With her mother’s guidance, she was able to love Bret at a distance. And love she did. She cherished the man fully. She did all she could to keep on his radar. She relished in the moments when he gave her credit for his success or his ability to rise to a higher challenge or his positive mood.

Bret needed to know his worth, his power, his impact. But it was not her place to say anything. He had to learn this for himself or from another man who could show him his worth.

What Zoe could not understand about her vision was the significance of that white ladder. Every time it showed up, she felt that same weird vibe in the pit of her tummy she had that same night he came back looking frazzled and lost. The man almost looked like he had seen a ghost.

The crushing blow

The visions were too much for Bret to take. He had to do something. His tenure at the school was coming to a close. He had fiercely competed with Zoe to the very last possible test. They were good friends if one called competitive classmates friends. He had kept ahead most of the times but his lustful distractions had cost him the title victory. If anything, two others had bested them in the final tally.

Bret did not care. Being number one at the cost of having Zoe made no sense. However, all that pent up hormonal flood waters could not be good for the soul.

With as much courage as he could muster, he walked up to Zoe after one class to talk to her candidly. In his most calm of nerd voices, he asked if she’d consider going on a date or being steady with him for the closing weeks of school.

Zoe’s heart felt crushed. She was finally hearing what she had waited an eternity to hear. Bret was in fact interested. He looked so cute faking timidity. Little did she knew how timid he really was.

His eyes, his strong piercing eyes. They were quivering and searching for truth. For closure. For hope. For a future. Zoe was bleeding inside. She couldn’t give him what he wanted. She was not his for the taking anymore.

As she mustered the courage to speak evenly and confidently, she explained that things had changed. She had given him her best years in waiting for him but figured he was not going to take her. She thanked him for his generous protection and wished him well on his hunt for his perfect mate.

Unlike most guys who would have flashed with anger, Zoe felt her heart tugged tightly as she watched the various emotions flash rapidly across his face before the knight of steel she knew came to the forefront. With great eloquence, he thanked her for her honesty and patience. He even bowed slightly and nodded respectfully. The man was complete grace under all forms of pressure.

She asked if he was OK.

He smiled his electric smile. She felt her uterus flipflop wanting him. He closed the gap between them. Her heart stopped. She wanted to flinch and pull away, but when her hand brushed his arm, she was completely disarmed.

He placed his hand intimately on her side. Firm yet gentle. Against her beating heart. Politely so. He whispered something. Her eyes widened. He raised his eyebrows slightly.

Not sure what he had said, she affirmed that she was with another man and was under his protection. His smile softened even more. He nodded. He whispered again. This time she understood. He was wishing her well and complimenting her good taste in men. How he was proud of her sticking to her guns and only allowing the best man to win her heart.

She fought back a tear. She place the best beaming smile she could, knowing full well she was blushing immensely. His kindness in his eyes understood. Their souls spoke quietly to each other.

As he he pulled away, she nearly stumbled forward. She wanted a hug. She was feeling torn. She knew that she was not going to allow him to see her again. Her new man would not appreciate the competition that he could not win. This was not fair to him. But, Bret. Her hero and unrequited love was in need of her.

In his typical nerdy way, he asked her for permission to hug her. The room felt instantly very very hot. She nodded. Hoping her face was not showing awkwardness.

Their embrace was not nearly long enough even though it felt like an eternity. It was perfect. It was smooth. It was close. Bret swore he felt her tummy move just the way it had in his vision. Zoe hoped that he did not register the back-flips that were taking place as she started to drip down her legs.