Page 52 of Never Tear Us Apart

When he left for Highland, I never thought I’d ever feel that raw, carnal desire again. But the night of the party, for just a moment, I felt it flicker. But last night, when he demanded that I tell him the truth in that possessive gravel of his that made my heart race and clit pulse, I felt it again. Only this time it was a five-alarm fire.

Cruz was always a generous lover, but the way he focused his attention on satisfying me had been a rush like no other. But the truce we agreed to…the middle ground we were now working to create…that was another thing altogether.

How did one move past the hurt and anger, and let go of a broken heart, for the sake of a happy family? How did I keep my first love from working his way back into my heart, when clearly, he had a stronger pull on me than I was willing to admit?

I had no idea where things between us went from here, and I certainly didn’t know what to expect the next time I saw him. But I couldn’t help but feel a flush in my cheeks whenever thoughts of last night came to mind.

“What’s got you so dreamy eyed?” Royce asks while sitting down next to me and dropping his feet into the water.

I push aside thoughts of Cruz and give Royce a polite smile. “Just thinking how crazy it is that this is our last summer here.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” He bumps his shoulder against mine. “This place is in our blood, Ellery. Summer will always be here.”

“You know what I mean.” I look down, making small circles in the water with my feet. “Our last summer before we head out into the real world.”

“Sure,” he nods. “I know what you mean. But think of it this way. It’s because we’re heading into the real world that our summers here are about to get better than ever before.”

His answer is peculiar and when I look up at him with a question in my eye, he smiles.

“It’s finally our time,” he says, as if the answer is obvious. “And I don’t know about you, but I’m ready. Next year when we come back here, we’ll run this place. Not our parents.”

The way he says it makes me cringe. I didn’t like the way the folks from Elmhurst claimed ownership over Cherry Cove when they were here. Especially kids my age.

Momma had never treated Cherry Cove the way she and Daddy’s friends had. She seemed to love it the way I did, coming here for long weekends outside summer, when the weather agreed. In fact, it was here we escaped to for a few weeks after Daddy died.

It was such an arrogant, and elitist way to view oneself—assuming you owned something, that wasn’t yours simply because you had the money to do and buy what you wanted. Especially since this town was full of amazing people and hard-working families that were part of its heartbeat every day, not just one season out of the year.

But it wasn’t just this which left a bad taste in my mouth. It was the way Royce viewed our life and role here.

I wasn’t sure I wanted my parents’ life. Sure, my Daddy had been respected and Momma loved, but I planned to carry on the Butler name in my own way and in my own time. I didn’t plan to ride into town like I owned the place when I did come back here.

I look up and take in the plethora of former classmates gathered around the pool. I didn’t want a life that was all about money and parties. I wanted a life that was about happiness, fulfillment, and especially, love.

“Don’t you want more than this?” I shake my head.

“Honestly?” He looks over at me and gives me a cocky smile. “Nope.”

“How can you say that?” I ask incredulously. “There’s so much more to life than this.”

“Don’t you get it?” He looks at me in disbelief. “My name, yours, our friends…all of our families have spent generations ensuring that we have the kind of lives others can only dream about. It would be a dishonor to all those who came before, not to take advantage of this incredible life they have given us.”

“I know we’re lucky,” I nod, well aware of my privilege. “And sure, I understand family and tradition. But don’t you want to see the world beyond Elmhurst?”

“I plan to see the world,” he smiles. “And I plan to make my mark on it. But I also plan to come here with my wife and kids every summer because it’s part of the promise that our families made long before we were born.”

The way he says it, I can tell he is enamored by the idea. Yet, I can’t help but think that living a life like his mother and my own, isn’t one of privilege, but more like being trapped.

I pull my legs out of the water and push up. It feels a little bitlike a net has been thrown over me and I’m being reeled in, and it’s time to cut bait.

“I’m going to go inside and grab a snack.”

“Oh, good idea.” He shields the sun from his eyes with one hand. “Bring me something, too, would you?”

The way he’s looking at me makes me uncomfortable. But it’s the idea of serving him because it’s what he expects, which makes me bristle.

“Help yourself to whatever’s inside,” I say in the most saccharin drawl possible. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but I’m going to nip it in the bud now.

As I walk away I feel his eyes on my back, and like a snake, slithering across my toe, it makes me shiver.

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