Page 78 of Then Came You

Sam and Gillian had “officially” been dating for three weeks, and he’d yet to take her fishing. They’d seen each other just about every day, but fishing was the furthest thing from his mind. Instead, they hung out at each other’s houses, talking, watching movies, playing with the dogs, and making love, not necessarily in that order.

She’d opened up to him in ways he’d never thought possible, sharing more details about Owen and her life “before.” Sometimes Sam felt a flicker of jealousy, knowing how much she’d loved Owen and wanted to marry him. But mostly, he was grateful that she’d chosen to share her stories with him, and he did the same in return.

He’d told her more details about the death of his cousin and how much it had affected him. He’d talked about his childhood, teen years, and beyond, though he’d purposely avoided bringing up past girlfriends. Things were going so smoothly between them that he hated to stir the pot.

One night, however, when they were lingering over dinner, she asked him whether he’d ever been in love. Since she’d asked him straight out, he felt like he had to answer, though he dreaded it.

“Yes, but it was a long time ago.” He should have known she’d want more details. They’d been voracious in their need to learn about each other, and no subject was off limits.

“Who was she?” Gillian asked, her voice soft.

“Her name was…is Emily. We were high school sweethearts.”

“What happened?”

Here came the part he’d dreaded. They’d finally gotten to a point where Gillian saw him as a man and not just a cop, and he hoped this wouldn’t derail them.

“Emily didn’t want me to become a police officer.”

Gillian winced. “Did she try to talk you out of it?”

“Tried is putting it mildly. She begged, cried, and complained before she finally gave me an ultimatum.”

“Her or the force?”

“Yeah.”

“And you chose the force.”

“Yes.”

It was still a sore spot, but he’d come to terms with his decision years ago. He still ran into Emily occasionally, and they were friendly, but his other feelings for her had long since disappeared.

“If she hadn’t done that, would you have…do you think…would you have married her?”

“Maybe. It’s hard to say. I loved her, but it wasn’t a mature love. We grew up together. She was my first kiss, my first date, my first…well, everything.”

Gillian averted her eyes then, and he worried he’d said too much.

“Sorry.”

“No, don’t be. I mean, of course you were with other women before me.”

She gave him a tentative smile, and he reached across the table and stroked her cheek.

“We both had other relationships, but that doesn’t negate what we have now.” He hadn’t defined what they had yet, but he knew what it felt like. He didn’t want to frighten her, though, and he wouldn’t dare try to label it this soon.

“Whatever happened to her?”

She still lives in Holly, and occasionally I run into her. Her and her husband, that is.”

Gillian’s relief was palpable, and he chuckled.

“Believe me, you have nothing to worry about. She and I were over a long time ago, and I don’t have any regrets about my decision.”

She nodded. “Has there been anyone else since then? Anyone important, I mean.”

“Not until you.”