Page 77 of Since the Day We Wished

“What’s wrong?” he asked in a gentle tone. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

She shook her head. “It’s been a really hard day.”

Before he could say anything else, Emma fell against him and started crying fresh tears, dampening the front of his shirt. But he didn’t care. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly as a wave of emotions came over him. He held her for a few moments, trying not to think about how wonderful her hair smelled, or how perfect it was to feel her in his arms again. It’s not the circumstance he would’ve wanted but was grateful for whatever force had brought them together at the supermarket.

Luke still loved her. He knew that for a fact. Even after a thousand times telling himself it was over, he couldn’t let go of the feelings he had for Emma.

A cascade of memories flowed through him as he soothed her, rubbing her back up and down with the softest touch. With vivid clarity, he relived how he’d held her as they danced at The Point. Once again, he could feel the ocean breeze against his skin as the waves gently lapped against the shoreline. The sound of her beautiful laugh was like music that filled the air and warmed his heart. The nostalgia of her perfume’s fragrance and the way she had gazed at him with those kind brown eyes was a reminder of how much he really missed her.

Luke didn’t have the slightest idea what had happened, but all he knew in that moment was he would do whatever it took to help the woman he loved.

Chapter 39

Emma

Emma buried her face in Luke’s chest, causing a flood of mixed emotions to run through her body. The familiar smell of his laundry detergent was comforting and reminded her of their wonderful memories. She felt at home in his arms as she dreamt for a moment that they had never broken up and that he was here to rescue her and make all her troubles go away. But really, he wasn’t here to rescue her, and they had broken up. The realization pierced her heart, and a profound ache settled in her soul, mourning for all that had been lost between them.

“Emma, don’t cry,” he said, reaching down and grabbing her hand. “Can you tell me what’s wrong? I want to help if I can.”

As she looked up at him through tear-filled eyes, she realized if she stayed in his arms for one second longer, she might not have the strength to walk away again. His unwavering kindness caused a wave of guilt to linger over her, considering how coldly she had ended things between them. But here he was, showing her the grace all humans need from time to time. Emma knew she should pull herself away and find a phone somewhere, but she just couldn’t.

“It’s my father,” she said, tears blurring her vision. “I ran into him in the supermarket.”

“Your father?” Luke tilted his head to the side. “But I thought you hadn’t seen him since you were a kid.”

Emma nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I haven’t. He was a pretty bad drunk back then and left me to live with my grandparents. There’s just a lot of anger I have toward him, and for him to come up to me out of nowhere was just...just...”

“Jarring,” Luke finished her sentence as he wrapped his arms around her.

She felt his heart beating against the side of her head. “Exactly. And now he’s back in town, and he’s back at his old job on the police force, and he wants to make amends. But I don’t think I can. Not yet.”

Luke rubbed her back up and down, soothing her. “You don’t have to make amends if you don’t want to, Emma. And if you’re not ready, then that’s fine too. You can take as long as you need.”

Emma stepped back and looked up at him. “He asked me to get coffee so we could talk. Do you think I was too harsh by saying no?”

Luke shook his head. “Definitely not. And I’m not saying he deserves it, but it might help for the sake of your own healing to let him explain himself.”

She paused and considered his advice. It reminded her ofa recent discussion with the other ladies in the online book club she had joined after their breakup. In this month’s reading ofBraving the WildernessbyBrené Brown,a particular excerpt had stood out to her so much that she underlined it twice.“People are hard to hate up close. Move in.”

Easier said than done,Brené,she thought. Perhaps today was a gift in disguise from the universe attempting to heal her past wounds. Maybe she should give him a chance to explain everything. And if it didn’t help, then at least would know she had tried.

“I think you’re right. Thank you.”

Luke reached up and wiped her tears away with his thumb. As she looked up at him smiling down on her, she felt her knees go weak. Emma still loved him. There was no denying it. But it didn’t matter anymore. It was over between them and there was no going back.

“I think I may have ruined your shirt.”

Luke looked down at his chest and laughed. There was a big wet spot in the middle of his white t-shirt, smudged with tears and makeup.

“Don’t worry. I have others.”

“I can buy you a new one,” Emma said, realizing how strange the offer was afterward. She cringed on the inside wanting to facepalm herself. The man drove a Range Rover and had taken her on a date in a helicopter. He didn’t need her money.

He reached up and tucked a loose curl behind her ear. “You definitely don’t need to do that.”

“Alright. If you say so.” Emma’s lips formed a smile, her heart fluttering as she swayed back toward him.

“There’s that gorgeous smile,” Luke whispered. “I was wondering when it was going to show up.”

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