The long walk back to my carhad reminded me of a lot of things about myself. Things like my need forloyalty, and for family, and love.
The fact that I’d never left aman behind and I didn’t want to start now, not if I had a choice.
I’d had alongtime to think,and most of my thoughts had been that I wanted to get back to Ashley as soon aspossible. Nothing else seemed to matter nearly as much.
“Before you go,” Ashleybegan, and my heart sank. I didn’twantto go.
Not without him.
I was surer now than I hadbeen on the drive back. Seeing him again made me want to reach out and neverlet go.
I had to take the chance. IfI didn’t,I’d regret it for the rest of my life.
No one could predict thefuture. All we could ever do was the right thing here and now.
“Hold up a second,” I said,fingers itching to reach out for him. Touch him, hold him, kiss him soft andslow and promise him that everything was going to be okay. “At least, let me gofirst?”
Ashley bit his lower lip likehe always did, but nodded.
I took a step toward him andbreathed in deep, closing my eyes for a half-second to gather some much-neededcourage.
“There was never anythingwrong with my car,” I began, nerves twisting my stomach.
Ashley’s mouth opened,his brows drawing together, but if he interrupted me I’d never get all of thisout.
I only had one shot, and Ineeded to take it now.
“Hear me out,” I added,holding a hand up to stop him. He didn’t look happy about it, but he closed hismouth again.
“I lied about the car so Icould stay another night, with you. I couldn’t leave. I didn’twantto leave, Iwanted to be here to protect you, to take care of you.”
Ashley’s throat bobbedas he swallowed. Was that hope in his eyes? Or was it just wishful thinkingfrom me?
“Come away with me,” I said.
I watched Ashley’s facecarefully, looking for any sign that I was saying the wrong thing—or, if I waslucky, the right one.
Walking away without making theoffer wasn’tan option. If Ashley told me to go now, I’d go. But if I left and never toldhim how I felt, what kind of a man was I?
The kind of man whoabandoned his friends—who abandoned someone heloved—out of fear.
No. I’d never beenthat, and I wasn’t about to start.
“I…”
This was where I was alwaysgoing to stutter. This was thehardpart, and I hadn’t said it fastenough, and I was starting to lose my nerve.
“I love you,” I forced outin a rush, the words running into one another. Ashley’s mouth fell open again,and that wasdefinitelya spark of hope in his eyes.
“Before, umm…” he saidsoftly. “Before I make a complete idiot of myself, could you, umm. Repeat thatlast part?”
“I love you,” I said, bloodrushing in my ears. It was true. The moment I stopped and paused and said italoud, Iknewit was true.
One of the truest, bestthings I’dever said in my life.
Ashley’s mouth fellopen, eyes lighting up just like I’d hoped they would. I needed to hear aresponse, needed to know that I wasn’t reading this wrong, but that look… thatlook was almost enough to tell me everything I needed to hear.
“I love you, and I want tobe with you,” I added. “And—”
