Chapter 14
After I got home last night and went straight to my room, I lay in my bed for hours, thinking about everything Dex said. His explanation seemed honest, his longing and loving words seemed genuine, and he looked just as heartbroken as I feel inside.
Dex was just as sexy last night as he always has been, but it wasn’t like he was dressed to impress or anything—he just has that vibe about him. It doesn’t matter that he was wearing his faded jeans, a beater, and that damn black cap worn backwards. He would still be just as sexy in his sweatpants with an old, worn-out t-shirt.
Laying my eyes on him for the first time in two weeks had my heart singing, soul on fire, and body waking up after being dormant for the time I hadn’t seen Dex. It’s like there’s an invisible bond between us that wants to keep us connected. Is it fate? I don’t know. Is it all just a coincidence? Maybe. Are the stars aligned and he’s the one meant for me? It certainly feels like it.
I mean, really, what are the odds that the same guy that saved me when I needed help the most is the same man that needed my help with his grades? What are the odds that we would end up in the same college, in the same class, and sitting right next to each other? And what are the odds that we would be living in separate buildings right next to each other, with only a little grass separating us?
Now, let’s see the difference between fate and coincidence, shall we? Fate is events that happen beyond someone’s control, but coincidence is two or more events that happen at the same time in a way that’s unlikely. Looks like all of this is a crazy case of fate to me. What do you think?
Maybe I’m to blame a little—how, you ask? Well, maybe I should have asked more questions like; if you were from Union City, did you ever come to Senoia; how did we live so close, but never meet; or did you come home for summers? He told me he hadn’t been back home since he left, so why was he in Senoia that night?
Picking up my phone from my nightstand, I send him a text. If I’m going to consider forgiving him then I need to have all of the answers.
Why were you there that night? Thought you hadn’t been back home in 3yrs.
His response is immediate.
I haven’t been home. I stay with friends through the summer. I never said I hadn’t been back to U.C.
Touché.
Throwing my phone down on the bed, I decide to get up. Walking into the living room, I hear Momma’s voice. “Momma, what are you doing here?” I ask as I come out of the hallway.
“I had some business to take care of. I got in last night, but you were in bed.” She comes over, giving me a tight hug.
My eyes narrow. “What business do you have in Athens?” Momma doesn’t come here, so what could she possibly be up to?
“Yeah, Momma, what kinda business?” Cayden asks from the kitchen.
“None of yours.” Momma’s answer has me even more curious.
“Oh, now she’s the one with secrets,” Cydney laughs while sitting on the couch in the living room.
With a sigh, Momma responds, “If you girls must know, I met a man. No, I will not tell you who it is. If it works out, then he will be joining us at my house for Christmas in a couple of weeks.”
“Momma’s gettin’ her some!” Cayden taunts as she sits at the table with her bowl of cereal. That makes Cydney and me laugh.
“It’s about time you met someone,” Cydney tells her with a smile.
“You know we’re happy for you. Bring it in for a group hug,” I tell them, and the three of us squeeze the life out of her.
Remembering I need to call Professor Bryant, I go back to my room.
“Hello?” he answers after a few rings.
“Hi. Professor Bryant?”
“Yes.”
“It’s Callie Fisher.”
“Oh! Hi, Callie. I hope you’re feeling better. Have you decided about the TA job?”
“That’s why I was calling. I want to accept it.” Playing with the hem of my shirt, I wait for his reply.
“That’s great! I’m excited to work with you. Since this semester is almost over, how about you start in the spring?” I can hear the excitement in his tone. I’m also excited for this new opportunity.
“Thank you, Professor!”
“You’re welcome, Callie.”
We end the call, and I walk back into the living room to let my family know I accepted the position. We have another group hug, but this time I’m the one that gets squeezed, and they all congratulate me. I’m starting to finally feel like myself for the first time in two weeks, and no matter how mad I was last night, I think it really helped me to listen to what Dex had to say.
After we have breakfast, get ready for our day, and are just sitting around watching TV when Momma tells me to join her out on the balcony.
We sit in the couple of chairs we have set up out here and I ask, “What’s going on?”
“I just wanted to see how you are holding up.” Momma takes my hand in hers.
“I’m doing ok. I listened to what he had to say last night and, while I was pissed at first, I think it helped. I can’t say I’m ready to forgive him just yet, but I’m considering it.” Looking out at the campus, I see some of the students heading towards the dorms.
“He’s a good boy, Callie. You’re scared of getting hurt, but sometimes that happens with love. And that boy loves you like I’ve never seen.” Momma uses her free hand to pat the top of the one she’s holding.
“What about with our father? Didn’t you guys love each other in the beginning?” My brows pull down in confusion as I look at her.
“Not like that. Your father never looked at me with way Dex looks at you. Like you are his entire world. Most people wish they could find that type of love and never do. I never did. Don’t let it go, Callie. Your father made mistake after mistake, and I just looked past it. Your father treated me horribly, but Dex isn’t your father. He made one mistake—forgive him and move forward. As your mother, I’m glad he was there that night. So he didn’t tell you…but can you say that you would have truly fallen in love with him for him or your savior?”
“I don’t know.” Looking down at my shirt, I play with the hem.
“You will never know the answer to that question, but if he wouldn’t have been there, it could have been so much worse. So I will always be grateful to Dex, but I also know that you will always be safe with him. Think about that.” Momma releases my hand, pats my thigh, and heads back inside. Guess I have a lot to think about.
Callie messaged me! Hopefully that’s a good sign that she’s coming around. After last night, I had an idea that might give me some extra brownie points with her. So… I got up, got ready, and got Raine ready, then we went shopping for supplies.
Back at my condo, I look at my living room floor, which is covered in shit that I’m not really sure what goes where. “I guess it’s time for YouTube, baby girl.” I look over at my daughter, who is looking at me like I’m crazy, with her brows pulled down and her hand in her mouth as she chews away on it. I think she might be teething, because the drool that comes out of her is ridiculous. More things to look up… Later, though. Right now, I have other business of the heart to attend to.
Chuckling, I turn my attention on my phone and learn how to make a telescope.
After I’ve covered the Pringles can inside and out with black construction paper, I make a second, smaller tube with the construction paper by gluing it into a cylinder shape. This way, it’ll slide in and out of the can, giving me the focus adjustment I’ll need. Next, I take the bigger magnifying glass, break off the handle, then put glue around the frame part and secure it on the top part of the telescope with electrical tape. I repeat this process with the smaller magnifying glass and place it at the bottom of the scope with the glue and tape. After I have it all set up, I set it aside, allowing it to dry.
“Well, it looks pretty good to me, Raine. What do you think?” I look over at her where she’s still sitting in her walker, and she smiles and squeals at me, so I take it as her agreeing that Dad did well. “Guess we will find out tomorrow night for the final project.”
Pulling out my phone, I send a text to Callie.
Can you meet tomorrow night in the campus square?
A few seconds later she replies.
For?
Me: Final project
Callie: We didn’t do one
Me: I took care of it. I’ll have your part for you to do. Can you meet?
Callie: What time?
Me: 11 pm
Callie: Ok
I then message Cayden, letting her know that I’ll need her to stay with Raine at my condo because no way am I getting her out of bed that late.
Walking over to the campus with Raine in her stroller, I talk to Professor Bryant and let him know where and when to meet for the final project.
“So…Mr. Mitchell, would you like to tell me why we had to meet so late?” Professor Bryant asks while sitting on the bench in the square.
Callie stands off to the side, just as clueless as the professor, but she stays silent.
“For our final project, we decided to make a telescope. My job was to make it, while Callie will look through it and find different constellations.” Callie’s eyes cut to mine in a look of shock.
“Has this telescope been tested out?” Professor questions, while sitting up a little straighter, clearly intrigued.
“No this will be the first.” I hand the telescope over to Callie.
“Interesting. You two are taking a chance here. If it doesn’t work, then you will fail the final project and lose thirty percent of your final grade.”
“We understand.” I’m confident, while Callie looks a little worried, because her eyes have grown a size. “Go ahead, Callie.”
Feeling a bit nervous now, I bite the corner of my bottom lip. She brings it up to her eye, then moves the focus in and out while she moves left to right. “Wow!”
I hope that’s a good wow.
“I see the Little Dipper and Big Dipper.” I have to contain myself from laughing at the joke about Professor Bryant. Callie bites down on her bottom lip while smiling, so I know she’s thinking about it too. “There’s Orion, Cania Major, and Cania Minor.” Callie brings the telescope down for a second to look at me and smile, then she continues her search. “I can see Gemini, Auriga, and Taurus.”
“Let me see the telescope.” Professor stands from the bench and walks over to us. Callie hands it over, and he starts looking through the smaller lens. “I’d say you outdid yourself with this one, Mr. Mitchell. Off the record, I would say you can both expect your final grades to be an A.”
My smile is clearly evident. “Thank you!” Maybe we could get along after all.
“Thank you!” Callie chimes in, still smiling.
Professor Bryant leaves soon after, leaving Callie and me by ourselves.
“I can’t believe you made a telescope. And it worked,” she jokingly says, laughing softly.
“I don’t think I said this before, but I’m sorry, Callie. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” I want to reach out and grab her so much right now, bringing her to my chest, but I don’t want to take the chance of pissing her off when she’s happy right now. I’ve managed to make her smile, and I wasn’t sure if I would ever get the chance to see it again, so I don’t want to ruin this moment.
“Thank you.” She fidgets with her hands, while looking down for a second, then meeting my eyes once more. “I forgive you.”