Page 2 of Always Be My Baby

I leaned into her shoulder and closed my eyes, hoping the tears would stop, but my heart... the dagger kept digging deeper as the reality of our relationship hit me, really hit me. Lucas and I—we were over.

Sure, we could talk about what happened. But why? I would never be able to erase the image of them kissing from my mind. How could I ever trust him again? The thought of him locking lips with hers and touching me after he made out with her gave me a horrid taste in my mouth. I didn’t even want him in the same room as me.

“What are you going to do?” Leah continued, her voice soft and tender.

“Over time I might be able to forgive him, but I will never be able to forget.” A soft cry seeped out of me. “I can’t believe he kissed her back. I can’t believe he cheated on me.” I sucked in air and bawled into my palms.

Leah caressed my arm. “Well, it’s his loss. I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but he’s not the one for you. It’s better to know now than later. My sister’s best friend got dumped on her wedding night. She fell into depression and she was a mess for a couple months. Later, she found the love of her life. I promise, someone who was meant for you will come along. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon. You just wait and see.”

I believed in fate, but it was extremely difficult in my state of mind. “I know,” was all I could say.

“Let’s have girls’ night out as soon as we can all get together. Midterms are coming up, so not sure when, but I’ll call Tiffany, Julie, Vanessa, and Valerie. Okay?”

I nodded because I had nothing to say. I didn’t know if I could even make the effort to get out of the house except for going to my classes.

Chapter Two

Guilt

Lucas

There were no words I could say to make it right. Guilt slammed into me again as I tried to cover the truth of what I had done. In truth, Caroline had kissed me, but I didn’t stop her. I freakin’ didn’t stop her, and I couldn’t understand why. Cammy and I had been going out for a year, and I really loved her. What the hell is wrong with me?

I could have blamed it on the alcohol, but I wasn’t anywhere near being buzzed. Caroline had been flirty, but she never aggressively approached me. Cammy had warned me about Caroline many times. She said it bothered her that Caroline and I were friends but Caroline had never tried to be friends with her. Though Cammy did attempt to make an effort to get to know Caroline. That didn’t go so well.

Caroline was not only a pledge from our sister sorority but my little sis as well. So in a way, I felt obligated to do things with her and get to know her better. I’d thought Cammy was jealous of our close friendship, but after what had happened, I couldn’t say she was making things up.

“All better between you and Cammy?” Paul asked when I walked into my apartment and slammed the front door shut. He was getting a drink out of the fridge.

I stood there gripping my hair and heaving deep breaths.

“That good, huh?” His brown eyes expressed sympathy.

“You left the party early?” I grabbed a beer out of the fridge and plopped on the sofa.

Paul sat next to me. “I’m too old to stay late. Besides, we’ll both be graduating soon, and I should spend my time doing something productive.”

I flipped the can open and took a sip. “You’re going to Harvard Graduate School. I think you can waste a little time partying.”

He shrugged and took a gulp before he spoke. “So what happened? She refused to hear your side of the story?”

I took another sip, wishing I could start the night over. “She said she saw us flirting and that I kissed Caroline back.” My words came out low and soft. I felt guilty for hurting her. “She didn’t want to talk to me. She wants time, and I don’t blame her.”

“What did you say after that?”

“I...” I shook my head. “I don’t remember. I just left. Even if I got down on my knees and begged, she would have kicked me out. In fact, I don’t remember much. It all happened so fast, even the kiss with Caroline, which didn’t freakin’ mean anything. I think I was in shock that I didn’t push her away.” I ran my hand down my face and blew out a long breath. “Cammy hates me. She’s never going to forgive me. This is my fault. I should have stopped Caroline. I guess I was too friendly with her and she got the wrong message. I have no idea, but she drank too much. I told her friend to keep an eye out for her before I took off to find Cammy.”

Paul stretched his legs and crossed his ankles on the table. “If you want to get Cammy back, I suggest you do it quickly. I know she told you she wants time, but that will only pull you two apart even more. Just talking from experience.”

I angled my eyebrows. Paul had been my roommate for almost two years after we moved out of the dorm at the end of our freshman year. We rushed fraternity together at the beginning of our junior year and had been friends ever since then. I met Cammy then. She wasn’t interested in joining a sorority, but she was at one of the open parties supporting her friend Vanessa.

I’d seen Paul regularly with one girl freshman year. They must have broken up. He dated a few here and there after that, but nothing serious. And we’d never talked about his relationship since it happened before I met him.

“You said you’re talking from experience. What happened?” I dared to ask. I thought hearing his story would give me hope that I could fix what I had broken.

He released a long sigh and took a moment before he spoke. “To make a long story short, I would have given her a second chance had she asked for it. I loved her that much, or at least I thought I was in love.” He shifted to face me, his beer can dented on the side from pressing hard. “If you truly love her, then fight for her. Beg her for a second chance. Do everything you can, even if it means to tell your little sis to stay the freakin’ hell away from you. Cammy is never going to trust Caroline ever again. If you want Cammy back, you’ve just lost your little sis. But if you don’t love her, or if you’re not sure, then this would be a good time to break things off.”

I considered his advice.