Chasing Her (Dark Love 3)

“Son, you’ve got yourself a publishing deal. Welcome to Lantern Publishing Group,” Mr. Grimmer announces.

The shock stills me.

Did I hear right?

I actually accomplished a dream.

The enormity of the situation leaves me breathless. “Are you serious? I can’t… wow… thank you so much.”

Mr. Grimmer asks to meet me in his office first thing tomorrow morning to go over the publishing contract.

I did it!

I hang up the cell, Adriana now waiting impatiently for me to say something.

“C’mon, whatever it is that made you smile like that must be good. What happened? The suspense is killing me.”

“I got the publishing deal,” I say, shocked by the outcome. “My manuscript is going to be published.”

Somewhere in her congratulations, I have a moment of clarity. It’s all coming together, life has a purpose again, and most importantly, I can’t think of anyone else I want to share this moment with.

The overwhelming feeling consumes me, and without thinking, I pull Adriana’s face toward me, pressing my lips against hers. The taste of her lips feels so right like I have been waiting a lifetime to feel this kind of moment, but it only lasts a few seconds before she pushes my chest away, breaking me from this moment.

Her eyes are laced with guilt, wiping her lips with the back of her hand.

“I’m s-sorry,” I stutter, immediately regretting my actions.

A lonely tear escapes her eye, and as I reach out to touch it, she turns her back and runs away into the night.

Leaving me to once again to bask in my mistakes.

I haven’t spoken to Adriana since the night at the restau

rant.

It’s been five days to be exact.

My time has been occupied with Mr. Grimmer and working through edits of my manuscript. Although I’ve been busy with work, the guilt of my actions weighs heavily on my mind. I pushed Adriana too far when I knew she was already standing on the edge. She reached out to me wanting a friendship, and I took it in the wrong direction. My stupid feelings got in the way. Again. Desperately wanting to call her to apologize, I think about my past and what I’d normally do in this situation.

I’d have chased the girl.

But this girl is different.

I can’t chase someone who isn’t even in the running.

She belongs to someone else—that will never change. And I love her even more for that reason. Why? I have no idea.

You said you love her, jackass. Remember, you aren’t supposed to fall in love so easily?

No, I’m not, and I don’t even know what love is. I told Chelsea I loved her, and how naïve was I to confuse lust and love.

And then there was Charlie. I did love her, I can’t deny that, but now I believe love comes in many forms, and sometimes, it’s powerful enough to be your reason for breathing. Charlie, as much as I did love her, was never my reason for breathing. She was my life jacket, keeping me alive in a blustering storm.

Late in the afternoon, I sit in my favorite spot on the porch stroking Blaze’s fur. My cell begins ringing, startling a few blue jays sitting on the porch ledge.

“Son, I have some exciting news for you,” Mr. Grimmer greets me without a hello, the positive vibe piquing my curiosity.

“I could use some exciting news right now,” I confess.