Page 6 of His Secret Wish

But he knew she always listened to the top forty, liked to keep up with what was popular.

“Thanks,” she said, her voice coming out a little rough. There was no reason she should be so affected by something so silly. It was only a radio station, for goodness sakes.

He inclined his head, but kept his gaze on the road.

She swallowed back a sigh and focused on the song and the scenery. Baby steps. It was going to take baby steps to make this weekend work. And the radio station was an olive branch. One she was going to grab onto with both hands. Maybe this weekend would be a turning point for them and their relationship.

And that idea didn’t fill her with both dread and anticipation in equal measure. It was just a bit of motion sickness that was making her stomach flip around like it was in the clothes dryer. She probably should have taken some Gravol.

Owen finished paying for the fuel at the pump and grabbed the nozzle. They’d were more than halfway to Truckee, and he and Isabella had barely said more than a handful of words to one another. And the tension in the truck was ridiculous. It was the kind that made his teeth vibrate and his skin itch.

Isabella popped out of the passenger door. “I’m going to go to the restroom.” She pointed at the small mom-and-pop station. “Do you want anything?”

He shook his head, his throat too dry for words. Dammit. Why was this so fucking hard? He’d known this woman almost his whole entire life. There was absolutely no reason why this was so bloody awkward.

No reason, huh?

Okay, so there were plenty of reasons. But he was an adult, for fuck’s sake. He could put aside his issues and spend the weekend with her and her family. Maybe show her he wasn’t the massive asshole she clearly thought he was. Why else would she move out of their house? Stay away so long? File for divorce?

Sadness zipped through him, so quick and so fast, it stole his breath. He closed his eyes, took a breath. The sharpness of the gasoline shocked him back. The anger rushed in then, always so quick on the heels whenever he thought of the implosion of his marriage. Anger at Isabella for giving up on them. Anger at the universe for making things so infinitely hard.

But mostly, anger at himself for not seeing what was happening back then. For not dealing with his feelings and emotions like an adult. For letting things get to the point where Izzy felt like her only choice was to leave.

For being a really shitty husband.

The gas pump slowed and then stopped, the tank full. He cleared his throat and finished up. This was why he should have told her no when she asked him to come with her. Spending this much time with her, in such a confined space, was bound to bring all this shit to the surface.

Shit he did not want to deal with. Ever. He’d spent the last few years pushing it down and away, to a place where none of it hurt him anymore, and he wasn’t going to let this weekend ruin that.

He climbed back into the truck, forcing his emotions back into neutral. Just like he preferred. The air still smelled like her, something sweet mixed with the lavender body wash she’d always used. He’d never been able to smell lavender without instantly thinking of Izzy.

And other things. Naked things. Sexy things. His cock twitched. Yeah, that was so not happening. No way he was driving the rest of the way to her great grandmother’s house with a boner.

Besides, she’d made it perfectly clear she wasn’t interested in continuing a relationship with him. Nothing cooled off his libido faster than the threat of divorce.

The passenger door opened, and Izzy climbed in, giving him a sweet little smile when she noticed him watching her. It was like a punch to the gut. He couldn’t remember the last time she’d actually smiled at him. Usually, in the very few times they’d interacted in the last couple of years, her expression fluctuated between annoyed and hurt.

And, when he knew she was hurting, it gutted him. Especially when he remembered he was the reason for that hurt.

He shook his head to dispel his wayward thoughts. That was not neutral. And would be of absolutely no help getting him through the weekend.

“Here,” she said, handing him a plastic grocery bag. “I grabbed you a Dr. Pepper and some pork rinds.” Her cheeks were the cutest shade of pink, and she ducked her head and concentrated on doing up her seatbelt.

Warmth spread through his chest and then upward, making his own face feel hot. She’d remembered his favorites, had bought them for him.

“Thanks,” he said, his voice rough around the edges. He cleared his throat again. This was going to be so fucking difficult. But only if he let it. He took the soda out of the bag and popped the top, taking a quick drink.

The cold, fuzzy liquid burned a bit as it went down, but it was a good burn. He hadn’t had a Dr. Pepper in forever, and he was instantly transported back to high school. Back to when he and Izzy were getting to know each other, both in an emotional, and in a physical way. Back when they were young and had so much ahead of them.

Before the struggles. And the heartbreak.

Before the universe conspired against them and made life infinitely more difficult.

He shook those thoughts away, too. No point in dragging all of that here along with them. A clean slate is what they needed for this weekend. None of the baggage that weighed them both down. From here on out it was like they were still those teenagers. Full of hope and joy and love.

“So, I’ve been thinking,” she said, fussing with the seatbelt. She was refusing to look at him, which was fine because whatever she was about to say was probably going to shock the shit out of him, and he’d prefer her not to see his reaction.

“About?” He took another sip of the soda, letting it burn.