Page 75 of My Rules for Revenge
I gazed across the shimmering lake in deep thought as the sun set.
“Something on your mind?” Eddy asked.
“This is going to sound a bit out of the blue, but my problems with my parents have taken a turn for the worse. I found out that my father is cheating on my mother,” I explained.
“Oh my god. I’m so sorry.”
Eddy came around to me and gave me a tight hug. My heart warmed while my skin was brimming with cool electricity. When he let go, he looked deeply concerned. No one ever looked at me like that. I can tell that he cared.
“I’m sorry if that was a bit too personal. I don’t have anyone to talk to about these things. I hope it’s okay. I feel comfortable telling you,” I affirmed.
“You can tell me these things, Indira. I’m here for you. You can trust me,” Eddy assured me.
“I know.”
“Are you okay? I know that’s a dumb question, but...”
“To be honest, I feel hopeless. I have to live with a father who cheats and a mother who accepts it. It makes me want to throw up,” I said in disgust.
“Yeah, that’s tough.”
“This is exactly why I won’t miss home when I leave for college,” I said with certainty.
“I’m starting to feel the same way.”
“Oh? How come?” I asked.
“I think my parents are getting a divorce. One of them might be cheating, actually. I don’t fully understand what’s going on. It’s crazy, but we seem to be in the same boat,” Eddy admitted.
“I’m so sorry, Eddy. When I found out about my father, I was destroyed. I don’t want anyone else to have to feel this.”
“Unfortunately, this town seems to be filled with adults who lack the ability to be faithful,” Eddy said in frustration.
“It sucks!” I exclaimed.
“It does.”
“I promised myself I’d never be like either of them,” I asserted.
“That’s a good promise to make.”
“I don’t want a broken family. I don’t want to be broken, period,” I remarked.
“I don’t think you are.”
We stayed quiet and stared into each other’s eyes. I waited for him to make the first move, but after a few emotionally charged moments, he suddenly got up and walked forward. His head turned away from me. I felt a strong twinge of disappointment.
“I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I like you. I like you a lot, but…it’s a weird time in my life. I’m trying to focus on basketball. Frankie’s helping me. He’s getting scouts to look at me and helping me sharpen my skills. I may end up tagging along with him to the D1 college he ends up committing to, but I have a lot of work to do. My situation with my family obviously isn’t helping either. It gives me a lot of anxiety. It feels like a tornado is charging towards me, and I can’t get myself out of the way,” Eddy confessed.
I got up and approached him.
“I get it,” I said.
“I’m so sorry, Indira, but I don’t want a serious relationship right now. It wouldn’t be fair to you. My head wouldn’t be in it all the way.”
