The Billionaire's Secret Love Child(92)

The truck pulled up to my apartment that I rented with Tiffany.

“Thanks for the evening, Chris,” I said, “maybe we can get some coffee and chat some other time. Like friends are supposed to.”

“We’ll see. I have a lot of girls bent over and waiting for me, after all,” he said with a laugh.

I couldn’t stifle my own giggle at his somewhat obnoxious comment.

With the door shut, he drove off.

I wondered what kind of counselor I would be.

5.

I started thinking about being a counselor more and more as time continued on. It had been nearly a week since my excursion with Chris. Brad had finally stopped harassing my phone, which allowed me to continue on with life. And, I finally got my things back.

I had begun researching what counselors do, and what kinds of courses would lead into that position. To my surprise, nearly all of my classes would lead me toward that goal.

I emailed the school counselors about what they really did and all of them were incredibly helpful in responding to my requests. In fact, one of them offered to let me shadow them for a day. I was more than a little curious.

Then Chris called.

“Hello,” I said.

“Coffee?” he asked.

“Sure, I could use a pick-me-up,” I replied.

The phone clicked off. He wasn’t as much of a jerk as I had initially thought. In fact, he was quite nice. We’d continue to text back and forth for some time now.

I threw my blonde hair into a simple bob and put on whatever happened to be lying around. I wasn’t in the mood to dress myself up for Chris since he probably had just slept with someone earlier this afternoon anyway.

Chris sat there waiting in one of the large plush leather seats. I wanted to think that wasn’t attracted to him anymore, but that was a lie.

I ordered my drink and joined him in the chair that sat nearby.

“Have you changed your mind, yet?” he asked.

“I didn’t know I’d had a decision to make,” I replied.

“Do you want to go for another round?” he asked.

“Oh, that.”

I took a long sip of my coffee and tried to figure out a response.

“Chris, you’re an interesting man, but I can’t see myself with you.”

He tried to hide a downtrodden look with a smile. I caught a glimmer of sadness brush past his face.

“You’re not the kind of person I can just be ‘friends’ with,” he started, “you’re a great woman.”

I laughed.

“I didn’t even know we were friends already.”

He leaned back in his chair, returning to the cocky man that I’d started to know.

“I think we’re something better than that,” he said.

“Oh?”

“But, I think you’ll need to figure that one out,” he added.

He had his charms, and they were incredibly hard to deny. But, I didn’t really see a future with him. It was as though I was looking at a beautiful possibility that I knew wouldn’t last. He was too carefree; seeming to lack even a shred of dependability.

“I think we’re friends, Chris,” I said.

He looked disappointed as I said it. I barely even knew the guy, he just sort of fell into my lap; probably a little too literally.

“Well, would you like to at least go for a drive for a while? Maybe take your mind off school?” he said.

“I suppose,” I said, figuring I could use the distraction.

He pulled me out the door with him. I probably should have said no, I didn’t want to get his hopes up. But, I couldn’t help but say yes to such a simple request.

We drove for a while, talking about life and other random things that went along with it. I vented more than I thought I would, mostly about Brad. But, I think I spent more time trying to sum up my frustrations about graduation and my path in life.

I couldn’t tell if he was listening at times, but he always had something to add to the conversation. I started feeling a little guilty that I spent so much time rambling about my own problems.

“So, why did you call me out for coffee like this,” I asked.

“I’m nervous,” he replied.

“You, nervous? About what?” I asked, surprised.

“There were some talent scouts at the last game a couple of nights back. I heard they were watching me pretty intently. I worked my hardest, even running in a few plays on my own. Not to be a show-off, but I did want to give them a good show.”

“That’s great news!” I said.

“They’re supposed to be calling today. This could be my shot at going pro,” he said, his voice wavering just a tad.

I could see how much this meant for him; he wore it on his face as though it were a mask.

Then his phone started to ring. He calmly pulled the truck over and pulled it from his pocket. I only heard one side of the conversation. Mostly just ‘yeah’ and ‘uh huh’, but I could see the news wasn’t good.

His hands shook as he clicked off the conversation without a goodbye. Without a word, he returned to driving. I wanted to ask him what got him so worked up. He didn’t seem interested in talking.

“Do you want to talk about it,” I asked.

He slowed the truck down and pulled over to the side of the road. Once we stopped, he jerked the keys from the ignition and stepped out.