Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

After Brandon left, I took a shower before laying down on the bed. Then, I picked up my phone.

Lisa had sent me a message with a photo attached. The photo showed Ellie sleeping soundly, and the message read, "Ellie is fine."

As expected of a close friend. I knew I could trust her to take good care of things.

I replied, "Thanks for your help."

Right after I hit the send button, Lisa's video call came through almost immediately. Had she been waiting for my reply?

Considering that she had just established a relationship with her crush, I figured that she was just eager to share the news with me. I answered the video call.

Lisa was lounging in her office chair, and her face was glowing with joy that was almost palpable through the screen. I teased her, "You can't hide that glow. It's written all over your face!" "Mrs. Howell, you're so poetic," Lisa said with a thumbs up.

I didn't play along. Thinking about her and Keith's progress, I couldn't help but tease, "Dr. Carline, you really know how to handle people."

"Do I?" Lisa replied with a faint smile.

I laughed. "Just agree to that statement."

but didn't say anything else. I recalled the earlier scene and said, "Lisa, you have no idea how excited I was when I heard Keith saying that he also liked you. I was ready

that you'd definitely throw yourself

yet I didn't. Surprising, right?" she replied with a

excited that you lost your mind

lips. "I was definitely excited, but I wasn't out of my mind. I

"So, you

and been infatuated with him for years, but I've also told you that while I love him, I can't let it make me

conversation and her previous advice. She had once said that my breakup with Chris was ultimately due to my

had to admit that although Lisa was new to relationships, she was

I said while giving her a

what you call being a pro?" she responded with a modest

to Keith and

laughed. "Wasn't that

You know how to

what

ten years of unrequited love and four years of a clear relationship