Page 35 of Salvation

I don’t turn around to greet him. I see that glint in Haden’s eyes as he looks back down at me. The teasing. As handsome as he is and as fun as the banter may be, I won’t be someone he uses to get a rile out of another man. We aren’t twelve. So, I reach over and pat Haden on the shoulder.

“As flattering as that is, I’m not sure you could keep up,” I say with a grin. “But thanks for the drink.”

I give the beer a little wiggle in front of his face before turning away, effectively dismissing him – only to be met with a smug look stretched across Wesley’s face.

He looks down to take me in. For just a moment, I swear his eyes darken, and he’s merciless in the way he lets his eyes roam over my body. When they snag on my cleavage and linger there, I can't fight the way my thighs squeeze together.

"At least he was right about one thing. You do look pretty damn good tonight, sweetheart.” Wesley says gently, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips as his eyes slowly make their way back up to mine.

Even in the dim lighting, his eyes are so blue they send a shock of warmth throughout my body, and my face heats at the fact that those eyes are locked solely onme.Not on anyone else in this room. "Just tonight?” I ask, breathless.

He licks his lips. “You always look good, Blake.”

That movement has me remembering exactly how our last encounter with each other went. How he almost kissed me. Iwon’t lie and say I didn’t want it to happen, but it was a moment of weakness for us both, one I know we can, and will never act on. It’s just too damn complicated if we do. I don’t respond, so breathless and brainless in his presence, it’s nearly impossible. So, he just chooses to look around the room before saying, “I suppose I should thank you for this idea. Haven’t been this packed in a while.”

I watch the crowd. The door that’s propped open. The loud noise spilling in and out. Some people coming and going. The entire bar is alive tonight. The entire street. I shake my head. “This is all you, Wesley. Your father would be proud.”

I know I’m right. As I watch the bar and the crowd with him, it’s easy to know how happy Ben would be at the sight. He always wanted the bar to be a space where people could come together. Where this town could come together. I turn back to find him watching me. A glint in his eye that’s sad? Happy? I can’t tell. Never can with him.

“Do you regret leaving?” He asks me. It may sound like a random question, but I know what he’s asking. The atmosphere, the people, the simple life. Still, it hits something in my chest.

“Every day.” I whisper back. Despite all the noise, I know he can hear me. Only me in this crowded bar.

I pull in a long breath as I fully turn my body back towards his and stand a little taller, looking up at him below lowered lashes. I haven’t even sipped my beer yet, but something about this moment makes me feel a little braver than I usually do. “I know…I know things aren’t the same. Maybe they never will be. You want answers that I don’t know how to give you. And you have every right to hate me for it. But I think it’s safe to say there’s no way to avoid each other in this town. I - let’s start over. I’m willing to if you are. We can be...friends.”

Friends.The word makes me want to throw something, but I don’t let him see that. Wesley and I could never just befriends.I’m not stupid enough to truly think so. But we can damn well try. He runs his tongue along his teeth and nods. “Friends?”

I hum in agreement. “As long as you promise not to do that caveman shit again.” I hike a finger over my shoulder, so he understands who I’m talking about him being a caveman with.

That evokes a laugh from him. “Caveman shit?”

I dip my head in agreement, a smile tugging at my lips, and stick out my hand like we’re striking a deal. “What do you say?” He takes it and steps in a little closer. He speaks just loud enough so that only we can hear.

“Friends it is then.”

Chapter 35

Wesley

Friends.

That word makes me want to punch something. To throw her over my shoulder and show her just how much I don’t want to befriendswith her. But I don’t do that. I sit at the bar like a loser as I watch her dance with the other girls. How she breaks away to check on Elain or pulls her into the crowd to dance with them. She’s had a few drinks here and there, but not enough to be wasted.

She looks gorgeous. Carefree. Relaxed. Happy.

Everything that makes her who she is. That’s the Blake I knew growing up. It makes me happy to know she’s made new friends and rekindled old friendships. That she’s moving on and healing from the prick who left her so broken in the first place. She may think she doesn’t belong here anymore, but she was quick to make this town as much hers as it was the day she was born. The way she takes change in stride has never failed to impressme. I can’t understand how Marshall, or any man, could fumble a woman like that.

And that skirt? That fuckingskirt.

It’s a miracle Ididn’tthrow her over my shoulder and haul her out of this damn bar.

I was so angry when she came home. Confused. But the longer she’s here, the more she pops up in my everyday life, it’s easier and easier to forget why I was so upset to begin with. Easier to get excited when I get an excuse to see her next door or when she pops up atmydoor andasksto hang out. Just as I take a swig of my beer, Harper drags Blake over to the Karaoke station. I can tell she’s a bit nervous by the way her eyes dart around and her cheeks turn pink, but she must have just enough liquid courage because she doesn’t bolt away. Just as they start to sing some old country song I don’t recognize right away, an older guy I’ve never seen before takes up the seat beside me. “This was my wife’s favorite song.”

“How did you meet her?”

Was.The look on his face is sorrowful but so full of love that it cracks my heart just a little. No one should go through life without the one person they want to spend it with. It’s the same way my mom looks when she talks about my dad. “Childhood sweethearts. I let her go once, and never made that mistake again once I got her back.”

I nod. But my eyes drift back toward Blake at his words. I don’t know why. The old man clocks it because he leans in and lays a hand on my shoulder before pointing in her direction, “Don’t let that one go.”

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