Read Deep Surrendering: Episode Ten for Free Online Page A

My voice cracked and I had to clear my throat and breathe for a second so I wouldn’t start crying.
    Chase, sensing where this was going, handed me a napkin.
    “I’m fine. Really. I did a lot of the crying already but sometimes it sneaks up on me.” He just nodded.
    “Anyway,” I said, coughing, “seen any good movies lately?”
    He chuckled and regaled me with a synopsis of the latest blockbuster that had less plot than the second latest blockbuster.
    “But there really is something about seeing a terrible movie with a group of people who also know it’s terrible. It bonds you together. A shared experience.” I couldn’t tell if he was hinting at something, so I just played dumb.
    “I don’t go to the movies much. I’d rather stay at home where I can wear what I want and make comments without pissing anyone off.”
    “Yeah, I totally get that. But I like going out.” I could tell. Chase was one of those “people” people. I couldn’t picture him staying home much. He talked to anyone and everyone, making conversation with strangers while we waited for our coffee orders, or smiling at people who walked by our table. I didn’t even think he was aware of doing it. That was just him.
    We stayed late at the coffee place and even a second cup couldn’t keep me from yawning.
    “I should probably get you home,” he said. I waved him off.
    “No, no, I'm fine.” But he wouldn’t take no for an answer and demanded to escort me home. We had to take another cab, which he paid for.
    “I’m costing you quite a bit,” I said.
    “You’re not costing me anything that I’m not willing to pay.” He leaned in and I could feel that he wanted to kiss me, but I leaned back against the window and pursed my lips so he’d get the hint. He seemed to realize that he’d pushed things too far and leaned back himself before asking me if I had a busy day tomorrow.
    “Not really, but I have to go and visit my mother. She’s not exactly June Cleaver, if you know what I mean.” He laughed so loud the cab driver glared at us and then turned up his talk radio.
    “My mother often imitates an ice sculpture. Seriously, if you put her next to one, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.” My God we had a lot in common. We started swapping stories about cold and distant mothers and that took us all the way to my apartment, up the elevator and to my front door.
    “Well, ah, I guess I’ll see you when I see you? Or will you be back at the library tomorrow?” I had pretty much decided that I might as well just stay over at Mom and Dad’s since I wanted to visit for a while and chat with Glenna.
    “I’ll be there a lot in the next few weeks, so I’ll probably see you.” I didn’t want to make definite plans again. That would move things in a direction I wasn’t that comfortable with.
    “Sounds good,” Chase said, adjusting his backpack. “I’ll see you around, Marisol.” I waved to him and he walked back toward the elevator. If anything, I’d made a new friend and that was definitely something to be positive about. The fact that he was attractive and seemed to like me in the way a man likes a woman was something I’d probably have to deal with at some point. But not right now. I couldn’t deal with another man in my life like that.

P art of me wished I’d studied with Chase instead of going to dinner at my parents’ house. Fortunately, Glenna had decided to stay late and she kept Mom occupied for the most part, so I just chatted with Dad.
    “Do you mind if I just crash here?” I asked as we all sat in the formal living room and had after-dinner coffee while Mom tried to convince Glenna to dust a cobweb that she saw on the ceiling that no one else could actually see.
    “Of course you can stay here, Marisol. This is your home.” We both knew that wasn’t exactly the case. Sure, I had lived and grown up here, but it hadn’t really ever felt like a home. My apartment was much more of one, and the place