“I was responsible for her.I was the driver.”
“She wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.I should have stopped her from distracting you.We all could have done things differently.”He says the words all my therapists have told me over the years, but they make sense coming from him.“We can’t change the past as much as we want to.”
Silently, I think about my other mistakes and things I have done.Would he still want me if he knew all I’d done?There is still so much I’ve kept secret.Things the press has never found out beyond just what happened with my sister.Regrets that haunt me still.I can never tell him.He can never find out.
We sit there for a long time, comforting each other the way we should have been in the weeks after the accident.
“I miss her so much,” I whisper.
“I know you do.So do I.She would want you to be happy, Bayleigh.She would be so proud of your success.”
“I just couldn’t stay here without her.She was everywhere.”My voice wavers.
He exhales loudly.“You should have come to me.I would have looked after you.”
“I know,” I whisper.“But I was so ashamed.I didn’t want to ruin your life, too.”
“You wouldn’t have ruined it.We were always better together,” he says.
He’s right.We were better together.We were a team and still could be.We belong together.We always have.I have loved him my entire life.He has always been my best friend.My soulmate.The only one for me.I carry secrets he can never know about, but I want him, need him so much right now.All my worries, all my doubts, all the pressures and uncertainties will still be there tomorrow.Right now, in Chase’s arms, I have everything I need.
He is an admirable man.Sexy, strong, determined.The kind of man a woman could build a life with.I raise my hand and thread my fingers through the thick hair behind his ear and gently, slowly tug his head towards me.He stares deep into my eyes and whispers my name as a question.
“Please?”I whisper back, and a second later, his lips are on mine.My lips part on a soft sigh and my arms encircle his neck.As he angles his head to deepen our kiss, I press myself closer.When we break apart and stare at each other, both of our breathing is uneven.His arms enfold me, anchoring me against him, his hand warm on the bare skin of my shoulder.
“Take me home?”I ask him.
“To my place?”he asks, and I nod.I want to see how he lives.Who he is in the real world and not just the cocoon this week has provided us with.
He helps me up and we walk back to his car.The evening is very quiet, the moon no more than a ghostly shimmer behind the clouds, and an owl hoots somewhere in the distance.I take a deep breath of the cool and clear night air.I savor the feeling of peace and safety, as though simply being with Chase is enough to keep the pain away.If only it could always be like this.It’s a silly thought, and I don’t want to dwell on what tomorrow will bring.For right now, this is enough.One more night will be enough.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
Chase
The sun dipslow on the horizon, painting the sky in a breathtaking array of oranges and pinks that reflect off the weathered fence posts lining the dusty road.As we pull up to the ranch, the familiar sight of the old red barn and sprawling pastures greets us, bathed in the warm glow of twilight.The horses, mere silhouettes, graze peacefully in the distance, their gentle movements a stark contrast to the tumultuous emotions I can sense radiating from Bayleigh.
I guide the truck down the winding path that leads to my cottage, set apart from the main house and nestled among a stand of sweetgum trees.Their leaves rustle softly in the evening breeze, whispering secrets of days long past.The cottage comes into view and I park in front.
“I built this place to give my parents some privacy,” I say as I fumble with my seatbelt.
“Privacy for them or you?”She raises an eyebrow at me, which I ignore, and I climb out of the vehicle.
She follows me inside and I pause to turn on the light.She walks into the room and looks around at the sparse furniture.“It’s cozy.”
She takes off her denim jacket and drapes it over the couch.I take a moment to observe the smudges beneath her eyes.I know she needs comfort, and I want to be there for her.Without hesitation, I stride over to her, and she settles into me as I wrap my arms around her back.Her head rests against my chest, and I inhale the sweet scent of her perfume.Having her close feels so right—like we’re finally whole again.Without her, something is always missing.
Her head tilts, her lips searching for mine and we kiss, softly this time.
Our kiss deepens as passion ignites between us.My hands roam over Bayleigh’s back, pulling her closer as she threads her fingers through my hair.
As our lips part, Bayleigh’s eyes meet mine, shimmering with emotion in the dim light.Her fingers trace along my jawline, sending shivers down my spine.
“Chase,” she whispers, her voice barely audible.“I’m so sorry.For everything.”
I pull her closer, feeling her body tremble slightly against mine.“Shh, it’s okay,” I murmur into her hair.“You’re here now.That’s what matters.”
She looks up at me, vulnerability etched across her face.“But I hurt you.I left without a word.I pushed you away for so long.”
