Page 38 of Forever Love-Reimagined

“Oh, right. You’re here for me. ‘I’ll be back in a sec, honey,’” I said in a completely sardonic tone.

“Did that bother you?”

“Oh my God, Steph. This isn’t a game. You aren’t going to make me jealous by fucking Greg. Look, I wanted to tell you it’s time you moved out. I’ll stay at Ty’s tonight and tomorrow, and you can get your stuff out before Monday. Whatever you don’t take, I’m giving away. Deal?”

“You’re kicking me out? Baby, we had a fight. But we’re not over.”

Was she serious? There was no getting through this. She had to see we weren’t supposed to be together.

“Steph, it has been over for a while. You said it yourself. I didn’t give you what you needed, and you were fine getting it elsewhere. It turns out I’m fine with that, too. You can have all day tomorrow to get your things. You only really had clothes and toiletries anyway. Then you can text me when you’re done so we won’t have to run into each other again. I’m sorry it had to end this way, but I think you’ve let your true colors shine, and this is for the best. It was nice knowing you.”

“Blake, wait. How can you flush two years down the drain without a second thought? I loved you. I mean, I still love you. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“Steph, you don’t love me. If you did, you never would’ve showed up with Greg. You would’ve called or texted me to apologize after our fight. You wouldn’t have immediately jumped into the arms of the one person who has it out for me.”

I paused to keep myself from blowing up. The fire inside wanted to come out, but once I had it under control, I continued. “I’m sorry if you think this is salvageable, but I don’t. I hope you and Greg have a nice life together.” Without giving her a chance to respond, I went back inside to find Ty and David.

At least being with them might calm me down because my heart was in overdrive right now. I wasn’t sure if the conversation upset me or relieved me, but I believed something better would come my way if I only kept moving.

Chapter Nineteen

Blake - Thursday

It had been almost two weeks since Steph moved out. At first, it worried me that I might’ve been a bit hasty with my decision, but the fact I was happier than I’d been in a while made me realize how much drama she brought into my life.

In these past couple of weeks, I’d been able to focus on work and getting ahead. Missing Steph didn’t even cross my mind, which caused a mix of negative emotions, but it also gave me clarity because I had made the right choice. I’d never envisioned myself with anyone long-term, and Steph wasn’t the exception.

What had me pausing, though, were my feelings about the girl in my dreams. Since Steph had left, my dreams lasted longer and became more frequent. I’d grown a powerful emotional connection to this woman, although I had no idea who she was. I couldn’t remember specific conversations, and we were never intimate, yet I was complete when we were together.

I saw exhilarating lives play out before me, and I sensed them, too, as if they were mine. The scenes unfolded lifetimes of love and joy, and I ached to find my way back to them. I wished my subconscious could give me something that would lead me to her in this life, but I was starting to wonder if the dreamworld was all we’d have.

My phone beeped, shaking me from my reverie. I leaned over my desk to pick it up, only to see it was a text from my mom.

Mom: Are we still on for lunch today?

I groaned.

Me: Oh, yeah. I forgot. Where?

Mom: I scheduled it with your assistant a long time ago. It should be on your calendar.

Me: It is. I didn’t have it pulled up. Tell me where to go, and I’ll meet you.

Mom: Le Coucou?

Of course…it was across town and super upscale.

Me: What about Michael’s?

At least that was within walking distance of my office.

Mom: I wouldn’t be caught dead there. Aquavit at 12:00. I will make a call.

I guess that was the end of the discussion. I wished Ty would have gotten me out of this, but we had been busy with a plethora of other things.

My mother and I had a difference of opinions on pretty much everything. I hadn’t spoken to her since Steph moved out, and I wasn’t looking forward to that conversation. I was sure she’d be happy, though, as she always referred to Steph as “that harlot” for reasons I never understood. But it was one more thing for her to criticize me about not being settled down, not being a mother, not being the quintessential woman. Knowing her, she’d have a blind date set up for me, with a man, no doubt, before lunch was over.

It was 12:03 when I walked into Aquavit, and I would get an earful. Her motto was: “If you’re on time, you’re late,” and being late was inexcusable. I saw her sitting at the back of the restaurant, and I tried to creep as inconspicuously as possible to her table.

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