Chapter 11
514 Words
I walk forward slowly and take my missing teddy bear out from his fingers.
"Thanks..."
An awkward silence follows and I figure I should apologize for stalking him, but Trent speaks up
before I do, somehow seeming even more embarrassed than I am.
"So I guess you know I wasn't actually at work today?"
I nod and bite my lip.
"I didn't mean to... Spy. I just thought maybe something was wrong..."
A small lie to protect my image and ease my humiliation. Just checking up. It's a good cover if
you ask me.
Trent nods in understanding and opens his mouth a few times before snapping it shut and
grimacing.
"Look, I didn't mean to be rude this morning and rush you out. It's just that when I learned how
old you are, I kind of freaked. I really like you, but you're thirteen years younger than me and I
just... I mean... We live in a small town and people are judgy. It's just too much of an age
difference for me to feel comfortable acting on."
I purse my lips and stare at my driveway, trying to process his way of thinking.
He does like me. So, I wasn't wrong about that, but apparently, he doesn't like me enough. Not
enough to give me a chance simply because of our age, despite everything being completely
legal.
"Annabelle-"
"No, I get it."
Trent face contorts into one of relief and he even let's out a small sigh.
"You do?"
I nod and furrow my brow. I understand perfectly.
"Yeah. You're afraid of what other people think and that's what's stopping you from living your
life. I understand completely. Thanks for my bear," I finish off walking inside.
As much as I'm sure everyone else would wait around and try to convince him to give them a
chance, that's just not me. Sure, the age Gap is more than I bargained for, but it certainly
wouldn't bother me or change my mind if I was in control of the situation.
Trent's certainly not all I pegged him to be. Fearless sexy firefighter my ass. He's afraid of age
Gap, and to me, that's certainly not sexy.
And as I watch him shake his head from inside my house and leave in his car, I'm almost entirely
certain he's not the one. He didn't even try to fight for me or explain himself better. Pursuing him
would be a waste of time, so I do the only thing I can to try and take my mind off of him.
I call up Lucas, the other firefighter from the station who has taken a clear liking to me. He's
much closer to my age, only a year older with blond hair and a model’s smile. Not to mention,
willing to go out with me. The opposite of Trent.
I'm doing what he wants anyway. Leaving him alone and staying in my own age range, but deep
down, I can't tell if I'm doing this to make myself happy or to make Trent jealous.
- Writer
