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“Nothing I say can take away the hurt I caused. I can tell you why I said it and that the words were never meant for you, but you're still going to feel the pain of hearing what I said. I don’t know how to fix that, but I want to. I want to more than you know.”
She chokes up at the end, and it takes everything in me not to fall to my knees and pull her into my arms. That’s what I’ve always done. Hugged away her pain. I hate that she’s hurting. I hate it so much. But I can’t pretend I’m okay.
“I didn’t know you knew how Craig treated me. I thought I was damn good at covering it up.”
I look at her now. At the tears streaming down her cheeks. At how broken she is about her secrets being exposed.
“I planned to tell you someday. I’m not sure when, but on my terms. It’s devastating to find out the most important person in your life knows the worst things about you. Things you wished they never had to know. I didn’t know how to react to that. I handled it all wrong. I’m so sorry.”
Sadness, anger, and pain mingle inside me. I want to kill Craig for all he’s done to her, tell her she’s not responsible, shake her for thinking she could ever hide how much she was hurting from me. Most of all, I’m furious that I don’t know what to say or how to be around her.
Maybe that’s what I should tell her, but I can’t find the words.
“This is an anthurium.” She stands and walks a couple steps toward me. “It’s also called the Heart of Hawaii.”
“Why are you giving me a plant lesson right now? With everything going on with us, don’t you see how this hurts me more?”
Her tears haven’t stopped, and that’s killing me. I need her to go.
“Please let me finish.”
I close my eyes, trying to block out her pain, and nod.
“It’s also the symbol of love and adoration. It’s believed gifting it can make people fall in love with you.”
My eyes pop open as I try to process what she’s saying.
“I have adored you since we were five years old. I’ve loved you just as long. Like a fool, I didn’t realize I was in love with you until I lost you. This plant can’t make you fall in love with me, but I’m hoping every time you see it, you know someone loves you. She loves your kind heart. How your eyes brighten when you smile. That you still drive that old Chevy because you appreciate everything in your life. You don’t just replace things because you can. She loves you because you think of others all the time. She—”
“Can you stop saying she?”
My broken heart starts piecing itself back together as her lips tilt up in the most beautiful smile. She takes the last step toward me until the only thing separating us is the plant.
“I love you, Ash. I have for so many years. I couldn’t admit it because I thought it made me a bad person.”
“Do you mind if I put this on the ground?” I point to the plant, and she shakes her head. I take it from her hands and place it down. “Sorry, Aphrodite. I’ll find you a home inside soon, but River and I need a minute.”
“Aphrodite?”
“The goddess of love seemed fitting for a plant meant to make people fall in love. If you think I should name her some—”
Her arms go around my neck, and her mouth crashes to mine. Gone are the sweet kisses we’ve been sharing. This one is filled with passion and years of longing. A soft moan crawls up her throat, firing every need within me to get her inside my house and continue whatever is happening between us in private.
The cutest pout greets me as I pull away. “Want to help me show Aphrodite her new home?”
“You have no idea how much I would love that.”
I pick Aphrodite up and reach back for River. She bites her lip, trying to hold back her grin. I don’t bother hiding mine. “Maybe you could stay for a while after,” I offer as we enter the house and I close the door.
“I would love that too.”
I squeeze her fingers, and we walk around, seeking out the perfect home for Aphrodite. River stops in front of the sliding glass door. “Why do you have an empty plant stand?”
“That’s where Dottie was.”
Her eyes brighten with happiness. “Well, it’s the perfect spot for Aphrodite.”
She holds her hands out, and I put the plant in them. Gently, she places Aphrodite on the stand. Then she steps back. “She looks beautiful here.”
