Page 82 of Reformation

How is it that in one school year I got to teach a class I’ll never, ever forget; met the man of my dreams; gained new friends who mean the world to me; and had a standoff with my mother and her drug-dealer boyfriend that almost got me and Garrett killed?

Even as I think about it, I can’t believe all of that happened. But it did, and finally, a month later, things are getting back to normal.

Well, my new normal. My new normal that I love.

Even though they both ratted each other out, Mama and Paul were both sent to prison and are awaiting trials. From what Mark and Charlie told me, Alabama wanted them back on minor drug offenses, but considering their charges here included kidnapping and attempted burglary with a deadly weapon, Virginia won out. Charlie reassured me that even if they got deals, I won’t have to worry about them for a very long time. And even when they are released, she will personally make sure that they never bother me again.

That’s when I found out that Charlie was a CIA agent. Everything now makes so much sense.

I’m still volunteering, though I have cut back. It was hard at first. I had spent so many years giving all of my free time to others that it felt selfish to use that time for myself. When I said that to Millie at the hospital, she basically slapped me upside the head before pushing me out of the door with orders to not come back. She reminded me that life was short. That if you have someone to love, that spending time with them and making memories together is not selfish. It will be what gets you through the lonely times when they are gone.

Her words got to me considering I know how close Garrett was to not being here. And then I remember that his scare is a big reason why we are together today. It’s funny how life works like that.

I might not be volunteering every night, but I’m still giving back. And so is Garrett. We have found more 5Ks to volunteer at—and Garrett is even running in a few as he finally put his running shoes back on. We are also looking at ways the clinic can do more for the community—with Trevor and Rebecca’s help.

She and I have become closer over the last few months. She even survived a happy hour with me and Cassie. It was during said happy hour that Cassie and I noticed how she blushed when Trevor came up in conversation. We asked her if she had a thing for him, which of course she denied. We can tell though, the crush is there. I also know that Trevor has no idea about her feelings for him.

How do I know this? Because I made Garrett do intel for me when the two went running together. Yes, despite the fact that Trevor broke the biggest bro-code rule to ever be written when he slept with and dated Annika, the two are slowly building their friendship back up. They aren’t there yet, but I can tell they both want it back.

I still can’t believe all of this has happened in such a short amount of time. That’s life for you. Things happen in an instant and affect your life forever. Many times you don’t see them coming. Most of the time you aren’t prepared. But how you react and go forward is how you define yourself as a person. You control your future. The past just tries to give you a suggested road map.

And it’s OK to tell the road map to take a hike and pave your own way.

Garrett did. And so did I.

Looking back, I let what I did back then define my future. When I saw the chance to volunteer at the drug counseling center in college, I took it as a sign to help right the wrongs I made because of misguided loyalty. Before I knew it, giving back became my whole life. It became the way I made up for the years of only caring about a person who didn’t care about me. As Garrett has been telling me, I can still take care of others and take care of myself. To allow myself to be happy in all ways. To fall in love.

And I have. I’ve fallen head over heels in love.

“Someone must be thinking of their tall, hot, and incredibly sexy doctor. That’s the only thing that puts that look on your face,” Chad says, giving me a little wag of his eyebrows. “So, tell me, where is Dr. McSexy taking you this summer?”

“McSexy? Really? That’s the best you can do?”

“Yes,” Sarah says. “If you’re going to date a guy who could star inGrey’s Anatomythen he gets a nickname. Now tell us, where is McSexy taking you?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know?” Chad asks.

“It means, she doesn’t know because it’s a surprise,” Cassie says with a smirk.

“Oh, shut it. Some best friend you are. You know and you won’t tell me!”

“Hey, I was in charge of packing your suitcase. I needed to know this. Plus, it’s fun watching you freak out.”

“It really is fun,” Patrick says. “You’re going to love it.”

“Wait!” I say, shooting him a look. “You know?”

“You know Cassie can’t keep a secret. And yes, that means Sarah knows too. Sorry, Chad.”

I shake my head and smile, glad how everything has worked out. I know Patrick had a crush on me for a while, though he seems now to be quite happy.

With Sarah.

Yup. They found each other on a dating app. What started as a joke swipe right to lament about their woes of single life turned into a coffee date. Which turned into dinner. Which turned into them now sitting hand in hand.

“I honestly don’t care where we go,” I say after finishing off my margarita. “I just want to relax. Get away for a bit. If a beach was involved, I wouldn’t hate it.”

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