Falling in Love Again: A Valentine's Day Proposal

“I am not going to help you, Anna. And if you can’t understand why then there’s nothing I can do for you.”

“You pretend to be a nice person, Carter, but you aren’t. You suck. You can’t help someone that you used to love even when she’s in trouble. What if these guys kill me?”

“That’s something you need to speak to Daniel about. He’s the one that you’re with now…”

“No, I’m not,” she jumps in childishly. “I already told you that.”

“He’s the one who created this then. It wasn’t me, was it? So, he can get you out of it.”

“But he can’t afford to get me out of it. Do you honestly think that I would be here now if he could?”

As she runs her eyes up and down me, looking utterly disgusted by me, I laugh mirthlessly and shake my head. She is utterly unbelievable, able to play a range of characters. It’s actually quite sickening.

“You asshole, Carter. You would actually like me to die for revenge?”

“Don’t be so dramatic, Anna. No one ever said that you’re going to die. The guys probably just want their money back. Find out where Daniel is, put it all on him.” If I liked her more, I would offer her Lee’s services. He would find Daniel in a heartbeat. I guarantee it. “You don’t need to take it all, Anna. That’s all I can say.”

“So, you really aren’t going to help me then? After everything that we’ve been through?”

“I’m not going to help you because of everything that we’ve been through.”

“Because of a mistake? Carter, that’s crazy.”

I shake my head. I’m done. This conversation isn’t getting us anywhere. I refuse to go around and around in circles with Anna. We’ve been doing enough of this all day long.

“Just get out of here, Anna. We’re done. I have nothing more to say to you. I suggest that you delete my number like I have yours because I won’t ever meet with you again.”

Her face turns red with rage. “Fuck you, Carter. Just… fuck you to hell.”

As she storms off, slamming every door that she can find behind her, I’m overcome with a sense of peace that I haven’t had before. That was weird, a mess that I certainly didn’t expect to face today, but it’s also given me a closure. I feel good knowing that she’s gone and that this time it’s for good.

This time she left on my terms, and that surprisingly makes all the difference.

Perhaps now, I can move on. I don’t know how, or with who since Raelyn is with someone else, but it feels more possible than before. I need to take this closure and run with it, finally get something positive in my life. It’s about damn time.

20

Raelyn

Tears roll down my cheeks as I run out of the office. I feel ridiculous, but I can’t stop it. I’m upset and hurt even if I’m not really sure that I have any right to be. I’m just in too deep and that’s all there is to it.

“Abbi!” I call out desperately as soon as she answers the phone. “Where are you? I need you!”

“I’m visiting my mom this week; don’t you remember me telling you? I’m not back until tomorrow.”

Oh. I do remember. She’s out of the state for her mother’s birthday. We talked about this. I knew this. I just didn’t think that it would come at a time when I needed her the most. Tomorrow feels like a life time away.

“Oh, of course.” I wipe my tears away with my sleeve. “Sorry, I forgot all about that.”

“What’s going on, Raelyn? You sound all messed up. Has something happened?” She speaks quietly, probably so as not to alert her mom that she’s taking the time out to deal with me and my problems.

“We can talk about it when you get back. It doesn’t matter. I’m okay. I don’t want to disturb your time with your mother.” I accidently sniff a couple of times. “I know how much you’ve been looking forward to this.”

Abbi doesn’t get to see her much loved mother anywhere near as much as she’d like. She needs this.

“It’s okay, I can take a bit of time to talk to you if you need me to.”

I cannot go on about my stupid, petty problems with a guy that I hardly know, at a time like this. I’m on my own with this one. I just need to find a way to overcome this all by myself. My eyes scan around and quickly spot a bar. I can get a drink in there which will help me to numb this sadness. Or not, it might just make it worse, but it’s the nearest solution that I can find. Right now, I’m in need of a quick fix.