I got out my phone, scrolled down to find his name and frantically typed.
I forgive you, Cedric.
I miss you so much.
I am sorry for leaving.
I need to talk to you.
About a minute went by and there was no response. I hoped he had the same cell phone number and that he even had his cell phone on him.
After another minute, my phone vibrated on my lap.
Cedric: God, Allison, I’m going fucking crazy…I need to touch you.
Cedric: This is killing me.
Oh. My. God.
Allison: Where are you?
Cedric: In Callie’s room. Meet me in here when I tell you to.
Allison: What if Stephanie comes looking for you?
About thirty seconds passed before he responded.
Cedric: Ok, when you see Caleb walk over to her, come inside the house.
About two more minutes passed before Caleb walked over to Stephanie and started a conversation about a legal issue his construction company was having. I realized quickly this was a setup and that Cedric had texted Caleb to occupy Stephanie.
My heart began to pound out of my chest and I walked quickly past them through the sliding glass doors, past Bettina washing dishes in the kitchen and down the hall.
It was as if I floated past everything until I got to Callie’s room.
The door wasn’t even halfway open when Cedric pulled me into his arms, shut the door and held me tighter than anyone ever had in my life.
“Tell me this isn’t a dream,” he whispered into my ear, seeming to fight back tears.
Our faces slowly met and he kissed me like his life depended on it backing me against the door. After about a minute, he broke away suddenly and examined my face. “How could you have become even more beautiful?”
I looked down at the floor suddenly bashful and emotional and started to tear up.
“Cedric. It’s so hard to see you with her. We really need to talk.”
Cedric grabbed my chin, pulling it up to meet his icy blue eyes that were burning a hole through me. “Look at me, Allison.”
I wiped my eyes as he caressed my chin and said to me, “There has never been anyone who has ever come anywhere close to how you make me feel…not before you or after you. I had been trying really hard to forget you lately, but even so, I didn’t get very far. You need to know that I haven’t…been…with Stephanie or anyone for that matter, sexually, since you, okay? I hadn’t even wanted to…it just hasn’t felt right. I have been so fucked up. It’s the longest in my life I have ever gone without—”
“Really? No one?” I interrupted.
“No one. I swear to you, Allison.”
I shook my head and smiled. “Me neither.”
Cedric kissed my forehead. “Thank God,” he said letting out a deep breath and laughing a bit.
Immense relief washed over me to hear that Cedric hadn’t slept with her…or anyone else.