Page 4 of Give Me Forever

Chapter Two

Avery

"It still feels surrealto be back," I said as my best friend, Alana, held up her glass of wine. I clinked mine against hers.

"I’m glad to have my bestie back," she replied, taking a sip.

I looked around her small apartment. She'd been gracious enough to let me crash with her. When I called her a few weeks ago to tell her I was thinking about coming back to Chicago, she immediately offered me a place to live. I was camping out on her pullout couch in the living room. Although the bed was comfortable, and I enjoyed sharing her living space, I felt guilty for cramping her style.

"Don't! I know what you’re thinking," Alana said.

I glanced back at her, putting my glass of wine on the dining room table. Cutting a slice of my chicken breast, I said quickly, "I'm not thinking anything."

"I know you. You might have been out of town for the past million years, but I still know that look on your face. You feel guilty."

"Fine, I do.” I took a bite and chewed slowly, savoring it. We were enjoying dinner at home tonight.

“You can pay me back in jewelry.”

I grinned. Since I was a jewelry designer, that was totally up my alley. “Will do. But I'm going to be out of your hair quickly, I promise."

“You have those two apartments lined up that you showed me yesterday, right?”

"Yeah, but honestly, I don't like either of them."

She wrinkled her nose, which transported me right back to high school. She’d had the exact same expression back then too. My God, it was surreal to be here. Everything was different but somehow also the same.

"I still have that loft that Sam is also interested in," I continued. Simply saying his name caused my stomach and the tips of my fingers to tingle. Sam had been my first boyfriend ever, and my first love, back in high school.

A couple days ago, I saw an announcement in the alumni Facebook group that someone was renting out a loft. It was gorgeous but far too expensive for me. It was a huge space for just one person anyway, so I told the renter I was interested but only to share. To my astonishment, Sam was interested in it as well.

For the life of me, I couldn't understand why he would even want a roommate. He could certainly afford the loft on his own. He was a Maxwell, after all.

"Sam Maxwell! Is he as fine as he was in high school?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen him since," I said. He’d missed the high school reunion a few years ago.

“I hear he's a renowned doctor. He’s worked with Doctors Without Borders for years.”

"That doesn't surprise me," I admitted. Sam had harbored that dream of working for the organization ever since we were in high school. I loved that about him; he was very caring that way. His family was well off, yet he wanted to break his back, studying and practicing medicine.

"You replied to Sam?"

“Not yet. I'll go look at the place again. I want to keep all my options open." Despite what my friend said, I didn't want to overstay my welcome. Besides, moving somewhere that I could call my own, even if it was a shared apartment, would be a step in the right direction to rebuilding my life.

Camping here on her couch felt temporary. It made me feel lost in limbo, like I was a teenager all over again.

But now I had a plan. First I was going to move into my own place. Then I was going to start building my business again from the ground up.

Pain fluttered in my chest at the thought of everything I’d lost, but that was what I got for trusting the wrong people.

"Do you want me to come with you to see the apartments?" Alana asked between bites. She’d cooked chicken parmigiana, and it was amazing.

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