Intrigue

I stared at the young girl in disgust. “Get off Emily.” Duncan threw me a look. He didn’t have to verbalize anything. I knew I needed to chase her. I ran out the front door and up the street. She wasn’t hard to find. It was dark and she was the only person walking on the barely lit street. I put my arm on her shoulder and she turned around. “What do you want Brent?” she asked coldly.

“Come on, Ill drive you home.” I offered, knowing she didn’t have any idea of where she was. We got into the car, but I didn’t turn it on. “That’s Abby’s little sister. She is a little bit forward and suggestive, but she means no harm. She probably didn’t realize we were together. But I am sorry, I should have made her move right away. I was so caught up in the conversation with Duncan I didn’t react right away.” She looked at me and nodded her head.

“Alex, I don’t want anyone else. I thought you had realized that. You want a commitment, I’m giving it to you. I need you to trust me though. Realize I am trying to make this work between us, regardless of any outside influences.” I looked at her for a response.

“Brent, I can’t. I’m not ready for all of this. Tonight just proves that to me. My ex ruined me. I don’t know when I will be able to trust someone again. Before I decided to go to law school, I was a week away from getting married. I found out he planned on leaving me. He had an infant and another life with someone else.” The tears slid down her cheeks and I couldn’t help but hold her. “Alex, you can’t hold him against every person that walks into your life. I didn’t do any of those things to you. Let me show you what kind of man I am.”

We drove back to the apartments in silence. I knew it was a bad sign when she slid away from me, but I didn’t know what else to say to change her mind. We walked up the steps wordlessly. I tried to reach for her hand as she entered her apartment but she pulled back, going inside and closing the door. I went inside and straight up to my bedroom. I was annoyed, tired and dumbfounded. I just didn’t get why she couldn’t at least give me a chance to prove to her that I was worth the leap of faith.

The next morning I woke up feeling no better than before. I heard her shower go on and I hope she was feeling as terrible as I was right now. I threw on clothes and headed downstairs hoping I wouldn’t have to deal with any of my nosy teammates. It was quiet and I was thankful. I needed to clear my head. I went running and didn’t stop until I felt like I was going to pass out. I made my way back up to my apartment, tired and hurting.

Jon was sitting in the living room when I walked in. “Go get a shower, we are going out for a while.” I did as he said. He was younger than me, but always gave good advice so I agreed. A little while later we were walking through town. “Just give her some space. Give her a week or two and then go talk to her. She is scared Seabs. It is written all over her face. She doesn’t want to get hurt.” I thanked him and decided to listen to his advice.

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A month and a half passed by quickly, the season changing from late fall to the thick of winter. Everywhere around me indicated Christmas was coming. People were busy speed walking through the streets with bags, families walking together taking in the views and the smells of home-cooked food were everywhere. I was struggling, I won’t lie. My game had suffered, I didn’t bother with my teammates as much anymore and I know my family was worried. I came home from a late night walk to see my living room crowded with my teammates. Duncan, Sharpy, Jon , Pat and Corey sat awaiting my return. “Sit down and listen. You have to snap out of this. Give it up. You can’t do this to yourself. There is a city full of woman that will take you and you get stuck on the one that is scared. Forget her.” Duncan could barely contain his anger.

Sharpy stood up. “Honestly, I disagree. Go after her. Look, I chased Abby after she broke up with me three times. Now we are happy. If you care about her that much, tell her. Look, I found this in the paper last week. Send her flowers, congratulate her or something, just get her back. Make her understand that you won’t let her down.”

I looked down at the article he handed me naming Alexa as one of the new staff attorneys at the Chicago District Attorney’s Office. I knew since it was a weekday and she wasn’t at home, she probably would be at work. I decided to take Sharpy’s advice and send her flowers congratulating her on the new job. I went to the florist and picked out more orchids, knowing she liked the last ones. It took me a few minutes, and a few cards before I decided what to write. “Alex, Congrats on the job. I wish you the world. You deserve everything good that comes to you in life.” I had them sent and I prayed that she would at least call me to thank me.

Notes

Poor Brent :(