One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 85: Let's be us again ~~~Look atI'm way past pride. Isn't there something that we can try to be us again? Even if it takes a while, I'll wait right here until I see that smile that says we're us again. Baby, what would I do? I can't imagine life without you. Let's be us again...~~~ -Lonestar- "Yes, my princess, it is." Luke was the one who answered the question and I just brushed my hair in frustration. "Yehey! Thank you, daddy, for coming here and mommy for letting daddy cwith us." She got up from her father's lap and ctoto hugand kisson both cheeks.

"Don't mention it, baby." I winked at her, trying to smile so that she wouldn't notice the real reaction I was hiding inside. "I just love you more than all the things in the world." "I love you too, mommy." And she repeated the saction to her father.

After eating our lunch in the park, I started packing the things and putting them in our bag.

"It's coffee time!" I heard Cali scream as she picked up the empty box of pizza and smess on the blanket, but I continued with what I was doing.

I just stopped for a moment when Luke suddenly knelt in front ofand helpedclean the blanket.

"You can cwithin the car, Sam. I'll also drive you guys hif you want. I'll just call my driver to take your car to your parents' house.

He was about to stand up and get his phone, but I stopped him.

"Thanks for the offer, but no! I mean, I brought my car and you can just follow us to the coffee shop if you want." "But Sam---" I turned my attention back to the blanket.

"Or if you want I'll call my driver to take my car hand I'll drive your car to the coffee shop, how's that?" "Luke---" "We will be riding in one car, daddy?" I just bit my tongue inside when Cali asked out of the blue. And before I could even open my mouth again, she instantly cin front of me.

"Mommy, can we ride in one car? Let's daddy drive your car to the coffee shop." She looked atstraight and although I really wanted to say no and repeat what I told to his father, but I chose not to. I couldn't do it, especially when I saw how happy she was with her father's presence.

I glanced at Luke before nodding to Cali's question.

"Thanks, mommy." I just nodded again.

We were already walking back to the car with Luke carrying all our stuff, but my mind couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened on our date. How did our mother-daughter date beca family date? And how did it happened that I agreed to what Luke was asking of me? -'Haist, Cali!'- I just shook my head and sighed secretly at the thought of my daughter.

"Can we open the radio?" I turned to Cali as she asked us from the back seat. I'm in the front seat and Luke is in the driver seat and if you want to know whose car he's driving at the moment, well, it's his. We were about to get into my car when Cali saw her father's new car and of course, she won against me...for the third tthis day. She said she wanted to try riding in it, so instead of using my car, we used Luke's car.

"I feel bored." She pouted. "I don't know why you're so quiet." I couldn't help but take a look at Luke's direction as we chuckled at the stime.

"Okay, princess, I'll turn on the rafor you," Luke said, laughing while glancing at his daughter in the rearview mirror.

"Oh, wait, I've changed my mind." I glanced at the little girl again. "Do you have your CDs, daddy?" "Yes, I always have them. Why do you ask?" "Uhm, can we just play your CDs instead of opening the radio?" "Of course! I'll play every CD in the world for you." I rolled my eyes when Cali giggled in the back seat.

And since I wasn't looking when Luke put the disc in the player, I had no idea what kind of music he inserted in there to play.

Tellwhat I have to do tonight 'cause I'd do everything to make it right. Let's be us again...

I suddenly held my breath upon hearing the intro, but then I was surprised at the stwhen Cali sang the lyrics along with the singer.

"...I'm sorry for the way I lost my head. I don't know why I said the things I said. Let's be us again...." "How did you know the song?" I asked her in confusion but it was Luke who answered my question.

"I remember I played it one tin one of my cars when we went to the mall and she said she liked it, so every tI took her out, she always asked for that song until she already memorized it." "You played it in one of your cars?" I repeated, raising my eyebrow. I wasn't surprised when he said those lines, what I was surprised about was that... "You mean all your cars have this kind of song, I mean, they have the sCDs and songs?" "Yes." He answered with a chuckle.

"Huh?" "What I mean is that I bought the sCDs, tapes or whatever you call it in all of my 8 cars, so whenever Cali requested the ssong, I'll just simply put it in the player." "Oh, I see," I said nodding. Well, he has a point.

And when I thought the day would simply pass without awkward moments between us, well, I was wrong. Because when the song cto the chorus, Cali sang it loudly that madeshut my mouth and turned my eyes outside the window. "...Look at me, I'm way past pride. Isn't there sway that we can try to be us again?..." I simply peeked in his direction and noticed that his knuckles almost turned white from the way he held the steering wheel.

"..Here I stand with everything to lose and all I know is I don't wanna see the end. Baby, please, I'm reaching out for you. Won't you open your heart and letcback in... Let's be us again..." I closed my eyes for a moment.

-'Awkwardness joined the group.'- The right side of my brain screamed loudly inside my head.

Neither of us opens our mouths after that. It felt like we were enveloped in clouds of silence because none of us speaks afterwards. We becmute for a moment. Well, except of course for Cali who continued singing until the song ended. And when the tI thought I was going to go deaf because of the silence, my phone that was resting on my lap, vibrated. I received a message.

"Huh!" I gasped in shock, but then a smile slowly crept against my lips when I saw the sender's name. David.

I opened the inbox without realizing that there were a pair of eyes watchingat that moment.

**Hi, babe:-) I'm having a late lunch. How about you?** It was then that my eyebrows formed a straight line. He's having a late lunch...again.

**I have already eaten lunch. I wish you were here.:'(** **Don't worry, you'll seeone of these days, I promise.** **Okay, I'll wait for that promise.** **Babe, I'm sorry I have to go back to the ER now. I love you.**

The smile on my lips instantly dropped when I read his last message. I sighed, leaning against my seat. I always have to wait and I adjust to his profession. Yeah, I know he's a Doctor and I'm proud of him. I just couldn't help but feel jealous that he got more tfor them than for me. I put down my phone and tried to focus on the things to see on the road, still unaware of the stare I was getting from Luke.

When we reached the coffee shop, he was about to unfasten my seatbelt, but I stopped him right away.

"Thanks, but I can do it." "I'm sorry." He apologized and opened the door to his side.

He opened the door for Cali and after I unfastened my seatbelt, I opened the door and immediately stepped out of the car. I know what he was thinking and I won't let him do it.