Page 14 of Love Legacy

Even though it’s not quite what I was hoping to hear, my heart feels a little lighter, the tension melting from my shoulders.

It wasn’t a profession of love, but it wasn’t a rejection either, and this is next best thing.

Naomi Williams is open to the possibility of me, of us.

And that gives me more hope than I had when I walked into her apartment with.

“I’m stuck with you, huh? I don’t think you realize what you’ve just signed yourself up for.” I laugh, trying to lighten the moment.

Naomi gives me a little smirk of her own. “I know exactly what I’m getting into.”

The lock on the front door turns, indicating Naomi’s other roommate is back. We both jump up from the couch as the door opens, letting go of each other. “Hey, Sage,” Maeve says with surprise, her eyes darting back and forth between us.

“Hey, Maeve.”

“I’ll walk you out?” Naomi says, looking up at me with uncertainty.

“Yeah, that’d be great. I have to catch up with Cora anyway. Last I heard she and soccer boy spent the night together.”

“It’s about time she gave that man a break,” Maeve says with a laugh, heading down the hall. Once she’s out of sight, Naomi takes my hand once again, leading me to the door. “I’m sorry for cutting things short, I just didn’t want—”

“Hey, it’s okay, Naomi, I get it. You didn’t want Maeve to turn this into something it’s not when you’re still figuring it out,” I say softly, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “I completely understand, plus I wasn’t lying. I do have to catch up with my roommate and find out how her night went.”

“I’ll see you later?” Naomi looks up at me expectantly, still holding my hand.

I give her hand a gentle squeeze, smiling wide. “Definitely.” I press my lips to her forehead, lingering for a bit before pulling away completely. “Bye, Naomi.”

I close the door behind me, heading into my apartment, my attention focused on my phone.

“So…how did it go?”

I jump, startled by the voice. “Jesus, you scared me, Cora.” Both she and Gabby are sitting in the living room of our apartment, seemingly waiting for my return.

“I’ll echo Cora. So how did it go?” Gabby asks me, patting the couch next to her.

I roll my eyes, coming into the apartment and taking a seat in my favorite armchair. “It was…interesting,” I say, kicking my shoes off and getting comfortable in the chair.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Gabby laughs.

“I mean, it didn’t go exactly the way I planned, but we’re on good terms, so I guess that’s better than the alternative.”

“Sage, babes, I’m going to need you to give us a few more details.” Cora raises an eyebrow, watching me expectantly.

“Well, to start, she said it was a great kiss.”

Gabby rolls her eyes. “Like you need another boost to your ego. What else did she say?”

“That she’s confused, she doesn’t know what the kiss means to her or how she really feels about me.”

“I’m sorry, Sage, I know how much you liked Naomi.” Cora rests a hand on my arm in an attempt to be sympathetic.

I smile, shaking my head. “It wasn’t an outright rejection. She seemed to be open to the possibility of us in a relationship together, just has to figure out her own emotions first.”

“Are you sure? We just don’t want you to get your hopes up and then get hurt in the end,” Gabby says, being uncharacteristically gentle.

“I’m positive you guys. We had a heart-to-heart. I told Naomi about my coming-out story, and she told me she felt deeply connected to me. We held hands, she let me kiss her on the forehead, and she wants to meet up later in week, just us two,” I say smugly.

“Look at her, excited over a forehead kiss.” Cora laughs, nudging Gabby.

“Who are you and what have you done with Sage the Heartbreaker?”

I laugh. “I’m serious, I’m optimistic about how things will end up. I have a deep connection with her and even if it’s just friendship, there is something there.”

“Well, if you’re happy, I guess we’re happy for you,” Cora says softly.

“Speaking of happy, what’s up with you and lover boy?” She rolls her eyes. “You two looked pretty happy when you left the party last night. Together, I might add,” I say, raising a brow.

“Anthony and I had a great night.” Now, it’s Cora’s turn to be tight-lipped.

“Anthony? I thought his name was Dave.”

Cora laughs. “His name is Anthony Davidson, but most of his teammates call him by his last name. All his friends call him Tony. I think I might be the only one who calls him Anthony besides his family.”

“Aren’t you special… What’s the deal with you two anyway? He’s been chasing after you since we were freshmen! I thought he would’ve given up by now,” Gabby says, tilting her head and sizing Cora up.

She blushes. “Actually, he’s been chasing me for longer than that.”

“What do you mean?”

Cora sighs. “Anthony and I grew up together. Our moms were college roommates. We’ve been friends for years,” she explains.

“Oh, this is juicier than I expected…” Gabby shifts on the couch, getting more comfortable as she leans in eagerly.

“Anthony and I also dated when we were thirteen. Not for very long though, he was a bit of a jerk at the time. So we grew apart. And then when my mom died, we grew apart even further, since my dad and I moved to live near my aunt in Chicago. I probably should’ve known he’d go to Pinebrook too, after all, it’s where our moms met. ”

My jaw drops in surprise. “So you’re the one that got away?”

She shrugs. “I guess? I mean, I’ve never thought of it that way because our distancing seemed to be mutual.”

“So how’d you guys end up reconnecting?” Gabby asks, equally as invested in this story as I am.

“Remember that freshmen mixer that the Student Activities center threw? I know you guys missed it because of a rush event running over, but Anthony and I bumped into each other there. He saw me there alone and sat with me. We caught up, talked about how our high school years went, exchanged numbers, and went our separate ways. And then we kept bumping into each other. Econ 101, Student Government, Clash of Clubs, the Business Department’s Annual Golf Tournament, parties here and there, Anthony kept finding his way into my life. ”

“So…? Do you have feelings for him?” I ask. “He’s head over heels for you.”

“I don’t know. He’s much more attractive now than he was at thirteen.

I don’t know if he’s changed. He probably did, after all, that was almost ten years ago, but Anthony left my life right when I needed him the most, and it still hurts.

That’s why I haven’t accepted any of his invitations to go on a date, because I don’t know if I want to, or if I’m ready to, reopen those old wounds. ”

“Well, I think you two would be great together. I understand why you’re hesitant, but that man adores you, Cora, and I think you deserve to have someone that puts you first the way he does. Maybe he didn’t then, but he’s definitely trying to make up for it now,” I say, giving her a small smile.

Gabby nods her head, pointing to our full bookshelf. “Sage is right, haven’t almost all your books come from him? He drops one off every time he comes across a new book he thinks you’ll love. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is.”

“Or when he brought her coffee and walked her to class every day for a whole semester.”

“How about when he cashed in a favor with his friend that worked at the golf course so that she could get private lessons leading up to the Business Department’s tournament?”

Cora laughs. “Ha, ha, very funny. I get it, he’s a real-life book boyfriend.”

“That man is down bad for you, Cora, all you have to do is say yes,” Gabby says, getting up from the couch, heading to the kitchen.

“I, unlike aggressive, hopeless romantic Gabby, support whatever decision you make. While I think you guys make a good-looking couple, and he seems to make you happy, I can completely understand your hesitations. We both know I have similar hangups.”

Cora leans over to give me a hug, letting out a deep sigh. “Man, do we have a lot of baggage.”

“That we do, Cor, that we do.”