Page 20 of Weston

Chapter Nine

Wes had pulled out every photo album he had and answered all of Ellie’s questions. And, while she started out enthusiastic, after a couple of hours, he noticed her mood waning. She flipped the pages quicker, like she wasn’t really looking at them, just going through the motions, her questions tapered off, and she seemed to deflate in front of him. When she started chewing her lower lip as she looked from the open album in front of her to the closed one in front of him, he decided she’d probably had enough.

“Are you okay?” he asked, closing the yellowed wedding album she just finished looking through.

“I’m just…” Her words faded along with her earlier smile that had been so full of hope. “Frustrated. I had such a beautiful life and I can’t remember any of it.”

“It’ll come back to you.” He would do everything in his power to reassure and encourage her.But what if it doesn’t?It was a very real possibility. Optimism could only get them so far.

“What if it doesn’t?” she whispered, echoing his thoughts.

He was transported back to the moment she marched into his hospital room after they’d amputated his lower leg. She’d been so confident that they would make it through the darknessand uncertainty together. They’d done it once, and he knew they could do it again.

“We’re gonna be okay,” he said. “That’s what you told me once upon a time when I was ready to give up hope, and now that’s what I’m telling you.”

Although he yearned to lean in and kiss her like she had kissed him, he held himself back. With a sad, soft smile, Ellie absently reached for a handful of jelly beans. After popping one in her mouth, she stood up and wandered over to the side table.

Oh, shit.Wes tensed up as she finished the jelly beans and gingerly picked up the ceramic jar on the side table.

“Are these my—ashes?” Her questioning gaze collided with his and he lurched up off the couch.

Fuck.He should’ve hidden them from her. The last thing he wanted was for her to get upset or have some kind of episode. “That’s what I was told,” he said carefully, reaching out. “Give it to me, Ellie. I’ll take care of it.”

“If it’s not me, then who is it?”

He released a frustrated sigh, dropping his hands, and frowned at the urn she held. “I have no idea. They weren’t very helpful when I went to the morgue, demanding answers. For all I know, there could be a family dog in there.”

For a long moment she studied the urn thoughtfully. “I think we should spread the ashes somewhere nice.” She looked up at him through a fringe of dark lashes, looking so shy and small that his chest tightened. “Can we do that?”

He nodded. His sweet Ellie, always thinking of others. “We can do whatever you want.”

“Do you know somewhere nice?”

“I know the perfect spot.”

Wes drove them up to the quiet place where he liked to hang out when life became too much. They walked to the edge of the cliff and it hit him that less than one week ago, he’d been contemplating letting himself go over the side.Fuck.If he’d have done that, she’d still be lost in Indonesia and he’d be dead. Probably raising hell in the afterlife the moment he discovered Ellie was still alive.

Ellie sucked in a breath at the majestic view. “God, it’s beautiful up here. How did you find this place?”

“Just sort of stumbled onto it when I was out driving one day.” He moved up beside her, his arm brushing against hers. Warmth infused him and he savored the tenuous connection. He also noticed that she didn’t move away.

“This is perfect.” Ellie lifted the urn and twisted the lid off.

“Let me help.” After thanking God Ellie was standing there beside him, he reached inside and removed the plastic bag, unsealed, lifted and shook it. They watched the ashes get caught on the breeze and blow away, scattering over the forest below.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then Ellie turned to face him and he had to clench his fists and force himself not to embrace her. They were so damn close. He swallowed hard as her soft, flowery scent surrounded him. She smelled exactly the same—like the sweetest honeysuckle.

“Tell me something I don’t know, but should,” she whispered, looking up at him, her blue-green eyes shining in the sunlight.

There were so many things he could’ve told her. How he fell in love with her on their first date after she snort-laughed into her Coke at his lame joke. And how after losing her, he ran away from Michigan and moved to Cielo Springs to escape the memories, all because she’d always wanted to visit Montana. Or how his heart beat only and completely for her and he would’ve rather cut his finger off than ever remove his wedding ring.

But he’d always been a man of action rather than words. So instead, he cupped her face, leaned down and gently kissed her lips. And she didn’t pull away. Not even close. Her arms came up, circling around him, and her fingers lightly brushed the back of his neck. Electric tingles shot down his spine, and when she opened her mouth in welcome, he nearly groaned.

Trying to hold himself in check, but burning up for her, his hands wrapped around her waist and his tongue swept between her parted lips. And fuck if he wasn’t home.

She tasted as sweet as she always did and he swore he would never take another kiss with her for granted. He was going to treasure her like never before, living each moment as if it could be their last together. Because he knew how quickly it could all be snatched away.

Wes broke the kiss off before it got to be too much. He knew how strange and overwhelming things must be for her right now, and he didn’t want to do anything to make her regret moving forward with him.

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