Perfect Doesn't Last Forever

Chapter Nine

"He sounds really sweet," I said, thanking her for my phone and checking the texts. "Oh my God, you won't believe this..." I scanned the texts from Damien again, making sure I didn't misread anything, but I still couldn't believe what I was reading.

"What?" Ella asked obviously curious at the shock that surely showed on my face and moved closer to look at my phone. We sat quietly, reading and rereading the texts over and over again, unable to comprehend Damien's actions. When another text came in asking me when I would be back in town, I texted him back saying I would be there in an hour and a half.

"Holy crap," she uttered when I hit the reply button. "Damien got a freaking apartment? Alone?"

"Apparently," I said, still stunned from the news. "And he wants me to go pick Hayley up from his new place. Why... How... What?"

"Uh... yeah," Ella mumbled, grabbing my phone and looking over the texts again. "This is so not him. He's always relied on his parents for everything. I was surprised he even chose to live in a dorm at school. What's going to happen to his spot in the dorm?"

"I have no idea, but I guess he has a new place," I shrugged. What Damien did with his life wasn't really any of my concern. If he wanted to live on his own and be alone when he had Hayley, it was his choice. "Besides, I doubt he's actually paying for it on his own. His parents are footing the bill, so really, he's still not independent."

"I guess, but this is a huge step. There is no dining hall, no one to watch Hayley when he is doing homework or anything. I didn't think I would ever see this day," Ella said in amazement, handing my phone back to me. "I wonder if he wants you to move in with him or something..."

"He better not," I stated. "I was very clear with him the last time he tried to get back together with me. I am not up for any of his tricks."

Ella agreed with me, saying that his sudden independence doesn't change a thing and that I should just focus on Hayley and Noah, before we both decided to take a much needed nap. It took me awhile to fall asleep, but I finally stopped my mind from speculating the reason for Damien's sudden independence. However, even in my sleep, I couldn't stop thinking about Damien.

The past two years with Damien were completely Hayley-centric. Hayley was our daughter and everything I did, I did for her. Damien was free to come and go, attend college, and live his life. He wasn't really serious about being a dad, and I knew that the custody agreement and all the legal documents weren't his idea. Even though Damien's parents disproved of our situation, they didn't want me to be able to take away their granddaughter and they knew that Damien could care less about seeing Hayley. I was so over Damien being semi-present in Hayley's life, I couldn't take it so I broke the engagement now, but now Damien decided to be the parent. What game was he playing?

Moments Damien and I shared over the summer flashed through my mind, but the situations were altered to fit my fantasy and this "new" Damien. Damien was present in my dreams, he was a dad and he was a husband. He fit into the perfect world I once yearned for, but before my dreams could further complicate my feelings, I was startled by the loud siren call of my alarm.

"Seriously?" Ella moaned, covering her head with a pillow. "Turn it off Britt..."

"I've got it," I muttered, retrieving my phone and turning the alarm off. "I'll see you later Ella."

"Bye... have fun with Damien," she smiled with her eyes still closed and completely dazed.

"Thanks," I said, grabbing my big duffle, purse, and snow jacket. I hauled all my stuff down into the building's parking garage and packed my car up before driving to Damien's new apartment to get Hayley.