Chapter Three
Ω Bronx Ω
The next day, I’m stressing myself out. Blakely and I were as thick as thieves in high school. I claimed her as mine the moment I laid eyes on her. Then I messed my knee up and lost who I was. I stopped talking to everyone.
I tried doing that to Alex. He let me at first, and then had enough of my crap. He helped me more than he knows.
I sit on my back porch and look out into the trees behind my house. Back in high school, everyone knew she was mine. I loved it. No guy tried to get with her. I was one of the most popular kids. I ran that place.
I was planning on telling Blakely how I felt about her that night I injured my knee. I had everything planned. We were going to go out to celebrate the win. Then afterwards, we were going to take a walk. I was going to tell her then.
I lost the game. I lost my future. I lost my girl.
I felt like I lost everything in one night, and now that she’s back in the picture? I feel all those emotions coming back, and I don’t know how to deal with it.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face when I see it’s Blakely texting me.
Blakely: Going to be on my way to you soon.
Blakely: Do I need to bring anything? I probably should’ve asked yesterday
Blakely: I can pick up something on my way?
Blakely: You can order something that I pick up on my way? I know you don’t like it when I pay for things
I laugh. I like taking care of her.
Blakely: Let me know. I don’t want to come over empty handed.
Blakely: I made cookies last night when I couldnt sleep. I’ll bring that over :)
Blakely: :) So esxcited to see you today
Blakely: Stupid autocorrect. Excited. I’m excited to see you today.
Blakely: Okay. Last text. On my way to you now
I laugh. I love when she texts multiple times in a row. I don’t want her to text and drive, so I pocket my phone and get up. I’m going to put the crockpot on warm, so it’s not too hot when we go and eat.
I know I don’t have long before Blakely is here, so I walk room by room making sure everything is perfect. Upstairs is spotless, even though I know she isn’t going to come up here. Downstairs is more messy than I’d prefer.
I’ve been painting and rearranging my living room. Maybe inviting her over was a bad idea.
“Come on, Bronxy, you’re thinking too much about this. Trust me. Everything will be fine.”
Blakely’s voice filters through my mind like she’s in the room. I breathe through my nose. Everything is fine. I’m just overthinking this. She won’t even notice the living room is a mess. If she does, I’ll just say I had a random urge to paint every room in my house.
She’ll understand.
She always understands.
She’s the definition of perfection.
I rub the back of my neck. She’s the only one in the entire world that makes me feel nervous. I don’t want to screw things up with her. I’ve missed her. More than I ever thought possible.
A knock at the front door startles me out of my thoughts. She’s here. I head to my front door and open it. I’m greeted with Blakely’s beautiful smile. Her hair is pinstraight today.
I look down at her outfit and groan. She’s wearing skin tight blue jeans and an Adidas shirt that clings to her curves. I’m never going to be able to focus now.
“What?” Blakely asks, looking down at her outfit.
I’m staring. I need to stop. I can’t make myself look away. She’s beautiful…
I clear my throat and look into her deep brown eyes. “Nothing… You look beautiful. Come in.” I move aside so she has room to walk into the house.
“I’m sorry I ran a little late today. I had a meeting with someone in town. I’m working on his marketing plan, and his business partner had a lot of ideas to give me,” she explains before I lead her to the back deck for us to sit.
“His business partner?” I wonder if that's Alex and Charlotte.
He’s been obsessed with her since the moment he laid eyes on her. So he lets her do pretty much anything that she wants.
“Do you still keep in touch with Alexander Walker from school? His girlfriend is working with him on expanding his business. She has a lot of plans. She honestly did a ton of research about it. I had a few ideas for a new website concept that we were discussing. Time got away from us. But we don’t need to talk about business.
Tell me about you! What have you been up to?
I want to hear about everything.” Blakely sounds so excited to hear about me.
No one has ever cared about me quite like her.
I’m not sure anyone could ever care more about me than she does.