Ella stops and sighs. “Yeah, when you and I broke up, I think I cried every day for three months.”
My eyes bug out. “Three months?” I look to Jesse. He straightens, sucking in a breath, and the way his eyes dim while he looks at Ella makes my heart ache too.
“Everything happens for a reason though,” he says, resting a hand on her waist just before pressing a kiss to her head. He can’t get enough of her. I want that. I want a man who almost can’t stand to be away from me. Who doesn’t care where we are or what we’re doing, he’s just happy he’s with me. I just want someone to crave me like that.
Maybe I wasn’t as into Brantley as I thought I was. Jesse and Ella were literally made for each other. I know they were really young when they first dated, but I do remember him being pretty down in the dumps for a while. But I don’t recallseeing him cry.
Ella looks to me. “When I started nursing school and got busy with that, I met new friends, dated other people, and I guess, moved on…somewhat.” She sighs.
“Yeah. I don’t know. I think I’ll be fine in a few days.” I shrug.
“You will, just stay busy,” she says with a knowing look.
The conversation stops there when Ella continues to the bathroom and Jesse heads back into the living room. I slowly stir the hot chocolate on the stove.
My mind flashes back to Wesley…again. Everything he confessed just repeating in my mind.
Remembering the way his lips felt makes me shiver. In a good way. That’s never happened before.
When we first fell asleep in the truck, I was anxious. But when we curled up together, he made it all disappear. I felt so safe and comfortable in his arms. And for me, that’s a big deal.
Now the question is, what if I let my walls down too? What if we dated and it went well? What if heismy person, my safe place, my forever. Standing right in front of me all these years. What if I let myself love him back?
I walk back to the living room and grab my phone from the couch.
“Everything okay?” Mom asks.
“Yeah. I’m just gonna go for a drive. I’ll be back,” I say, heading towards the front door. I can feel someone behind me while I pull on my boots.
“Addison,” Cody says, standing just a few feet away.
I look up. “What?”
“You alright?”
“Yeah, I’m just going for a drive.”
“You want company?”
“Not really.”
He crosses his arms and leans against the wall. “Sure?”
“I’m fine, Cody.”
He holds his hands up in front of him in surrender. “I tried.” He blinks at me.
“Trust me.” I grab my jacket, hat, and gloves and out the door I go.
* * *
When I get to the farm, I’m frozen. It’s twelve degrees today. I hurry inside the barn, hearing the quiet hum of country music. Wesley is crouched by the woodstove starting a fire…for me. I didn’t tell him I was coming until I got in the side-by-side.
“Hey.” He smiles but I can tell he’s nervous. His shoulders aren’t relaxed, his chest is out, and he adjusts his hat a few times as I continue my way over.
“Hi.” I push out a smile.
He looks different to me all of a sudden. Like I’m seeing him through a new set of eyes.
