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."

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

you'd definitely

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

you so excited that you lost your mind back

her lips. "I was definitely excited, but I

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 forget myself or make him think that his response is

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

was new to relationships, she was quite

pro," I said while giving her

that what you call being a

tone when she was speaking to Keith and

"Wasn't that

got everyone weak in the knees. That's why I say that you're smart. You know how

what men

I had ten years