Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

I chuckled. "Brandon, I've made myself clear. Since we have different goals, let's call it off, then."

"But don't you need a boyfriend?" Brandon pressed.

"Yes, I do, but I can't handle a military guy like you. I'll figure something else out."

My response seemed to darken his gaze even more.

I half-expected him to protest or compromise, but he surprised me by saying nothing at all. I had overestimated myself.

"Well, then, I'm sorry for overstepping," I said.

Turning away, I hurried into my car as though eager to escape the scene.

It wasn't until I was sure Brandon couldn't see me that I finally stopped the car. After taking a deep breath, I regretted the reckless impulsiveness of last night's drinks.

I should have asked Derick to pretend to be my boyfriend instead of getting involved with Brandon.

But it was too late for regrets now.

drove to a flower shop, bought a bouquet, and headed to

birthdays and the anniversaries of their passing, I

I'd been dreaming of my childhood and my parents. So, I

bouquet by the tombstone. Its wilted

decade since my parents' passing, and besides Zack and Bree, no one

Zack and Bree come to pay their respects? If they had,

puzzled, but with everything going on with Chris now, perhaps Bree had simply

aside the withered flowers and placed my

I looked at the youthful faces on the tombstone, my heart ached, yet I managed to smile. "Mom, Dad, have you missed me? I've been dreaming of

sorry I couldn't fulfill your and his parents' wishes for us

than fulfilling the promise you arranged, I

...

their grave, I poured out my heart for over

time had passed when the sun

flowers to throw them away. I noticed they weren't lilies. They were

whenever Zack, Bree, Chris, and I came to mourn my parents, we always brought lilies because Mom loved them. But these were daisies, not lilies.