“I’m here to make sure you’re safe.” In addition to the three armed, trained professionals in her backyard.
“Like you care.” She huffed as she crossed her arms over her perfect sun-kissed chest.
For two heartbeats, the world ceased to exist as we stared at each other. Pain and frustration were evident in her eyes. Desire and determination in mine. At least that’s what I felt.
I wanted to tell her I cared, that I couldn’t stop thinking about her. But I didn’t know how to do it without creating a bigger mess.
I couldn’t, at least not here.
Wanting to give her the staring contest win, I looked down.
Long seconds passed as I sensed her staring at me. When I finally looked back up, I caught her staring at my scar and confirmed my suspicions.
Sympathy had replaced the pain and frustration in her eyes.
Fuck that. I didn’t want or need her sympathy. Before I could say anything, someone called Ashley’s name.
An older woman using a walker for support walked out the door.
“I’ll be right there, Gran,” Ashley called over her shoulder.
Her grandmother kept right on walking.
“Gran, you can wait—”
Her grandmother cut her off. “Nonsense. I’ll be right there.”
Ashley sighed. “Just go. Please,” she begged before walking away.
Her pained, pleading voice almost destroyed me, but I didn’t have time to act.
“Ashley Nicole York, you walk right back over there and introduce me to the young man everyone’s talking about.”
Great.
As Gran, as Ashley called her, walked towards my truck, I couldn’t help but notice how much she and Ashley looked alike. It was like getting a glimpse of the future. A future I’d never see.
I’d crossed too many lines; my time here was limited.Sorry Kroupa. His reference wouldn’t mean shit at SSI after I crashed and burned. He’d given me a glowing recommendation, and I wasn’t living up to it.
But I could. I just needed to stop fucking up and clear things up with Ashley. I’d have to settle for polite acquaintanceship, or maybe friendship, if I wanted to stay in Weatherford.
I’d have to decide whether staying here would be worth the pain of seeing Ashley knowing I could never have her.
I looked in the mirror and adjusted my ball cap before stepping out of my truck. There was only one way to meet the elder York—with respect. Respect I couldn’t give sitting behind the wheel.
“My, my, aren’t you a tall one?” Gran said as she stopped in front of me.
I chuckled as I removed my cap. “I’m Nathan. It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Oh, don’t give me any of that ma’am crap.”
“Yes, ma’am, Mrs…” Was she a York too?
“Violet York. Ashley’s daddy was my son.”
I remembered Ashley telling me her parents had died when she was young, and how her grandmother raised her.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. York,” I said, holding out my hand.
