“Back then you said, ‘Go find someone who can really make you happy.’”
“Right.”
“You also said, ‘You can’t be tied to me, and I can’t be tied to you.’”
“Something like that.”
“That’s exactly what you said. And that’sallyou said. So…for the record, if you’d told me why? If you’d told me what happened to Alan? I would have stayed.”
A tremor ran through him, as if his massive frame had cracked at its foundation. His lips parted, but he said nothing.
“I would have told you exactly what I’m telling you now. There’s got to be a way. But if we never find one, if being your life mate means finding epic things to love in Tennessee and never leaving the state again…” She shrugged. “Then okay.”
“You…you’d choose that?” he whispered.
“Over losing you? Over knowing you’re here, working and laughing and talking and living, and me unable to be part of it?”
“I didn’t…I wouldn’t ask you…”
She took his face in her hands once more. She traced his cheekbones with her thumbs, brushed her fingers through the hair at his temples. “Trevor Sterling, I would choose you over all the towns and cities, all the mountains and rivers in the world. I would choose you over all places and all adventures.”
He wrapped her in his arms, drew her in close, held onto her as onto a lifeline. His body shook. “My Kelsey.”
“Yes. Yours, if you had let me choose, but you didn’t.”
He hid his face against her neck. “I’m so sorry.”
“I believe you.”
“But you don’t trust me.”
“I want to, Trevor. I’m pretty sure you’re my mate as much as I’m yours. I’m pretty sure my romantic life is going to suck forever apart from you, and I’m pretty sure we would both be stronger together.”
He nodded without raising his head.
“So if you can give me time and honesty while I sort through all this, then…then I hope someday Malachi will handfast us and declare us bonded mates.”
“Okay,” he said on a ragged breath.
“Okay,” she said.
She stroked his dear bowed head, played for a while with the longer spikes on top. When his desperate hold on her began to ease, Kelsey nudged him upright. Again she kissed him, but this time only brushed his lips with hers before pulling back and grinning.
“I want my ice cream.”
He chuckled. “Even the best ice pack couldn’t keep it cold this long.”
“Let’s find out.”
The spring rolls were delightful. The pineapple ice cream had gone to creamy slush. They ate both, and when dessert was done Trevor rolled up the blanket and carried it and the picnic basket inside. Then they shared Kelsey’s ear buds and laptop and snuggled up on the couch, and she brought up the page for streaming episodes of her all-time favorite show.
“Please tell me you’ve watched this,” she whispered.
“Uh…no, don’t think so.”
“You’re going to love it.”
“But…you hate reality TV.”
