8 Weeks (Time for Love 1)

"This hurts more then I remember," I said with a laugh.

"We aren't sixteen anymore," Shelly replied.

Once we got well off shore, we stopped paddling and let the boat float along in the water.

"Doesn't that sound peaceful?” Shelly asked, and I tuned in to the sounds of the water lapping against the boat, the birds chirping, and a dog barking off in the distance.

"Yeah, it does."

I turned to look at her profile, and smiled when the stud in her nose blinked in the sunlight. She looked at peace sitting there with her face upturned and eyes half closed, basking in the sun.

She opened her eyes and turned her to face me, that small smile still on her lips, and without thinking, I leaned in. I barely registered the widening of her eyes before my lips caressed hers softly.

Her lips were soft and full, and although I wanted to deepen the kiss, instead I pulled back and smiled at her.

Shelly didn't look angry or yell, she just sat very still and looked into my eyes. We sat there for a moment, neither of us speaking, just feeling. I knew that my body was a mix of emotions from that kiss, and I'd wager that she felt the same way.

We paddled back, and although I wanted to go home with her and spend the night cradling her in my arms, I knew it was time for this date to come to an end.

When I walked her to her car I said, "Thanks for coming with me today, Shelly."

"You're welcome. It was fun."

I helped her into her car, and she gave me one more slightly confused look before she pulled out of the parking lot and left me there.

As I watched her leave me this time, rather than feeling the dread I had when she'd left me last weekend, I felt full of hope.

Chapter 16 - Shelly

I'd lain awake last night, reliving the events of yesterday’s date in my head.

I'd felt happy, sad, and confused.

The day with Cal had been almost perfect. It had felt normal and familiar. We'd been Us.

Being with Cal that way, talking, laughing, and having fun, had made it easy to forget the pain of the last few weeks. And when he'd kissed me ... I'd wanted to sink into that feeling and pull him in closer.

I missed him.

I missed us.

I missed sex.

Seriously ... I missed the joy and comfort that came along with giving yourself fully to the person that you love. The utter abandon that came with having sex with that person. The contentment you felt afterwards, when you fell asleep in their arms.

That's how I'd always felt with Cal, and I missed sharing that with him.

I was beyond confused.

On one hand, I missed and loved my husband. On the other, I hated the way he'd betrayed me and made me feel.

I felt as if I were at war with myself.Now, I was preparing to move into a one-bedroom condo that Sasha had found for me. The current owners were looking for someone to rent to own, and I was about to become that person.

I was nervous and excited about living on my own. I'd gone straight from my dad's to being married and living with Cal, so I'd never lived alone.

I heard a knock and my dad talking, so I went out, expecting to see the girls, and was surprised to see Scott and TJ sitting on the sofa in the living room.

"Hey, guys," I said. "What's going on?"