Free Love Me ~ Through the Storm by Renee Kennedy

a ring.”
    “Yeah, I guess so.”
    “I have a question for you though and you need to think about it really hard before you answer. Do you think you could be holding on to him just because he’s convenient?”
    I shake my head.
    “Don’t answer yet, just listen to me for a moment.” GG holds up a hand. “I don’t want to make you more upset than you already are, but I want you to think about everything, what ya feel and why ya feel that way.”
    “You’re right, though I think my heart isn’t telling me he’s the one. My heart is confused.”
    “All the more reason to take things slow, honey. Why don’t we change the subject to something happier, for now?” GG asks. “So tell me about that bossy little dog of Lizzie and Clay’s.”
    I laugh. “You would think that Chico’s their child. They talk to him like he’s a baby and Lizzie takes pictures of him all the time. If I have to see one more picture of him sleeping in a sunny spot, I’m unfriending her on Facebook.”
    “That’s hilarious. He sure was opinionated at Bailey and Cash’s reception. He nipped at my nose when I tried to hug Lizzie.”
    “He’s very possessive, that’s for sure.”
    We sit quietly for a while just enjoying each other’s company and the brittle, but I need to get back to the dorm to get ready for the first day of classes. “GG, thank you. I needed this today.  Just talking out some of these emotions with you… it’s helped me. I’ll look into finding a counselor or someone like that to talk to, but I was wondering, can I still come by and talk to you, too?”
    “Oakley, I’m here for you, night and day. You’re one of my young’uns, and I expect you to come to me when you need help.” GG gets up and takes the couple of steps to me then pulls me into her arms.
    She hugs me like a mama would, and I feel all warm and loved, with her gentle squeeze and her hand brushing my back. Something tiny inside me releases, a little weight is gone. GG took it as her own. I hold on to her a little longer, loving the way it feels to be hugged by a mom, even if she’s not my own. I see what all the guys love about her, and I sense my own fondness of her swell inside my chest.
    GG sends me home with the remainder of the cookies and makes me promise to come back soon. I think she’ll probably get tired of me because I’ll be around so much.
    During the ride back to my dorm, my phone rings. “Hey, Lizzie,” I say, putting the call on speakerphone.
    “Hey, Oak!” Lizzie and Bailey say in unison.
    “We wanted to call and wish you luck for your first day of classes tomorrow,” Bailey says.
    “Thanks, guys.”
    “What’s the matter?” Lizzie asks.
    “What do ya mean?”
    “I know you.  I can hear it in your voice, what’s wrong?” Lizzie asks.
    “Oh, it’s nothing. You know, just anxious about starting classes tomorrow.”
    “I’m not buying that shit, are you, Bailey?”
    “What’s wrong, Oakley? We’re here for you. Hello! Big sister here. Talk to me,” Lizzie insists.
    “Can you really hear that something is wrong from my voice? Do I sound that bad?”
    “Yes,” they say simultaneously.
    “There’s no hiding from you guys, huh?”
    “No, sweetie, so unless you want us showing up in your dorm room in about two hours, spill,” Bailey says, sweetly.
    “Quinn decided to skip college and go straight into the Air Force. He got sworn in today and left for his training.”
    “I’m so sorry,” Bailey says.
    “That jackass! I’ll cut off his balls for this!” Lizzie yells.
    “For goodness sakes, Lizzie, I’m freaking in the other room and you just killed my ear,” Bailey says. “Are you okay? What can we do? Want us to come up?”
    “I’m fine, I can do this. Kane has been helping me with some of my anxious feelings. He’s been talking me through them, and I think some of it is starting to make sense to me.”
    “That’s good,” Bailey says.
    “The fuck it is. You need to be careful, Oakley.