Free What Love Has Lost by Mindy McCalester Page A

Evers wants me to spend more time with Nathan. He and I already have our closure, but why is he pushing me for more? Does he actually want me back?
    No, I shall not intact our friendship with my emotional feelings!
     
    ♠♣♥♦
    "I got a strike!" Grady exclaims, while he is high-fiving everyone. Instead of him giving me a high-five, he gives me a kiss on the cheek. Whoa, what was that for?
    "Congrats on getting a strike." I mouth at Grady. Grady smiles and grabs my hand as he drags us to a private setting. What is going on with Grady? Does he have a secret crush on me?
    Normally, Grady and I will tell everything to each other. He's the type of friend who will never keep secrets. I love Grady as a brother, honestly, but this boy is starting to scare me by the minute.
    "So?" I break the silence while we both sit down on each chair, facing each other.
    Grady cracks a small smirk across his face, and he starts making me laugh.
    "Grady, what's going on? You're scaring me." I proclaim. Grady shakes his head, looking down onto the floor. I wait for him to proceed. He exhales, deeply, before explaining any further.
    He makes eye contact with me. His crystal blue eyes starts to become brighter under this dim, dark light. It's somewhat difficult to make out his facial features, but I can tell that his beard is becoming more exposed. "Nathan talks about you."
    Why is he talking about me? Is it bad? Is it good? I need certain information!
    "He says that he misses those lingering kisses from you. He misses that rocking hot body of yours..." Grady trails. Ew, that's all he misses about me? I bet he says the same thing to those other girls who he had intercourse! I bet he just say that he loves them, just to get them to bed with him. It's always that typical Nathan act he loves to pull. He's not fooling me anymore!
    I can see through his romantic façade!
    Grady continues. "I know that Nathan is just being a regular guy, with raging teenage hormones, but he told me that he never slept with anyone else after you. He deeply, truly loved you and still does. He's asking for a second chance. He's pleading for you to love him, again. He knows that you still love him. I know it, too. I can see the way you look at him - vice versa."
    I stare at Grady, endlessly. Every word that is coming out of his mouth echoes into my brain. Mrs. Evers is right when she says that Nathan and I belong to each other. However, I'm afraid to let him hurt me, again. I don't want my past repeat itself. I don't want to feel that same pain that I felt four years ago.
    "Inna, Nathan confesses that he's a jerk for letting him break up with you. He regrets all those hurtful words when he showed up at your doorstep. He wants you; only you. However, I'm not the one to decide for you. I just want you to hear his words through me." Grady smiles and taps his hand onto my knee, before leaving my presence.
    I sit there in the dim light for a couple of minutes. I'm rewinding all those words, which escapes through Grady's lips. I replay all those wonderful memories that I have with Nathan. I replay that awful moment, where he decides to end our relationship. I replay that sincere kiss on the cheek.
    I remember all the hurt. Suddenly, all my emotions that I grudge come out. Most people say it's good to cry, once in a while. It's good to let out those emotions flood away. It's a good remedy for everyone. Everyone has empathy. Everyone has emotions.
    "Hey," a familiar voice distracts me, away from my thoughts. I look up as I wipe a single tear, away from my face. I hate letting people see me cry. "What's wrong?" he asks, giving me a sympathetic look.
    "Um, it's nothing. I'm just contemplating."
    Nathan chuckles in his deep voice. "I saw Grady taking you here. I was wondering what you two were talking about, so I came over here to ask you. Grady wouldn't budge on telling me, but Grady is a guy, so he keeps his secrets away from me, sometimes."
    I nod. "Well, it was nothing..."
    Nate