His smile and eyes are emotional and soft as he turns to me, his lips grazing my cheek. “No. This is somewhere special. We definitely have never taken someone there.”
That same heaviness I saw in Dean appears in Asher’s gaze, and my heart sinks to the floor. Holding his stare, I nod and right myself, watching out of the window as we drive through Evermore.
Growing up here, I know almost every inch of this town, but it’s like I’m seeing it for the first time with these two. Maybe I’m just looking at everything with a new mindset—something that’s been changing nearly every day as of late.
We turn onto Marrow Lane, and my heart starts rising into my throat. I know what’s at the end of this road, and I hope to God that’s not where we’re heading.
The cemetery.
I’m not prepared to see my parents’ graves tonight, to let all of my makeup flow down my face before dinner. I’m somewhat holding it together at the moment, and this is going to break me.
We approach the parking lot outside of the cemetery, and the car pulls into it, finding the closest spot to the front, the place empty. The car stays running, the driver remaining in his seat as Dean gets out.
“Ready?” Asher asks.
“Yeah.” I smile nervously, feeling it nowhere near my eyes as my door opens, Dean’s hand ready to help me down.
I know the cemetery is only miles from the Kensingtons’ place, but I haven’t been to visit since I moved there, and that guilt has been eating at me more than I thought because I’m feeling all of it at once … right now.
I let him guide me around the car, my fingers interlacing with his. “Did you know they were buried here?”
His brows pinch. “What do you mean?”
My gaze falls as I rack my brain. “M-my parents.”
“They’re buried here too?” he asks in complete shock. “Should we go see them?”
“Wait. I’m confused.” My heels dig into the concrete path. “Why are we here?”
For a second, both of them turn to face me, their eyes shining in the light, and I don’t see the masculine, successful, put-together hockey players orthe Kensington heirs.
I see two little boys with pain streaked in their eyes, memories flashing in their minds.
I’m an idiot.
“Your mom.” I fill in the blank, my heart dropping before bursting with love. “You brought me here to meet your mom.”
They nod, each offering a barely there smile.
“If you’d like, we’d like you to.”
Asher extends his hand. I take it.
My voice breaks. “I’d love to.”
Apparently, I’m going to be crying for a few different reasons tonight.
My boyfriends brought me to meet their mom, and I don’t know how I’m ever going to think of that without feeling my chest tighten, filling to the brim with the ever-growing feelings I have for them.
They guide me down the paths leading between the perfectly landscaped graves. I used to think cemeteries were scary, full of ghosts and haunted beings.
But after losing my parents, it became one of my favorite places in the entire world, where I could be close to my favorite people.
Do I still think they’re scary in the dark?Yes, like any rational person would. But I also know they’re full of love, grief, and lifetimes of stories.
“Do you want to visit your parents while we’re here?” Dean offers quietly.
I do.Desperately.
