Those emotions had been real forher, and they’d obviously put her in a really bad place for a while.
“Stop apologizing,” I said grumpily. “I should have pushed harder to find out what was wrong. I guess I was a little insecure myself. I hate that you went through that alone. Don’t do that shit to me again, Lauren. Whatever it is, whatever is wrong, we’ll always get through it together.”
“I won’t,” she reassured me as she hugged me so tightly, I could hardly breathe.
I held her warm body against mine, and she felt so good that I decided I could wait a little while longer to take another breath.
Lauren
“Ithink that’s everything,” I told Cole about a half an hour later.
Cole had gotten up and brought us both a drink before we’d settled back on the bed so I could tell him more about my week and everything my brother had said in his journal.
I’d changed into my sleep shorts and a matching shirt while he’d gone after his Scotch and my glass of wine.
We sat side by side on the bed, his arm around my waist and my head on his shoulder, while I’d done most of the talking.
I’d been deliriously happy when he told me one more time that he loved me.
I’d hoped that he felt the same way I did.
I’d told myself that I couldn’t possibly be this in love with someone if he didn’t feel the same way.
Still, I was elated to actually hear those words from him again.
“How do you feel about your brother now?” he asked.
I thought about that for a moment.
“I love him. I’ll always love him,” I explained. “But I guess I realize that he was human. He made mistakes. Because he was my guardian and mentor, I think I idolized a man who didn’t exist. There was no way I could see that as a kid. As an adult, I realize that he was imperfect, but he loved me. He loved me so much that he was willing to do anything to protect me. I wished he’d done things differently, but I can’t change the past. The best thing I can do is try to move on. More than anything, my brother wanted me to be happy.”
“That’s definitely something I have in common with your brother,” Cole said in a low, thoughtful voice.
“Asher came to see me earlier,” I shared. “He asked me not to reveal what I know about Keith. My brother was Asher’s friend. Your brother doesn’t seem to care about the lingering rumors about him killing his father. He doesn’t want me to go to Chief Norton with the truth.”
“I don’t, either,” Cole said firmly. “There’s no benefit to anyone if you do that.”
“The whole town would find out that you and Asher didn’t kill your father,” I argued.
“They’d also talk about your brother and about you,” he said irritably. “I feel the same way as Asher. Your brother is gone, angel. Asher and I are the only ones who would care about the truth coming out now, and we don’t. Tanner already knows the truth. He can share it with Millie and his brothers, but nobody else ever needs or has the right to know.”
I took a sip of my wine and leaned back against Cole.
He was right.
The case would forever be unsolved publicly, but everyone who should know the truth would have that resolution.
“Is it horrible that I’m relieved?” I asked softly. “That I really don’t want my brother to be forever branded a murderer, even though he did kill your father?”
“Hell, no. I’d try to save Asher’s good name if I was in your position. Especially if it was the last thing I could do for him. Your brother wasn’t a serial killer. He made a mistake because my asshole father provoked him into it. It sounds like he regretted it and was willing to own up to that mistake. Your brother panicked. He knew my father had already killed at least one person in his past. I get that he didn’t feel like he had any other option at the time. What happened doesn’t negate all of the good things he did, Lauren. Asher considered him a friend. Keith was a hard worker, and he raised you and protected you with love. Let it go. It’s time, sweetheart.”
I let out a long sigh.
God, how I loved this man and the way that he supported me when I needed him.
“Have I told you what an amazing man you are today?” I asked in a lighter tone.
“Actually, I haven’t heard that in over a damn week,” he said in a disgruntled voice.
