AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He looked to where she’d gestured. “Captain’s Cone? Are we getting ice cream?”
“You can get whatever you want, but I'm getting fried clams.”
He sighed, hearing the irritation in her voice. As soon as he parked, she turned to open the door, but he lightly held her arm and stopped her.
“I'm sorry,” he offered quietly, but she remained silent. “Elizabeth, please. I can't…I can’t talk to you about it. I wish I could, but I can't.”
“Why?” she asked when she turned to him. “We talk about everything, don't we?”
“Obviously noteverything,” he said sharply.
She eyed him for a moment, and then pulled the door closed with more force than was necessary. “I'm not hungry. Let's go.”
He sighed, knowing he’d just made things a million times worse. “Where are we going?”
“Home.”
The ride back to New Seabury was long and silent. He never took his eyes from the road, while she stared out her window at the passing scenery, only speaking when she needed to give directions.
He chastised himself, but felt justified in his reaction. How could he have a conversation with Elizabeth about what happened to Georgiana? Oh, they could discuss the things that actually happened; he could talk aboutthat. What hedidn’twant to talk about was how it made him feel. He didn’t want to tell her about the remorse, the guilt, and the anger that consumed him whenever his mind wandered there, every time he saw those images branded on his memory, every time he remembered what he’d thought… Even now he could feel the blood thrumming in his ears and making his heart pound.
When he was with Elizabeth, everything was bright and happy. All was right with the world, and he wanted to do everything in his power to keep it that way. He didn'twantto share the bad things. And even though he knew it was unrealistic to think they could build a relationship without sharingsomeunpleasantness, it was how he felt.
When they finally pulled into his driveway, he turned off the engine and opened the door to climb out. He walked around to open her door, but she made no move to exit.
“Elizabeth, come into the house,” he entreated quietly.
“I should just go.”
“No, you shouldn’t. We need to talk.”
“You made it very clear that wedon'tneed to talk. Or rather, thatyoudon't need to talk.”
He held up her keys. “I have these, and I'm going inside.”
Her eyes shot sparks. She was clearly ticked off, but since she couldn’t go anywhere, he knew she would follow. He turned and walked toward the house, and just before he reached the front door, he heard the passenger door slam shut and the quick pace of her determined footsteps behind him.
“Why do you want me to come inside? Do you think the day will just go on, and we’ll ignore the past hour and a half?”
“No, I don't think that.” He reached for her hand, and when she promptly pulled it away, he stared up at the sky and exhaled heavily. They had to talk. He couldn't put it off, not with his trip to California looming. He held out his hand again. “Elizabeth, please come into the house with me. I'll try, but that's all I can promise.”
Her features softened, and when she grasped his hand he led her into the house.
* * *
Before they satdown to talk, Will decided to make them lunch. He disappeared into the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with two sandwiches, a bowl of grapes, and two bottles of water. They ate in silence, and eventually made their way out to the Adirondack chairs. He pushed them closer together and they settled in, enjoying the gentle breeze coming in off the water.
“I'm sorry about earlier,” he finally said. “I shouldn't have snapped at you. You didn’t deserve it.”
“I'm sorry, too. I thought it would be a good time to talk, but I guess not. And if you don't feel like you can talk to me, it's okay.”
How can I expect him to confide in me if I won't confide in him?
He lifted her hand to kiss her palm, then pressed it to his cheek. He held it there and closed his eyes, and her heart lurched at the tender gesture.
I’m falling in love with him.
She swallowed and looked out at the ocean, trying to calm her racing heart. Despite what was going on at this very moment, she was right where she wanted to be, where she needed to be—where she wassupposedto be.
