the door and I embrace him, muttering something about being terrified of our future.
Jake wraps me in his arms and laughs softly. “I didn't know that you were terrified of marrying me,” he teases.
Leaning into him, I hold him close. Scared of letting go. Happy to have him in my life.
“What am I going to do with you, Sweetness?”
“Love me,” I reply.
“I already do.”
“Then your mission in life is complete,” I joke.
“Let's go to my room.” We go straight there, cuddling together on the bed. “Terrified, huh?”
Rolling my eyes, I softly say, “More like overwhelmed. And I know this, but I need to hear you say it. You'll still love me once I tell you everything, right?”
“I will love you no matter what.”
“Okay, I guess I'll start from the beginning then.”
We stay up into the wee hours of the night as I tell Jake every last detail. My mother sold my body for others to use so in turn she could gain money, drugs, or alcohol. I told Jake about how often these sleazy men would be extremely rough with me, sometimes hitting me. My mother used my weaken state of mind from Conrad's disappearance to her advantage. Every single day, I was told that I was worthless; slutty; damaged; anything negative, I was it. The woman who was supposed to love me unconditionally couldn't
stand me, and I couldn't believe she would lie to me.