Page 85 of Resist

In the course of a single day, she’d lost her father, her brother, her home, and all of her belongings.

Through it all, Coulton kept his arm tucked around her tightly, trying to imbue some of his strength into her fragile frame. His wildcat had gotten knocked down, but there was no way he was letting her stay there.

“Where is everyone?” he asked, glancing around the empty tavern.

“After the doctor called to tell me…” She swallowed deeply. “After he called me, I kicked everyone out. There were only a few people here anyway.” She glanced over at the bar, then ran her hand over the table in front of them. “Eli and I spent most of our childhood in this booth.”

Coulton recalled Petey telling him about Mick raising his kids in the tavern.

“Mick put us here so he could keep an eye on us while he was working. This booth was where I did all my homework, ate my dinner, learned how to cuss, and drew in my sketchbooks. I sat here day after day for years.”

Ainsley was looking at the table, her words coming slowly, spoken so softly, Coulton wondered if she was talking to him or to herself.

“Eli could never sit still, so he was always getting in trouble for roaming around the tavern or getting in Mick’s way behind the counter. He would try to hang out with the customers, and when he got older, he was constantly sneaking drinks of beer. He was ten the first time he got drunk, and when Mick realized how shit-faced he was, he took him into the back room and whipped his ass with a belt until Eli threw up. Then he made him sit on his sore ass in this booth, not letting him stand at all for the rest of the night. You’d think that would have turned Eli off alcohol…but the very next week, he was up again, sneaking more beer.”

Coulton sat quietly as Ainsley recounted several more stories, some good, most bad. He let her talk until she talked herself out. Somewhere in the midst of her reminiscences, she rested her head on his shoulder, and he tucked her close.

The one thing she hadn’t done was cry.

“Ainsley,” he started.

“I saw the picture of you and Evelyn on Facebook.” It was the first time in nearly an hour that she’d lifted her head and looked at him.

He sighed. “She showed up at the hotel to surprise me.”

“You told me the two of you were still friends.” There was no accusation or anger in her tone, which in a lot of ways, made Coulton feel even worse.

“She texted when I was on the plane, headed there, asking if we could meet. I ignored it, hoping to skip seeing her. I should have just texted her back and told her no.”

Ainsley gave him a sad smile. “Why would you do that?”

“I didn’t want you to think there was anything going on between me and her,” he answered honestly.

She nodded. “I haven’t exactly made this easy between us. I struggle with trusting people, and I’ve taken that out on you, even though you’ve never let me down or lied to me. I didn’t realize until today that I’ve given you no reason to trustme. No reason to trust that I won’t cut and run whenever I get afraid.”

“Ainsley,” he started to protest. He wanted to tell her hedidtrust her, but the truth was, he’d held back on telling her about Evelyn in a text because he’d been worried about losing her.

She placed her hand flat on his chest, just over his heart. “I’m sorry, Coulton.”

He held her face in his palms and placed his forehead against hers. “I’m never going to hide anything from you,” he promised. “I never want to let you down.”

Ainsley blinked rapidly, her eyes wet with tears she refused to shed. “I want to earn your trust,” she whispered.

“You have it,” he said, even as she shook her head.

“I don’t. Not yet.”

He started to protest, but she placed her fingers against his lips. He gripped her hand when she started to pull her fingers away, kissing the pads of her fingertips.

“The truth is I didn’t answer the thankful-for question honestly. Because the main thing I’m thankful for this year is you. Just you.”

She lifted her face to him, smiling, and he leaned toward her and kissed her. His lips slowly and softly worshipped hers, though he kept it tame. Ainsley was the poster child for exhaustion at the moment, and his need to take care of her overrode every other desire.

“Can I ask you for something?” Coulton knew what he wanted would be difficult for her.

She nodded.

“Let me take care of you tonight.”

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