Cammie Healy - Jennifer Foor Page 0,40

to giggle. I never expected him to say that. "Wow.‎"

"Yeah well, it's her life. She seems happy now."

"Would you change anything else?"

He shrugged. "Just one more other thing. If I would have stayed with my grandfather I would've had the opportunity to be with a certain girl in high school. I can't be sure, but I think everything would have ended up differently had she given me the chance."

Heat radiated to my cheeks. I was almost too embarrassed to ask. "Wes, are you talking about me?"

He tossed the rest of the plant in the water and stared at it floating as he answered. "I think you already know the answer. I told you I had a crush on you. I can't explain it. I've thought about you a lot more than I'd like to admit. I'm not a stalker. It was innocent, I assure you."

"I'm not creeped out. I think it's sweet."

"I've had girlfriends, they just didn't work out."

"Maybe if things were different we could have given it a go. I've got to say, I'm sure glad you came back to visit when you did. If I had to stay cooped up in that house with my parents any longer I'd explode."

"You didn't tell them about the baby, did you?"

"I couldn't. You were right. It was too much for one conversation."

"Have you thought about what you're going to do next?"

Of course I'd thought about my future, or if I had anything left to hope for. "I'm contacting Stanford Monday. I need to know if they can defer my admission."

"They have waiting lists. It might mean you'll have to forfeit your place."

"I know. To be honest I don't know what I'm going to do if I can't go to Stanford. I guess I'll have to go to a local school out of pocket. With the baby on the way it's probably going to be my only option."

"What about the father? Do you think he'll change his mind?"

It was a legitimate question I hated answering. "No. I think his mind is set in stone. Apparently I was the last to know he was a womanizing pig who slept with other students. He lied to me, manipulated me into thinking I was special. I was never anything more than a fuck. He's a despicable excuse for a human being. He can rot in Hell for all I care."

"I didn't see that coming. Remind me not to get on your bad side. I'd hate to be thrown under the bus."

"Wes, you're too nice to be like James. You're the kind of guy every girl looks for but never finds. One day you're going to make someone the happiest girl in the world."

"Just not you, right?"

I docked my eyebrow and gave him an ornery stare. "You don't let up do you?"

"I see something I like and I usually do whatever it takes to have it. With you that can't happen, but I'd kick myself in the ass if I didn't keep trying."

"I'm knocked up by my college professor. I'm not the sweet girl I used to be. I'm damaged. If you only knew the things I've done, you wouldn't want to be near me. There's nothing nice about me anymore. I ruined my life, and if you keep choosing to keep me company I'll probably ruin yours too."

I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I didn't want him to feel sorry for me. I wanted him to get up and run as far away from me as possible.

"I'm a grown man, I can make my own damn decisions. Besides, I happen to believe you can find yourself again. You've already taken the first step and come home. It's only a matter of time before everything has a way of working out."

"Your positivity makes my stomach hurt."

"Well, your negativity makes me want to shove this mud in your mouth." He picked up a wad of dampened dirt and held it close to my face. “Your life isn’t over, Cammie. It might be headed in a different direction, and that is freaking scary, but it’s not over.”

“When did you get smart and handsome?” I couldn’t believe I’d said it out loud. Being with him in such a relaxing atmosphere was causing me to be too comfortable for my own good. “Sorry, I…”

“It’s fine. You already know I think you’re stunning. There’s nothing wrong with being attracted to someone. Trust me, I know from experience, sometimes it doesn’t get you any closer to being with