Deceitful Choices(15)

On Sunday when it was time for Taylor to leave, I began to feel a sense of sadness. I had enjoyed our time together and having my best friend back. Somehow her leaving made me feel as if things would fall back into the pattern I’d lived for months.

“So I think the next trip should be you visiting me,” she said as she tossed her bag into the back seat. “My parents would love to see you, and Mom—she made me promise to tell you she’s dying to see Camden. Every picture that Grams has sent I’ve forwarded on to her, and you would think she was a doting grandma herself as much as she goes on and on about him.”

Lillian Shumaker had always treated me as if I was a second daughter to her, and Taylor’s father, Mark, was the father I had always dreamed for. They were both amazing.

“We can hang out at the house, let Mom hover over Camden.” I knew she understood my reservations about returning now, for any amount of time. “We don’t even have to go out and take a chance of seeing your parents.”

“Let me think about it, okay?” A part of me loved the idea of spending time with Taylor and her parents, and then another part me was scared of digging up the past.

I had attempted to contact my mother after I had Camden, only to have her tell me that she refused to raise any more children, as if I had asked her to support my son. I had only offered to allow them to see their grandson; I hadn’t asked for any form of help, financially or otherwise.

The miserable person she had always been was still very much a part of who she was. So after that attempt I never tried again. I figured the poison they both bled was something I didn’t need in my life.

“As long as you promise to really give it some thought.”

I looked up at Taylor, bringing myself back to our conversation and leaving those memories of my parents behind. “I promise,” I said as I reached out and hugged her close.

“No more avoiding me,” she said before pulling back, holding me by the shoulders. “I need my best friend, and I sort of fell in love with that little guy of yours, so you can’t cut me out again.”

I smiled and nodded my head. “No more distance,” I assured her. “We’ll talk and we’ll plan a visit.”

She seemed happy with that as she stepped back and opened the front door of her Camry. “I’m gonna hold you to that.”

“Okay,” I replied. I knew she would too.

I stood in the driveway waving as she backed out and drove down the road. I already began to miss her and it had only been seconds.

I knew that I would visit Roanoke again. I just had to work myself up to it. And I wasn’t sure how long that would take.





Chapter 11





Zack



I’d been in Illinois for less than twenty-four hours, and already I wanted to go back to California. But for Haven I’d try. It wasn’t love, I knew that, but it was like. You would think by now she and I would be more than we were, and if she had it her way, we would have been.

I was trying though.

I told myself that this trip I would let my guard down a bit more. I wasn’t sure what would come of it, but I’d give it a shot.

Her brother picked me up from the airport, and the guy was almost the male version of his sister. It was a little eerie how much they looked alike. But he was an all right guy, a bit immature for a twenty-three year old, but we were raised differently; that much was obvious. I started my training at an early age, not only for the Navy but also in respectability.

I had him take me to the nearest car rental company, because the last thing I wanted was to be forced to rely on others. With Haven in class daily, I would most likely be exploring. I looked out the window wondering what the hell I would explore in this area, but hell—why not, right?

After I was given the keys to a Dodge Charger, I used the GPS to scan for the nearest place to eat. The options were nothing compared to what I was used to. Pizza it was.

I felt like a circus exhibit walking down the streets of this small town. People watched me closely, as if I was about to rob their bank or worse. I didn’t take much time to offer pleasantries, because I worried they would attack or something. I walked straight ahead until I saw the red sign hanging in the window with the name of the pizzeria.

The moment I entered, I found the booth hidden in the back corner and practically dove into it. These next three days were sure to be three of the longest of my life. I found myself wishing I was back in Coronado doing a two-mile swim.

My phone vibrated in my back pocket, and I reached around, pulling it out to find a text from Haven.



Where are you? I’m so excited to see you I cut class this afternoon.



Suddenly spending a few hours wrapped in the sheets sounded better than pizza.