Page 176 of Holding On

"I just wasn't sure if you'd changed your mind."

"Because of Tricia?"

"Well, yeah."

"Like I told you before, you can't give up on love just because a relationship doesn't work out. If a relationship ends, it just opens the door for someone else to come into your life. And that may be the very person you're meant to be with."

"Like Heather?" I smile.

He smiles back. "Maybe."

"You're so in love with her," I tease.

He just shrugs.

"Wait, are you saying you really are? You're in love with Heather?"

"I thought you already knew." He's still smiling.

"I suspected it, but I wasn't sure. You said you two aren't serious."

"I said that when we first met. So did she. But we both knew it was a lie. We only said it to keep from getting hurt again. We were afraid to admit how much we liked each other."

"And now you love each other."

He nods. "We do."

"You love her as much as—" I cringe. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"It's a different type of love. I loved Tricia but it was more...I don't know...immature, maybe? It's hard to describe. My love for Heather is different. We understand each other. We don't try to change each other. We support each other. It's a deeper type of love. The kind that will last."

"So when's the wedding?" I kid, but I'd really like it to happen. I think Heather's awesome. I'd love for Mike to marry her. She'd be a great sister-in-law.

He chuckles. "Not anytime soon. We've talked about it but—"

"Hey." Heather appears at the door to my room, a big smile on her face. She's always smiling. I thought that was just her personality but now I know it's because she's in love. I'm always smiling like that too.

"Hey," Mike says, going up to her and giving her a kiss.

"Sorry to just drop by but I need to talk to you."

"Is something wrong?" he asks with concern in his voice.

She bites her lip. "I hope not."

He steps back. "What does that mean?"

She grabs his hand. "Let's go in your room."

They take off and I continue packing. A few minutes later, there's a knock on the front door. It's probably Ethan. As I'm leaving my room he knocks again.

"Yeah, I'm coming."

When I open the door, I stand there in shock. It's not Ethan.

"Hi," Tricia says. She looks different. Her hair is at least six inches longer and it looks like she had a boob job. She used to have a really flat chest but she definitely doesn't now. And she's wearing more makeup than I've ever seen her wear. It's like she's had a total makeover.

Is that why she showed up here? Does she think long hair, lipstick, and fake boobs will convince Mike to take her back?

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