All Chapters of My Life Long Crush: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

I met Rawls at a parking garage on the other side of town, a place where we were unlikely to be seen by anyone we knew. The concrete structure was cold and sterile, the fluorescent lights flickering overhead. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and all the tension in my body melted away. We shared a quick, passionate kiss before he opened the door to his favorite pickup truck. The smell of leather and his cologne filled the car, a comforting scent that made me feel safe. As we drove away from the city, the anticipation grew stronger with every mile. We talked about trivial things, trying to keep our nerves at bay, the radio playing softly in the background. His hand found mine, and we drove in a comfortable silence, the warmth of his touch reassuring me that we were making the right choice. The cabin was exactly as he described, a cozy retreat hidden away from the prying eyes of the world. The woods surrounding it whispered secrets as we unpacked the truck, the sound of our footsteps

My hand felt empty without Claire's, and the cold metal of the ring box in my pocket was a stark reminder of the promise I had made. I took a deep breath and walked inside, the sound of my boots on the hardwood floor echoing through the house. The television was playing in the background, and I could hear Evie's footsteps as she approached the door. "Dad?" she called out, her voice had a hint of anger. I turned to face her, trying to put on a calm face. “Evie, I am so glad you are home. I have been worried about you.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Where were you?." "Out of town," I replied, trying to keep my voice even. "I had some work to take care of." It was a lie, but one I hoped she would believe. Evie looked at me skeptically. "On a Friday night?" She knew my work schedule better than anyone. "It was unexpected," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "A last-minute emergency." "Yeah, sure," Evie said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "And I bet this 'emergency' was

Having to block Claire hurt me to the core. I can only imagine what she is going through. She doesn’t understand right now, but I am doing this to protect her, protect us. I am in my study, thinking about my weekend with Claire. The faint scent of her perfume still lingers on my jacket, and I can't help but think of the passionate nights we shared. It feels like a lifetime ago. My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on the door. It's Evie, her eyes red from crying. She looks at me with a mix of anger and hurt. "We need to talk," she says, her voice cold. I swallow hard, knowing that this conversation could change everything. "Okay," I reply, gesturing for her to sit down. She remains standing, her arms folded tightly across her chest. "I know you're seeing someone," she says, her voice filled with accusation. "Who is it?" “Evie, we are not discussing this again. I am still your father and I do not need to give you any explanations. What needs to happen now is to get some hel

I sit there for what feels like hours, staring at the phone, willing it to ring. But it stays silent, a piece of technology that holds the key to my future. Finally, unable to take the suspense anymore. I am just going to go to Rawls’ house and talk to him. He is not going to avoid me today. When I arrive, the house looks dark. Maybe he isn’t home from work yet. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the confrontation to come. I knock on the door, my heart hammering in my chest. Evie opens the door, her eyes widening in surprise and anger when she sees me. "What are you doing here?" she spits out, her voice filled with accusation. I stand there, my heart racing. "I need to talk to your dad," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "It's important." Evie's eyes narrow, her arms crossed over her chest. "What could possibly be important enough for you to come here?" she asks, her voice dripping with skepticism. I take a deep breath, my mind racing for an excuse that won't

The nurses come in to take Claire down to surgery. Mary and Robert were down the hall when they came in. Thankfully, so. No awkward questions to be answered. The wait feels like an eternity. I really didn't know what to say to Robert and Mary. I know they have so many questions. Questions that I don't want to answer or ready to answer. The minutes stretch into hours, each one heavier than the last. Finally, the doctor returns, his expression hopeful. He pulls the curtain around the bed, giving us a semblance of privacy. "The procedure went well," he says, his voice low and soothing. "We were able to remove everything safely. She'll be moved to a recovery room shortly." Mary's eyes search mine, desperate for answers I don't have. "What did they have to remove?" she asks, her voice trembling. I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of my secret threatening to crush me. "They had to remove...uh...some internal bleeding caused by the fall," I improvise, hoping it sounds convi