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The wind whips through my hair, instantly easing some of the tension within. The terrain is bumpy, but we’ve both learned from experience to navigate this ground with caution. “Easy, boy,” I coo, tugging lightly to slow him down. He does.
I examine my surroundings, the untouched openness giving me the peace I need. We settle to a trot, and although I’ve lived here for years, I still am in awe of how picturesque everything is. But the prettiest thing of all is when my gaze alights on where Saxon and I shared our first kiss. This spot has been imprinted on my mind.
Fingering my lips, I recall the tenderness and uncertainty of his touch. I was so naïve to think that kiss wouldn’t change my life as I knew it. It not only changed my life, but it changed me too. Saxon has shaken up my world, but I would happily dance in the chaos because when I’m with him, I’ve never felt more alive.
Dismounting Potter, I tie him to a tree where he happily munches on the grass. So different from when we were here last. My bare feet sink into the terrain, and I savor the feel of being in touch with mother nature in the purest form.
Wrapping my arms around my middle, I close my eyes and return to the past. I can remember his words as if spoken only yesterday.
“Let’s pretend tomorrow doesn’t exist. Whatever happens now, it’ll just be memories from yesterday.”I could feel the tremble rumble throughout his entire body.
A quiver bubbles to the surface, and I hum. Saxon’s love for me has never wavered. I was just too blind to see. But my eyes, figuratively speaking, are opened now, and I’ll be damned if anything stands in the way of our happily ever after.
“What are you doing out here?” His voice is silk, encasing me in a velvety sphere.
“You kissed me here. Right in this spot. Do you remember?”
“Of course, I do,” he whispers, the nostalgia tethering us together.
With eyes still closed, I tip my face toward the heavens and take a deep breath. “We were fated from that moment forward.”
“We were fated a long time before then.” And he’s right. The first moment we met, touched, my world changed forever. “Is everything all right? You just took off.”
Sighing, I decide no more second-guessing. “Who were you talking to?”
“Just…”
“And don’t tell me just work.”
Silence.
“You’re not telling me something, and I can’t help but feel you’re not telling me this because your secret will change everything.”
I’m hoping he will brush away my insecurities and tell me I’m overreacting, but when he does neither, a sense of dread settles low within my stomach. Unable to stand this a second longer, I open my eyes and turn to face him. The cloud of guilt hangs over his head as he peers down at his scuffed motorcycle boots.
“Just tell me what it is. This is your free pass. Whatever it is, I will deal with it. But please, don’t lie to me or hide the truth because we’ve had enough deceit to last us a lifetime.”
He mulls over my proposition, which has me wondering what exactly he’s done. A cold sweat suddenly coats my skin, and I swallow. “Oh god, Saxon, what’s going on?”
“Nothing, Lucy, nothing. I promise.” I’m in his arms a moment later as he hugs me with all his might. “Everything is all right. Everything will be fine.” I didn’t realize things weren’t already fine.
Breaking our embrace, I shake my head, adamant to find out the truth. “I don’t believe you.” Nothing but regret rolls off him as his shoulders drop. I can’t stand this. I don’t know why, but my gut tells me this involves Cleo. I knew she was trouble from the first moment we met, but I never thought she’d have the power to drive a wedge between us. “Does this have anything to do with… Cleo?” His jaw clenches.
I’m waiting for him to put my mind at ease, but he doesn’t. He simply stands mute, hands dug deep into his pockets. I feel sick. “Saxon, answer me. What…what did you do?”
He hisses, taking a step back. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Then tell me what the hell is going on.”
“Why would you automatically assume Cleo is involved?”
“Because whoever you’re speaking to, you clearly don’t want me to know who it is. So unless you have another girl on the side…”
“Anothergirl?” he spits, angered. “I don’t haveanygirls but you, Lucy.”
“Then tell me what’s going on!”
An exasperated breath leaves him as he begins to pace. This place once filled with happy memories is now tainted with secrets and doubt. I give him the time he clearly needs because he’ll just clam up if I continue to push.
