Page 16 of When Love Takes Over
“Umm, thank you. Where are we going?”
“Since you actually took advantage of room service and ordered a big breakfast, I thought you might want to go for a walk.”
I blushed from embarrassment because I had no idea that he could see what I ordered.
“I’m sorry. I woke up starving and?—”
“You don’t have to apologize. I didn’t think you’d order anything, so I was happy to see that you did.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. Let me get the door for you.”
We walked to the passenger side of his car, and he opened the door for me. Seconds later, he slid behind the wheel, and we were on our way . . . To where, I had no idea.
“If it helps, I planned to eat what I didn’t eat for breakfast, for lunch or dinner, depending on what time I got hungry again.”
He chuckled. “Malyah, I told you to help yourself, baby. You don’t have to explain or make excuses.”
Baby? Did he call me baby?
I responded with a smile when he quickly glanced my way. We rode in silence for a few minutes until I asked him where we were going.
“There’s a short walking trail at Centennial Park. I figured we could walk a few laps while we talk.”
“Okay.”
Ten minutes later, we started the trail, and I patiently waited for him to fill the silence. This outing was his idea, so I assumed there was something he wanted to talk about.
“Have you spoken to your roommate?” he finally asked.
“No. I blocked her and my ex’s numbers, and neither of them has tried to reach out from another number.”
“Is that good or bad?”
I shrugged. “I have nothing else to say to my ex, but once I get settled, I need to get the rest of my things from the apartment.”
“Have you solidified your plans?”
“I haven’t found a place that I can afford, if that’s what you’re asking. Not to mention, the application fees for these apartments are fifty dollars or more, which I can’t afford right now. Maybe it’s time for me to reach out to my mother.”
“You think you’re ready for that?”
“Probably not, but I’d rather do that than ask for a refund for my tuition.”
“School is really important to you, huh?”
“I heard what you said about spending thousands of dollars, but it’s been my dream since I was five years old. I thought I would’ve achieved it by now, but I’ve been on my own since I was eighteen, and almost every day has been a struggle. I want to accomplish something before my time is up, you know.”
I didn’t mean to open up to him like that, but he already knew most of my business, and he was easy to talk to, so my words flowed effortlessly.
“I’m sorry life has been so hard for you.”
“Me too, but it could always be worse, right?”
“That’s what they say.”
We didn’t speak for a while, each of us lost in our thoughts . . . Well, at least I was.
