“I’m fine, Mom. I’m worried about you, too.”
“You know what, I’m actually the happiest I’ve been in a very long time. And I found the piece of property in Rosewood River where I want to build my home. It’s right on the water, and I’m going to have a barn built just for you and Wrax.”
“That’s great news, Mom. And I’m proud of you because I know it’s not easy to walk away from someone you love.” I knew from experience.
“That’s true, but I think if you love someone and they don’t love you back the way you deserve to be loved, it makes it easier to walk away. Even if it takes you many years to figure it out.”
I nodded in understanding. “That makes sense.”
“Aunt Becky is shouting for me to come watch a movie with her,” she said with a chuckle. She sounded light and happy, andit made my chest squeeze. “I’ll talk to you later this week. Love you, Wren.”
“Love you, too,” I said before ending the call.
I padded my way to the bathroom, turned on the water to the shower, stripped down, and stepped beneath the hot stream of water.
I thought about what my mother had said.
If you love someone and they don’t love you back the way you deserve to be loved, it makes it easier to walk away.
That had been the biggest challenge when I’d walked away from Axel. No one had ever made me feel more loved. He’d always been my biggest cheerleader. Biggest supporter.
I’d never doubted that Axel would do anything for me, and vice versa.
In a heartbeat.
It was our promise.
Our thing.
And then we’d gone and messed it all up.
I squeezed my eyes closed as I rinsed the shampoo from my hair, and memories of our night together flooded my thoughts, just like they had almost daily over the last two years. I’d been pining for a man I’d forced myself to stay away from.
But these thoughts were all-consuming.
The way he’d touched me.
The way he’d kissed me.
The way he’d buried his head between my thighs.
How could I still remember it so vividly?
It had happened so long ago. But I could still feel his hands on me. His lips on mine.
My hand slid down my body, between my thighs, as a dull ache begged for release.
My breaths came faster.
I imagined him dropping to his knees and spreading my legs apart, just like he’d done that night.
My head fell back as my fingers circled my clit.
A piercing sound blasted my thoughts, and it took me a minute to realize what was happening.
I quickly pulled my hand away, listening as the sound grew even louder when I turned the water off.
The smoke alarm was going off.
