Read Online Strong by Jennifer Rivard Yarrington - Free Book Online Page B

to me, but I usually convince myself that I'll eventually become more serious about my faith. The idea of knowing God personally isn't foreign to me, but I've never met someone with Chase's conviction or the quiet strength he embodies.
    My thoughts turn to my earlier conversation with my dad.  He is so firm, so solid. I can rely on him for anything. And, as evidenced by our earlier conversation, I can talk to him about anything.
    I can't believe he told me that he thinks Chase might be the one . I trust my dad with all my heart, so this gives me some assurance that I'm not going crazy.
    I sometimes think that God must be like an even better version of my dad – loving, tenacious, always there when I need Him. But occasionally, I tend to think God is more like my mom – kind of over-protective and determined to steal my joy. I know she's not an ogre, but she's so...sensible, to the point of not wanting me to take any risks. Ever.
    What does God really want for my life? Isn't He proud of me the way that my dad is? Does He care how serious I am about church , as long as I am a good person? Chase is a good man. God wouldn't have any objections to my relationship with Chase, would He?
    At the end of the fourth tour, I receive a text from Chase: Dinner at my place tomorrow?
    My quick reply? Sure thing !
     
    Saturday morning, another text arrives: Pick U up @4PM. Have to prepare U for the parents. LOL.
    Shoot! 4:00 PM. Dinner. What was I thinking? I had Chase on the brain and not my job. I race to Fiona's room and wake her up. “Fi, if I clear it with Sam, can you cover my trolley shifts tonight?”
    “Why?” She mumbles, still half asleep.
    “ I'm going to meet Chase's parents tonight.”
    Fiona sits straight up and laughs, “Oooh, you're meeting the parents already.  This is getting serious.”
    “ Shut up!” I laugh. “Please say you can work for me? Please!”
    “ Yeah, sure.” Fiona flops back down and throws the pillow over her head.
    There is a knock on the front door at exactly 4:00. I'm still in my bathroom trying to get my long wispy hair to cooperate. The cold temperatures make it so dry that I can hardly keep it from flying up like I'm touching a static ball. I decide to pull it back into a long straight ponytail. I throw on some lip gloss and accentuate the ensemble with some tiny Christmas tree earrings.
    I find Chase has already been greeted by Marcus. Surprisingly, they are having an intelligible discussion about some video game they both happen to like. I can't believe that Marcus has any conversational skills, but he is keeping Chase's interest as he describes how to beat a particularly difficult level in the game. I'm thankful that Chase doesn't seem to be holding a grudge about Marcus' insensitive comment a few nights ago.
    As I come close to Chase, he turns to me and his eyes widen. “You look wonderful,” he says.
    “I couldn't do anything with my hair,” I frown. 
    “ It's beautiful,” he whispers in my ear and then places a kiss right next to my ear. “ You're beautiful... Katie ,” he says, testing his new nickname for me.
    I crinkle my nose again, but I decide that I'll allow it for the time being. I'm still reeling from the fact that he just said I'm beautiful .
    Marcus makes a gagging noise and I realize that the semi-civilized kid I saw a few minutes earlier has disappeared.
    “So you want to show me how to behave in front of your parents?” I ask as I'm about to get my coat on.
    “ No!” He blurts. “That's not it at all!” He laughs as he wraps an arm around me in a hug. “You're perfect. It's just that they still shelter me since the accident.”
    “ Are they going to come out and greet me with a shotgun?” I tease.
    “ Maybe,” he jokes. “My sister and her husband are cool. But my mom seems to have reverted back to treating me like a five-year-old instead of a college senior.  I love her and all, but she can be kind of overbearing sometimes. I mean, she keeps