Love You Always

From time to time my dad will call or shoot me a text. My mom will send emails. I think they both do it out of a small amount of guilt. Not because they truly care what I am up to. They keep everything surface. I’ve learned to do the same so that I don’t get hurt. I’ve also learned not to depend on anyone financially. Even though I know my parents would send me money in a heartbeat, I’ll never ask because I don’t want them doing anything for me. Throwing money at me would be the easy part for them.

“This?” I hold up a cute knit sweater that I could pair with jeans and some boots.

“It’s cute.” She shrugs but I don’t believe her. Our style is night and day. Whatever. I love this sweater. It's comfy and colorful and this is a forced date to begin with. Maybe my earlier thoughts of him running when he sees me are a good thing. Not so much for my ego but more for the time I’m going to spend on something that will likely go nowhere. I mean, the man is spending millions on lingerie.

Suddenly it hits me. “He’s spending millions on lingerie,” I say to Amelia.

“Yeah, we know that.”

“And I’m going on a date with him?”

“Coffee. Let's stop calling it a date,” she suggests. “It's a business meeting of sorts.” I nod in agreement because she’s technically right. Even though it feels as though he wants it to be a date. Amelia types away on her phone. “Look. Maybe it’s made of diamonds and gold?” She shows me a picture of some very pretty bra all covered in diamonds. The thought of him buying these things for someone doesn’t sit well with me.

“Some people have too much money.” I laugh. The bra looks like you’d hurt yourself if you wore it.

“Never.” She looks at me like I’m crazy. “I’m going to find me a man and make him buy me this.” She smirks. I shake my head laughing at her.

“I’m good with my cotton underwear.” I pull off my shirt and put on my sweater before finding some jeans to wear. It’s still a touch too cold to run around in yoga pants.

“God, those big ass boobs you have would look good in a diamond bra but they also look good in a simple one too. Some girls have all the luck.” She falls back onto the bed, going back to playing with her phone.

“I think Sam can afford to buy you such a bra.” She rolls to her side.

“I don’t think Sam and I are going to work.” She picks at a loose thread on my blanket.

“That’s because you go for rich men.”

“I know M&Ms. It’s terrible.” I walk over, sitting down on the bed next to her. I know she’s struggling with whatever’s going on because she called me by the nickname she’s given me. I grab her hand to give her a little comfort.

“It’s not terrible. You’re looking for security or what you think security is.” I tuck a piece of her blonde hair behind her ear. I get Amelia. Sure, she might come off as being all about the money but it goes way deeper than that. The hard exterior she shows everyone is not truly who she is. I don’t think dating Sam is all about money. I think she stays in whatever relationship they have because it’s easy and there’s no chance of him hurting her.

“We can always become cat ladies together.” I give her a small poke.

“Hard limit. I know if I let you get one cat it will never end.”

“They are so cute.” I pout.

“Then you find yourself a rich man and open yourself a cat shelter.”

“Maybe I will but I’ll have to love him.”

Amelia lets out a dramatic sigh as if there’s no hope for me.

11

Max

I don’t usually get nervous for things but for some reason I’m a little on edge while I wait to leave for my date. I mean, give me a little break. How many times does one go to meet their future wife and go on a first date at the same time? My sister always says that I never do anything easy and I never half ass anything, and she’s right. When I know, I know. It’s a feeling in my gut I get and it’s never steered me wrong. It’s gotten me this far in life so I don’t question it anymore.

I look at my watch realizing that I only have a couple of hours until I finally get to see my little angel. Excitement courses through me at the thought. I shut down my computer, gather my things and make my way out of my office. The blonde looks up from her phone at my presence and quickly tries to hide that she was texting.