Page 97 of Give Me Redemption

I readjust my backwards hat. We didn’t wear helmets since we were just riding in the field. I start to walk as she follows me out of the shop. Pops and Emily are on their honeymoon, and Bryce and Harrison have already left the ranch. It’s pretty much just us here, except for a few ranch hands keeping the place going.

The moon gets jealous of the sun, deciding it wants to share in the spotlight, revealing itself before dark. It’s twilight, and one by one the stars appear. I twist to look back at Dalton because I don’t hear her footsteps anymore. She’s got her arms crossed as she gazes out at the pasture.

I watch her as she looks out. I know what’s there. I’ve seen it a hundred times, but seeing her appreciate it for the first time, it’s like having someone listen to your favorite song.

Horses feed, and fireflies dance, the sky is a soft blue, and everything looks buttery.

And she looks likeeverything.

My heart pitter-patters against my ribcage, and my chest almost aches.

How I wish she were mine.

She hasn’t even told me how she feels. I spilled everything, telling her that I loved her. That hasn’t changed. I tried to convince myself that I could move on, but I can’t shake her.

She’s inside of me now. In the rush of my blood, the beat of my pulse, and the darkness of my soul. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.

She looks over at me with a smile that quickly fades. Her eyes twist with mine, and I beg for her toseeme.

Understand how much I love her.

The world carries on around us, the moon rising higher, the sun descending. Shadows appear, and the wind rustles the leaves. The smell of flowers drifts in the air, mingling with her perfume.

There’s no doubt that she should be mine.

I take a step closer to her. She swallows, her expression almost pained.

But does she know how I ache?

Does she realize how happy I could make her? I’m only a few feet away from her now, and I slide my hands into my pockets as I look at her. A sign that I’m not doing anything.

This is all on her.

There’s a war going on behind her eyes, and I want to tell her that she’d never have to worry about me hurting her.

I’d never do that.

I’d change everything about myself if that’s what she wanted.

She steps closer to me, and I feel my bones shake.

Her eyes move from mine to my lips, and she reaches out and runs her finger over my forearm. Chills chase one another across my skin.

And then she steps closer.

I look down at her lips, wondering if they taste like the evening air. Sweet spring flowers and her.

My pulse kick-starts, and I swear if she changes her mind this time, I’ll die.

“Don’t do this if you don’t mean it, Dalton,” I murmur, restraining myself.

Her eyes jump up to mine. I feel my jaw clench, my hands twitch, so fucking desperate to reach out to her, but they’re purposely trapped in my pockets.

“I wish I didn’t want this,” she says. “I wish I could forget you.”

“Why?” I ask in a rush, confusion laced with underlying hurt.

“It’d just be easier.”

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