Read Online Loved - A Novel by Kimberly Novosel - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kimberly Novosel
Ads: Link
enjoying his company. One evening, after we had been out to dinner, I was sitting in an overstuffed chair in his apartment with my feet tucked underneath my legs.
“I’m gonna grab a beer. Would you like a drink?” he asked, getting up from the couch. His dark hair glistened in the dim evening light that seeped through the window, and he flashed me a smile that reached his eyes.
“Sure!” I said, smiling back. He knew my drink by then so I didn’t have to specify.
When he came back, he handed me a cool glass of jack and coke, leaned over and kissed me. Just like that, I was surprised but I was more amazed by how good the kiss was; it was soft, sweet and confident. There were definitely sparks between us. At that moment, I began to think that maybe he was more than just someone to hang out with.
We continued to date through the summer. I began to find him truly charming: his chuckle, his ease in groups of people—something I’d always found difficult—as well as his generally happy mood. He was intelligent, he was a good listener, and most importantly he was encouraging. He thought I was fun and interesting and mature. He was also a little rebellious, which thrilled me. He came off as a wholly responsible, good guy but he wasn’t a “goody-two shoes” and that suited me well.
I couldn’t bring myself to tell Chase that I was seeing someone in Nashville. It was starting to seem inevitable that he would have to know but I wasn’t ready to cut ties there just yet. At some point, I found a way to work into a conversation with Brian that I had been dating someone back home, though not exclusively. He was really understanding about it. I guess he just figured, Well I’m here and that guy’s not , and he was right. He was there every day to kiss me and talk to me and be an active part of my life. When it came time to make a decision, I chose to commit to Brian. It really came down to the fact that he was there and Chase wasn’t and that wasn’t Chase’s fault.
WhenMegan moved in, we bought heavy black curtains to hang on the windows, painted the coffee table black before putting our handprints on it in blue. We covered the ugly brown sofa with a blue couch cover. I decorated my bedroom in pink and Megan decorated hers in purple. We made the apartment our home and it felt good.
Megan liked Brian. They would tease each other like brother and sister and the three of us started hanging out a lot. Brian would make us little pancakes with chocolate syrup, Megan would pick the movies and I would make the drinks. This was becoming routine.
We were in the living room one day with Brian and I on the couch and Megan on the futon, watching country music videos on CMT. It was early afternoon but no light came in to our black and blue room. This is my life, I thought. I am here and Megan is my best friend and Brian is my, well, boyfriend. I can’t deny it anymore. Sitting there in the dark I knew, I couldn’t keep Chase in the dark any longer. I went into my pink bedroom and lay on the bed in silence, staring at the twinkle lights above me. Like fireflies in my own enchanted forest. If only I could believe in enchantment.
In September, Megan rode the ten hours homewith me to Westville for a weekend. She stayed with my family one evening while I went to Chase’s house to tell him in person. We sat on the edge of his bed, each looking downat our knees. I was as kind as I could be. He wasn’t as understanding this time. He didn’t blame me, necessarily, though he was hurt and I was the cause of it. I showed my sadness but I was strong. This was my decision and the least I could do was to stand by it.
He wasn’t shocked, I don’t think. I knew the year I’d been gone had been hard for him too. He said he didn’t
“I’m gonna grab a beer. Would you like a drink?” he asked, getting up from the couch. His dark hair glistened in the dim evening light that seeped through the window, and he flashed me a smile that reached his eyes.
“Sure!” I said, smiling back. He knew my drink by then so I didn’t have to specify.
When he came back, he handed me a cool glass of jack and coke, leaned over and kissed me. Just like that, I was surprised but I was more amazed by how good the kiss was; it was soft, sweet and confident. There were definitely sparks between us. At that moment, I began to think that maybe he was more than just someone to hang out with.
We continued to date through the summer. I began to find him truly charming: his chuckle, his ease in groups of people—something I’d always found difficult—as well as his generally happy mood. He was intelligent, he was a good listener, and most importantly he was encouraging. He thought I was fun and interesting and mature. He was also a little rebellious, which thrilled me. He came off as a wholly responsible, good guy but he wasn’t a “goody-two shoes” and that suited me well.
I couldn’t bring myself to tell Chase that I was seeing someone in Nashville. It was starting to seem inevitable that he would have to know but I wasn’t ready to cut ties there just yet. At some point, I found a way to work into a conversation with Brian that I had been dating someone back home, though not exclusively. He was really understanding about it. I guess he just figured, Well I’m here and that guy’s not , and he was right. He was there every day to kiss me and talk to me and be an active part of my life. When it came time to make a decision, I chose to commit to Brian. It really came down to the fact that he was there and Chase wasn’t and that wasn’t Chase’s fault.
WhenMegan moved in, we bought heavy black curtains to hang on the windows, painted the coffee table black before putting our handprints on it in blue. We covered the ugly brown sofa with a blue couch cover. I decorated my bedroom in pink and Megan decorated hers in purple. We made the apartment our home and it felt good.
Megan liked Brian. They would tease each other like brother and sister and the three of us started hanging out a lot. Brian would make us little pancakes with chocolate syrup, Megan would pick the movies and I would make the drinks. This was becoming routine.
We were in the living room one day with Brian and I on the couch and Megan on the futon, watching country music videos on CMT. It was early afternoon but no light came in to our black and blue room. This is my life, I thought. I am here and Megan is my best friend and Brian is my, well, boyfriend. I can’t deny it anymore. Sitting there in the dark I knew, I couldn’t keep Chase in the dark any longer. I went into my pink bedroom and lay on the bed in silence, staring at the twinkle lights above me. Like fireflies in my own enchanted forest. If only I could believe in enchantment.
In September, Megan rode the ten hours homewith me to Westville for a weekend. She stayed with my family one evening while I went to Chase’s house to tell him in person. We sat on the edge of his bed, each looking downat our knees. I was as kind as I could be. He wasn’t as understanding this time. He didn’t blame me, necessarily, though he was hurt and I was the cause of it. I showed my sadness but I was strong. This was my decision and the least I could do was to stand by it.
He wasn’t shocked, I don’t think. I knew the year I’d been gone had been hard for him too. He said he didn’t
Similar Books
