I Choose You by Bethany Lopez Read Free Book Online Page B

happy.”
                  Kent looked at her quizzically. “That’s the second time you’ve made mention of that. Tell me.” He said simply, and gestured for her to sit.
                  She looked at the closed door, then back at him. “I guess it’s okay to disappear for a minute.”
                  Kent chuckled at her response as he settled on the bed next to her.
                  Nicole knew that she would to have to tell him about herself eventually, and figured now was as good a time as ever. She hoped it wouldn’t totally change the way he saw her, and that he would still want to date her once she told him everything.
                  She took another sip of wine, then took a deep breath, before looking at him and saying, “I grew up in Dallas, as you know. My parents are very wealthy and enrolled me in private schools. They are very active in the church and had high expectations for me and my future.”
                  Nicole figured it was best to tell him everything at once, but felt the nerves bouncing in her belly in anticipation of his reaction. She really liked him.
                  “What kind of expectations,” he prodded.
                  “They wanted me to go to SAGU, study Youth Ministries, get married, and start a congregation with my husband as the minister.” She spit it out quickly, in one breath, then took a sip of wine and looked at him over her glass.
                  Kent brushed her hair back in assurance, then asked, “Did they have the husband picked out?”
                  “Yeah, Jake,” She felt a small pang in her heart when she said his name. He’d meant so much to her for so long, she found that she missed the friendship they’d shared.
                  “We started dating in high school, and he fit the mold perfectly. We were engaged for three years and everything was going according to plan until I got to school.”
                  “What happened at school?”
                  “It was my first time being out on my own, away from my parents, and I began to realize how controlling they were and that their dreams weren’t necessarily my dreams. I changed my major to English without telling them, and I fell in love with my creative writing courses. As I got closer to graduation, I began to understand that Jake’s dreams mirrored my parents, not my own, and that I didn’t love him in the way a woman should love her future husband.”
                  “Wow,” Kent said, taking her hand in his. “How did they take the news?”
                  “Well, I haven’t spoken to my parents or Jake since the day I told them that I no longer wanted to get married or work in the church, so I guess they didn’t take it very well,” Nicole said with a dry laugh.
                  “I think it’s admirable that you were strong enough to give up everything you knew to start fresh and do what you want,” Kent said, his finger caressing the top of her hand.
                  “There’s something else you need to know,” Nicole began, a little more confident after his easy acceptance of what she’d shared so far.
                  “What is it?” He asked, curious at what else she could tell him about her past.             
                  “Well, I said my family is religious, and they raised me with strong Christian values, which I still live by.” Nicole stopped, suddenly overcome by nerves at the thought of his rejection.
                  “Go on,” Kent prodded.
                  “I was raised to believe that sex should be shared between a husband and a wife. I’m a virgin… and I’ll remain a virgin until my wedding night.” Nicole spit it out as quickly as she could, then watched Kent’s face for his