Concussion

Chapter 3

Loren stormed out of the office. She got to the parking lot and swore. She didn't have any way to get home. She looked around and saw a bus station up ahead. She walked down the sidewalk and sat down at one of the benches. Loren pulled out her phone and texted Jenna. When she didn't respond she figured that she was at her shift at the hospital. She could text Melissa but there was nothing she could do, she was at school. Loren cursed herself in her head. She had let part of her walls down and now she was hurt. It was exactly what she had feared.

"LOREN!" Eddie ran out of the office. He turned and saw her sitting at a bus stop bench up ahead. He saw Loren glance up at him and shake her head before turning away. "Loren wait!" Eddie sat down next to her on the bench. "I had no idea that Jake was going to do that and I totally ripped him a new one. I promise I would never do that to you."

Loren sighed, "Well I promise I would never just be hanging out with you for money, because it wouldn't be worth it."

"Ouch. Why so cruel Tate?"

Loren sighed; she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Look, when I was four years old my father left me and my mom. He never wanted to be a father. So he left. It was just me and my mom. And the months after he left I went through all the scenarios of what I could have done differently. I thought it was my fault. I spent so many years writing him letters that I never sent. I put up walls to protect myself. I didn't want to be hurt like that again."

Eddie squeezed her shoulder. "Loren I'm sorry. I know that couldn't have been easy. I lost my mom a couple years ago. That was the hardest thing I have ever gone through. Me and my dad, we struggled not having her around. But when you finally open up and allow yourself to heal, you grow so much more. Everything happens for a reason, I have to believe that."

Loren smiled. They both laughed and decided to let that whole mess go. Her doubts about him were starting to fade, which still made her nervous. Trusting someone opened you up to being hurt. "So where are we going?"

Eddie smiled, "You will just have to trust me. It may take a few hours, ready for a road trip?"

Loren gave him a nervous smile. Inside she was freaking out. Here she was in a car with someone she barely knew going to some unknown location. Suddenly she was very happy her mother forced her to buy and carry that tazer. "Umm yeah, ready as I will ever be."

They drove down highway one. At one point Loren told him to pull over. She went out and stood on a cliff, overlooking the endless ocean. Her hair blew in the ocean breeze and she felt the salt snarling it. She turned and saw Eddie leaning against his car before he pushed off and headed toward her. Loren felt goosebumps break out across her skin at the way he looked at her. Should he be looking at her that way when they had only known each other for a few days? What bothered her even more was that she wanted him to be looking at her that way. They both stood on the cliff looking out at the ocean before returning to the car.

They drove a few more hours. Loren laughed as they pulled up to Belmont Park, a beachfront amusement park in San Diego. The sun was starting to set, so the lights were being turned on. Eddie pulled on a baseball cap and fake glasses. She was glad he was going incognito; she couldn't deal with the hordes of people that would be tailing them if he didn't.

They both got out of the car, he turned to her. "Ready for some fun?"

Loren laughed. He looked like a young boy who just got told they were going out for ice cream. "Lead the way."

They wandered around the park for awhile. They both ordered hot dogs with the works. They reached the entrance to a roller coaster. Loren stopped, grabbing Eddie's arm. "Let's do it."

Eddie looked at the ride, "No way!"

"Why not?!"

"I just don't like roller coasters."

"Awe are you afraid? That is so cute!"

"I am not afraid, and I am not cute."

"Then prove it."

Eddie looked up at the ride again then back at Loren. "Fine, let's do this."

Loren smiled, "Let's do it."

Eddie grabbed Loren's hand. They got up to the front of the line. They ended up in the front seats. The workers strapped them in. Loren looked over at Eddie, he looked really pale. She reached over and took his hand in hers. He gripped it extremely tight, but Loren didn't say anything, because he looked so nervous it was becoming concerning.

They took off, going through the loops and curves. Loren completely forgot about Eddie as the thrill of total loss of control ran down her spine, splashing into her stomach. The ride came to a stop. She suddenly was aware that Eddie's hand was still in hers. They let go as the workers unstrapped them.

Eddie turned to her, eyes teary from the wind. "That was amazing!"

Loren smiled at his wonderment. She headed towards the exit. Eddie resurfaced after her a few minutes later. "Come on I want to show you something."

Eddie took her hand as Loren nodded. He pulled over to a carnival game. It was a shooting game. She looked up at the sign, "Cowboy Roundup." You were the cowboy sheriff and shot the evil bandits invading your town. You had to avoid hitting the town citizens. "Hmm, cowboys huh? Interesting."

Eddie laughed, "Shoot now, ask questions later Tate."

Loren narrowed, "Fine Duran, you are going down."

Eddie smirked, "Whatever you say Ms. Tate."

They both took up their fake shotguns and began shooting as the game came to life. Eddie was amazing. Loren wasn't half bad either, except she ended up shooting an old lady wearing a bonnet. Eddie raised his hands up in victory. Loren bowed, "I bow at the foot of the master."

Eddie held his chin up in the air, "Thank you, thank you."

The man behind the counter handed Eddie a stuffed bear dressed like a cowboy. He took it, handing it to Loren as they walked away, "For you, my lady."

Loren took it with a smile, "Why thank you sir."

She stopped, unpinning the badge. She took it and pinned it to Eddie's shirt. "A true cowboy deserves a badge."

Eddie laughed as he grasped her hand. He walked onto the beach, his hand still in Loren's. He sat down on the cold sand. Loren sat next to him sprinkling sand on her bare feet. She could feel Eddie's eyes on her but she didn't return his stare as she closed her eyes listening to the waves crashing onto the shoreline. "I have never met anyone like you."

Loren looked up at him. "Hmm is that a good or a bad thing."

Eddie's eyes flickered to her lips. Loren bit her lip shyly. Eddie leaned in slightly towards her. Loren surprised herself when she leaned in closing the rest of the distance. Their lips closed on each others. His hands found their way into her hair. She gripped his shirt.

Eventually she pulled away. She walked toward the water. The cool water slapped her ankles. She laughed when Eddie splashed her. She started running through the water along the shoreline with Eddie chasing after her. He finally caught up to her, grabbing her from behind and lifting her in the air. Loren laughed as they tumbled to the ground. Loren lay in the sand with Eddie on top of her. He brushed a piece of hair out of Loren's face. He looked into her eyes. "I want to show you something."

He stood up, pulling her up with him. They started heading toward the far end of the beach. His arm was wrapped tightly around her waist. They walked for a long while. Night had fully set in, the stars shining brightly. Eventually they reached a small beach bungalow.

"Eddie where are we?"

"This is my parents' bungalow." He grabbed her hand as he headed towards the door. "I used to come here all the time with them growing up. We don't comeback much since my mom died."

They walked into the bungalow. Loren was surprised. It wasn't big and fancy like she expected, it was small and homey. "Wow, this is really nice."

He smiled; he brushed her hair behind her ear and kissed her softly. His kisses got more and more forceful as he guided her toward the bedroom. Loren stopped him as they got into the room. "Eddie this is my…"

Eddie gave her a knowing look as he kissed her softly, closing the door behind them. Loren woke the next morning with Eddie's arms wrapped tightly around her. She didn't think this was what her mom meant by letting him in. Speaking of her mom, she was probably going to get murdered when she got home.

She was supposed to be at home recovering, but she felt as if she needed a whole new recovery from last night. She didn't regret it. But this was definitely unplanned. She heard Eddie sigh as he woke. He squeezed her and kissed her neck.

"You smell good." He sighed.

Loren turned her head smiling. He kissed her softly. They lay together for awhile. Loren's head resting on his chest as he ran his fingers up and down her spine.

Eventually Eddie stood up and went to take a shower. Loren sat up in bed. Wrapping the sheet around her. She pulled out her phone. A few texts from her mom which she pointedly ignored. She searched Eddie's name instead. What she found made her cringe and her heart drop in her stomach.

Eddie Duran and Chloe Carter Engaged!