Page 67 of Unravel Me

Fair answer. “Still, what was his plan? To live a life of solitude because he couldn’t let me go?”

“Look, when your parents passed away, things got rough for him. He expected you to at least come back for their funeral, and when you didn’t show up for the service, he slept in his car with a view of their plots at the cemetery so he wouldn’t miss you if you came back.”

I drop my head to look at the floor, emotion filling my body, and tears burning behind my eyes. I couldn’t bring myself to return to my parents’ funeral. I couldn’t bear seeing them laid torest by myself, in a place that I had long abandoned, at least in the physical sense. My mother begged me never to return, and I knew she wouldn’t want me to come back for that. If I hadn’t fled Seattle because of Brooks’ incessant stalking and my life falling apart, I don’t know if I ever would have found the courage to come back at all.

“When you didn’t, he got piss drunk, and then really fucking angry. My dad was staying at the hotel in town. Sawyer walked there and lost his shit, demanding that he tell him where you were. Luckily my dad called me instead of the police. Dallas and I had to force him back home and calm him down. But the crash after? Ivy, he was broken. I don’t know if a man has ever loved a woman the way he loves you. I’m not telling you this to make you feel bad, sweetheart. I’m telling you so that you hopefully understand and stop questioning it.”

A light blue Honda Accord pulls up and parks in front of us, signaling the end of our conversation. I meet with the man I’m hiring to handle the estate sale and I allow him privacy as he goes through and marks everything in the house while Reid’s words play on repeat in my head. How could Sawyer have meant everything he ever said to me all those years ago? He truly never stopped loving me. My mom’s words, once a loud scream in my head, have faded to nothing more than faint whispers that no longer matter.

I love him.

I’ve always loved him.

I couldn’t ever hurt him like that again.

Tonight I plan to show him that.

I return to Sawyer’s house around five-thirty and brew myself a cup of tea before curling up on his couch to wait for him to get home. Anxiety has been plaguing me all afternoon. I want to be with Sawyer, but I’m still terrified of how I’ll be accepted back into town. We haven’t even spoken about his parents yet and I’ve convinced myself that they will have no interest in supporting Sawyer being with me after everything I put him through. When I left Aspen Ridge I didn’t just lose Sawyer, but his entire family, my friends, and the town that I was raised in. His mom, though, holds such a special place in my heart. I hated comparing our moms, but the difference was night and day. While my mom’s depression kept her from completing basic functions, Sawyer’s mom thrived. While my parents showed me exactly what I didn’t want, Sawyer’s showed me everything I did. I loved them all, but her especially. When Sawyer brought me home for the first time, she was the most accepting, most loving woman. I’d really love to be able to keep those memories of her without gambling with the fact that they very well could be tainted once she sees me again.

Sawyer arrives home and struts down the hallway, his button-up shirt rolled up at the sleeves, exposing his veiny forearms, with a tall box in hand. He reaches me and sets it down on the coffee table.

“What’s this?” I ask as he drops a kiss to my forehead.

“A gift. Open it.”

My face scrunches up in curiosity, doing my best to hide my excitement. I don’t remember the last time someone gave me a gift, unless I count the vibrator Zoe gave me on my birthday last year.

I slowly open the white box and fold the tissue paper out revealing a pair of bright red Hunter rain boots. I smile so big my cheeks hurt. I look up at Sawyer as he smiles down at me.

“Time for you to tap back into your roots, city girl.”

“They’re beautiful, Sawyer. Thank you.”

“Get ready, we got plans tonight.”

“We do? Where are we going?”

“Bonfire at Grace Beach.”

My heart sinks to my stomach and I reach for my hands, twisting my fingers between them.

Sawyer sits down next to me, prying my hands apart and holding them in his.

“Baby, you said you trust me. Now breathe.”

I take a deep inhale and hold it, never taking my eyes off of his.

“Good girl. Now, you’re going to grab one of my hoodies, because that’s what I want to see you in. Pull on your new boots, and we’re going to go to your favorite place in the world. Yes, the town will be there. But you will be safe, and if it becomes too much, we leave. No questions asked. It’s going to be fine.”

“Are you prepared for it to not be fine, though, Sawyer? Honestly?”

I watch as he cocks his head to the side and looks at me incredulously.

“Cut the shit, Ivy. We’re moving forward, so let’s move forward. I said it was going to be fine, you say you trust me, so do it.”

My head jerks back at his tone. Sawyer is never harsh with me. I stare at him with my mouth open for a moment before a deep laugh bubbles up and out of me. Now it’s his turn to stare with his mouth hanging open, his eyes widening in surprise over my outburst.

“Care to share what’s so fucking funny, Iv?”

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