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.

calming my nerves, I drove to a flower shop, bought

from occasions like their birthdays and the anniversaries of their passing, I rarely

and my parents. So, I wanted to visit them as I

I noticed a bouquet by the tombstone. Its wilted

over a decade since my parents' passing, and besides Zack

come to pay their respects? If they had, why hadn't

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

set aside the withered flowers and placed my

faces on the tombstone, my heart ached, yet I managed to smile. "Mom, Dad, have you missed

up. I'm sorry I couldn't fulfill your and

fulfilling the promise you arranged, I think you just wanted me to

...

out my heart for over

time had passed when the sun was high, and I

up the withered flowers to throw them away.

years that I had been living with the Gildon family, 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. Clearly, they