No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 35



"Girl." The voice on the other end of the phone was thick, familiar, yet distant.

A familiar face flashed before my eyes, and I called out, "Dustin."

I had thought changing my number would keep the Wagner family at bay, but I never expected Conrad's brother Dustin to track me down. Even more surprising was his decision to reach out.

"Looks like you saved my number. Didn't forget about me," Dustin teased.

He was only a few years older than Conrad. Before he went abroad, he always looked out for me, fondly calling me "little girl."

I was at a loss for words, detecting a hint of complaint in his tone. We'd occasionally talk during the first two years after he left, asking about each other's lives. Gradually, those calls faded. Dustin was never one to initiate, maintaining sparse contact even with his family, let alone with me.

be about my broken engagement with Conrad. Despite Dustin's sporadic communication with his family, they kept each other informed about

I'm straightforward by nature, preferring

borrowed money from me once to pay your phone bill." Dustin's memory impressed

embarrassed to ask his parents for money, so I turned to Dustin. Concerned I might spend the money elsewhere, he accompanied me to make the payment. He

when he called, I teased, "Are you calling to collect a debt,

right,"

his lead. "Then I'll transfer it to you right

"Felicia," Dustin interrupted.

my phone tighter

Dustin continued pleasantly, "My parents are worried about you.

be upset, but I hadn't anticipated how severe their

of all the stress," Dustin paused before continuing,

no avoiding it. I had to face this question again. It seemed I would face this every time someone learned

gave me a headache. I massaged my temples, "Didn't you ask Conrad?