Chapter Four

 

The rain slammed down hard, crashing into my windshield faster than the wipers could keep up. I parked in front of the shop, running fast to the front doors with my jacket over my head. “Forget your umbrella?” Kayla laughed.

I knew I was a mess. My hair was soaked, my shirt was clinging to me, and I could feel my makeup sliding down my face as I hit the dry air of the shop.

I shrugged it off, grabbed a towel, and dried myself off. “I hope it doesn’t do this on my birthday again,” I growled.

Every year since I could remember, my birthday was filled with rain. It was never just a drizzle, or even a partly rainy day; it would storm from the time I woke up until the time I went to bed.

Kayla laughed, knowing that my birthday was cursed with bad weather. My mother had always told me it was a rainy night when I was born, probably one of the worst she’d ever seen. Ugh!

“What do you care? You’ll just be all snuggled up with your computer boyfriend,” she teased.

My cheeks burnt red as my embarrassment grew. I’d not thought of Silas as a ‘boyfriend’ before that moment. I realized I liked thinking of him in that way, minus the computer part.

She pushed for details about our relationship as I started to unpack the shelving stacked next to my counter. It was obviously going to be a slow day, so it was perfect for installing the shelves, and talking about Silas.

I knew there was no hiding the fact I liked him, especially to Kayla. “He’s amazing,” I admitted, sighing after I spoke.

I told her about the date, and how sweet he had been. My mother had already grilled me for details, probably to send back to Christine. I had to admit, she was good. He was perfect, with the huge exception of being so far away.

“Do you think you want to meet him?” she asked.

I set the shelf down onto the floor and paused for a moment. I knew I liked him, like a lot. But if I met him, and fell for him, then what? “I dunno.”

“I thought you really liked him?” she asked, surprised by my answer.

“I do,” I replied. “I just don’t know if this is even a possible relationship,” I admitted.

Kayla sighed, rolled her eyes, and then started cleaning her countertop.

My phone rang with Silas’s face lit up on my screen. Seeing his smiling image instantly gave me goosebumps. Kayla giggled as I slid the phone to answer.

“Hello,” I said cheerfully.

“Hey gorgeous,” he said, his tone just as cheerful as mine. “I’ve got some news.”

There was urgency in his voice as he spoke. The hairs on my arm stood at attention while I waited to hear what this ‘news’ could be—good or bad.

“I’m being deployed to Turkey for nine months,” he said quickly.

“When?” I asked, my mood quickly turning sour.

“I leave in ninety days,” he answered.

My heart sank. Turkey? So, he was going even further away?

“Wow,” is all I managed to get out before someone called for his attention.

“I have to run. I’ll call you later, I promise. Prepare to stay up past midnight. I plan to be the first one to wish you happy birthday,” he said charmingly.

“You promise?” I asked, fighting back the lump in my throat.

“I promise, gorgeous,” he said.

“I wish you could tell me in person,” I said softly.

“That would be the perfect send-off for me, baby,” he replied, and then hung up. 

“What’s wrong?” Kayla asked, watching me slump back into the booth seat.

I told her the news he’d just given me, and how he sounded excited. It felt as though my heart had just been ripped from my chest. “That’s… what? Five thousand miles away, at least?” I asked, a tear falling from my eye.

“It’s only nine months,” Kayla said, moving toward me to offer some comfort.

“I was stupid for even getting involved with him,” I said, wiping the tear from my cheek.

I wasn’t going to cry over this man. I’d never even met him, and now it sounded as if I never would.

“Lucy, don’t give up on him yet,” she whispered, her hand caressing my back.

“I just don’t see how we could build a relationship like this. Across the globe, doing Lord only knows what, there won’t be time for video dating, and certainly no way to see him in person,” I laughed nervously as I spoke.

“You don’t know that,” she insisted.

“If I don’t meet him before he leaves, then I don’t see the point in continuing this while he’s overseas,” I scoffed.

“Why not?” Kayla asked.

“Because. You don’t know if you have chemistry—I mean real chemistry—with someone until you meet them in person. Why spend almost a year of my life getting attached to someone that I may not even like when I meet?” I snarled.

“I don’t think that’s true. Chemistry is chemistry, whether in person or over the computer screen,” she pushed.

I wanted to believe her. “I don’t know. I’ve never dated anyone over the computer before,” I laughed.

“Well, there’s a first time for everything,” she smiled.

I nodded, trying to convince myself that this was somehow, going to be okay.

“You have good chemistry when you’re on the phone or the computer, right?” she asked.

I nodded.

“And I saw how you lit up when he called, so you like him, right?” she pushed.

I nodded.

“Seems to me, you two have a lot in common, and having chemistry without meeting is a lot harder than having it with someone in front of you,” she barked.

“Maybe,” I replied.

“A relationship has to start somewhere. This might all work out; just wait and see. It’s not like you’re in a rush to find someone; you weren’t even looking, so relax, and just enjoy this,” she suggested.

Everything she said was true. And I did like Silas, a lot. I didn’t realize just how much I liked him until he told me he was going away. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit it hurt like hell thinking I’d lose him forever. I just truly didn’t see how this could work with him across the world.