So there I was, sitting on the beach talking with Joce, and then, all of a sudden I’m being dragged into the water with Nick.
“Nick, what are we doing?” I asked, once we were far away from Joce and Lekan, who were now talking seriously about something.
“Don’t you remember, Steph?” He looked at me with pleading eyes, unfortunately I didn’t know what he was talking about.
“Uh, Nick, I wish I did, but since I don’t.. can you explain?”
He sighed. “Steph, we got together right here, in this lake.”
“Oh.” I tried to look down at my feet, but I was up to my waist in water. If he was trying to rip me apart piece by piece, it was working pretty well. “What made you think of that?”
“You’re all I can think about, I was so excited to get home, only to break up.”
Well, that was it. Now I couldn’t even look at him. “I’m sorry Nick.”
He put his arms around my waist. “Why does it have to be this way? Why is it so hard?”
“It’s hard for me too, Nick. But this is the way it has to be.”
“But why?” His eyes were a misty grey, filled with tears that threatened to fall at any second. “I love you so much, and it hurts me to sleep in my bed.”
“Nick, that will remain one of my best memories….” I trailed off
“But,” Nick said, waiting for me to go on.
“But… I still love you. And I do know what it is like to be hurt. Nick you are not the only one who is hurt by our breakup.”
Nick pretended to look confused, “Who…Joce?” Nick never failed to make me laugh.
“Steph, I just want to know why we had to break up. All I ever think about is you, and now I can’t have you.” I thought about these words. Why had I dumped Nick in the first place? I still loved him. Maybe I was over reacting.
I forced myself to look Nick in the eyes. For the past year, his eyes had been my favorite things to see, now, it was painful. I tore my eyes away from his. Could we make it work? Obviously Nick knew what I was thinking, because he said,
“Steph, come to my house tonight, just so we can talk, alone, just us.” I thought about it.
“Alright.” I whispered.
