The Journey | #1 Smoky Mountain Series

18. The Coffin

Us, is his response.

I text him back with my answer and we agree to meet tomorrow. In the meantime, I go about my routine as normal. I change my clothes and clean around the house a little bit. There's not much to clean since I'm still unpacking but it takes long enough that when I'm done it's almost dinner time.

My nerves begin to set in thinking of how this encounter might go. There needs to be a lot of explaining and apologizing. I don't know if I want to be with him, but I do know in the time we spent we were great together. I would even say I started to love him. After everything that has happened, I wonder if we will be the same or if those feelings will still be there.

Even if there are feelings between us, he needs to seriously reflect on what happened and I don't think he's done that in the time we've been away from each other. He may have regretted what he said but I don't know if he's thought about the impact of his words. We also need to discuss this other woman he is supposedly talking to.

I need to know if do decide to get back together, I can trust him not to screw with my feelings or with her. I won't be with someone who can't respect the boundaries of a relationship and if he wants anything more than friendship out of her, our conversation doesn't even need to take place. I won't be with someone like Owen again. I lost myself with him and it took me moving here to begin to get it back. My dad and Tucker both are credited for that and I'm forever grateful to them. I gained certain independence I didn't know I had. I want to keep that independence and make it into something I can be proud of.

After cleaning, I make plans with Tabitha to meet for dinner and some much-needed fun. We meet at a bar named Flow. It's a rock and roll themed atmosphere with band memorabilia coating the walls. The music in the background sets the mood, making me feel as if I've stepped foot into the grunge era of the nineties. I instantly love it here.

I find Tabby sitting in a stool at the end of the bar, waving at me excitedly. I notice a man I've never met sitting next to her, his eyes following Tabitha's line of sight. She didn't mention bringing a date with her, but hey, the more the merrier. 

I make my way over to the two of them, hugging Tabitha when I reach her. She introduces me to the stranger who I discover is named Kentley. He works for Kahn Construction as a bricklayer.

Apparently, he and Tabitha have been giving a relationship a try before telling anyone it is serious. I know she feels her brothers will interfere and become overprotective, which is not appropriate for them to do. Tabitha is a strong, grown woman who can make her own decisions.

As we are talking and waiting for our food to arrive, I excuse myself and head to the lady's room. I use the restroom and wash my hands before I fix my makeup to satisfaction status. As I'm walking out, two strong arms wrap around my chest and waist, keeping me restrained.

I slap and kick in an attempt to free myself, but it's no use. I'm too weak to break free and too curved to wiggle out of it. Finally, I take my boot covered foot and stomp on the person's foot, making them release me with a pained groan.

"s**t!"