Chapter 13: Love & Ice Cream
We got our ice cream and sat at a picnic table set apart from the others. We were laughing and having a
great time. I love being with Jeff. He makes me feel great, he's funny, attentive, considerate, and alright,
he's not too bad on the eyes either. Not to mention, that southern drawl drives me crazy. I am so
comfortable with him, I can tell him anything and I don't worry about what he'll say.

"What's up? What are you thinking?" Jeff asked, drawing me away from my thoughts.

"What? I'm sorry, what did you ask me?" Whatever he said, I missed it.

"I was just wondering what was up with those big ol' doe eyes."

"Oh? I was just thinking . . . about you, about how wonderful you are and how comfortable I am with
you." All of a sudden, my thoughts turned to Matt and Kelly.

Jeff saw the look on my face change. He reached across the table and took my hand in his.

"Why are we so happy while Matt and Kelly have nothing but struggle? We're in the same situation they
are - you travel all the time while I'm here, we hardly talk, you go out with other people. I just don't
understand how things can be so different." My mind was wrestling with this.

Jeff got up, walked around the table and sat facing me, my hand still in his. "Samantha, we handle these
issues differently than Matt and Kelly do, that's the difference. Matt does care about Kelly, I believe that.
He doesn't always put in the effort though, he's not used to it. His last girlfriend was Lita, he saw her all
the time, if they wanted to talk they only had to walk down the hallway to each other's room. He just
doesn't think about taking 15 minutes when we're waiting in the locker room or when we get to the hotel
to call Kelly. It's not that he doesn't want to or that he doesn't think she's important, he just doesn't think
about it."

I rested my head against his chest. Jeff wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tightly to him. There
was a moment of silence, we simply sat there, saying nothing, as Jeff tried to console me.

"Samantha, I love you." He whispered softly and gently.

Tears were building up in my eyes. I tried my hardest to stop them. The tears began running down my
face as I started to cry. My body began to shake, I couldn't hold my emotions inside.

Jeff hugged me tighter. "Baby, what's wrong?" I could hear the concern in his voice.

I tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come.

Jeff raised my head so that our eyes met. He kissed me gently. "I love you, why are you crying? What's up
with the tears?" He asked.

"You've never said that before." I started. "I've always loved you, you know that, but I never expected you
to feel the same." I paused before beginning again. "How do we know we won't end up like Matt and
Kelly?"

"Well, we're not Matt and Kelly. Only they have control over their relationship. We both know what
works for our relationship and we do what it takes to make it work. Matt and Kelly need to figure that out
for themselves." Jeff looked into my eyes. "Now, with regard to you not expecting me to love you, why
wouldn't I? Do you know how wonderful you are?" Jeff kissed me deeply.

"Will you come home with me next week to North Carolina?" He asked. "I want you to meet my father,
he's dying to meet you. It would mean a lot to me."

"I would love to. I have to make sure I can take the time off from work."

Jeff and I sat looking out at the field of wildflowers for a few minutes before heading back to my
apartment.