Dear My Beloved

er imagined he defined o

what he was looking for, and I was sorry

him, then tur

Mia, with your uptight, old-fashioned attitu

o deal with a dog bite? Find

not saying Jerold was a dog.

getting upset over him,

n been planning to introduce him to my parents once fi

echoed overh

streaked across the sky, followed

ing rain was coming and asking me to bri

igh

pouring as I made my way back to campus. With nowhere to take cover, I stumbled forward

nt flying, a

e rain and thunder crashing down, I

to stop. Through my blurry vision, I saw a pair of men's d

rs to make out the figure cl

hould at least greet him. My dad t

yself, I managed a

ped the umbrella, letting

the h

d... had a

the umbrella back over my head and said

a bit embarrassed, realizing how ridiculous I must've looked, sitting

le, and my legs were numb. As I staggered, nearly f

ides my dad's. And this wasn't a boy's hand – it was a ma

ou, Uncl

re I could figure out the strange flicker in his eyes, he said in a coo

her Uncle Jerold. His mood

e chill inside made me shiver, and a moment later, a suit j

fine – " Th

e I did need

h Jerold was doing there, on this narrow road leading to campus. He explained, saying he'd come by to check on

ke a perfect exc

d been sitting on the gr

Jerold's handsome face, or perhaps the safe, comforting feeling he gave me – a bi

my heart to a man who listened patiently and reassured me. He told me

od why so many young women are

o campus, handing me a takeout bag

my disheveled appearance. I quickly brushed it off

I had talked about, I

figured I should return his suit jacket – washed and pressed, of course. So, as a th

erved and secretly mischievous type he was – it was right before my college graduation. Ruby had

rounded by nothing but

heading bac

on her face, it was clear she'd wanted

s fun until one guy slung his arm around my shoulder. Just

sh of guilt, promptly shrugged off the guy'

a low, slightly irritat

outs

here," I mumble

old laugh. "I'll d

..

was no driver – Jerold was behind the wheel himself. Seated besi

e "easy mode" in the

how to break the tensi

is tone, his look – it almo

widen. Mia, get a grip.

rold took hold of my hand, the one

o get into Crestwood University?" h

felt like lightning

ze – those eyes I'd looked into countless times befor

raid that if I keep holding back, I'l

was lighting up

e afraid of me, and don't res