Page 81 of You Loved Me Once
“I’m going to show Westin around the property,” I inform them both.
Westin raises a brow and I shake my head, hoping he understands not to fight me. I need to talk to him about my brother and his decision to leave. Maybe someone on the outside can see this for what it is and offer guidance.
“Sure, I’ll just watch the game,” Dad groans as he walks to the living room. “You two have fun.”
We walk out the back door, down the dirt path where the tire swing still hangs. His fingers are wrapped around mine, and I rest my head on his arm. This visit didn’t exactly go as I thought; it’s been so much better.
Seeing Westin fit in with my family has meant everything to me, now I need to see if he can help me deal with them. But right now, I just need to be home, and in the moment.
Chapter 24
“Do you think I did the right thing?” I ask Westin as we drive back to Chicago.
“Your father is perfectly lucid. We spent two hours together and I promise, I’d be honest if I thought he couldn’t handle it.”
Westin told me about their talk, and how Dad mentioned his stress about Everton and his lack of responsibility. Apparently, my brother’s drinking is even more out of hand than I knew about. Westin seems to believe it’ll actually be a relief to Dad that he’s gone.
“But the house...”
“You can’t fix this, baby. I know that’s hard, but believe me, he’s going to be fine. It just might require we take a trip up once a month.”
I don’t miss the fact that he said “we.” It also doesn’t scare me. In fact, it makes me smile.
“I guess we will.” I blush a little and now want to slap myself.
“I meant to ask you,” Westin clears his throat. “How is the trial going?”
Instantly, the good feelings I had about the day are gone. Now the dread of lying to him is all-consuming. What other choice do I have? I can tell him, but then that puts him at risk, and he’s repeatedly asked me to keep him in the dark.
“We’ll find out more with the scans in a week and a half.”
He nods. “Why don’t you sound excited?”
“It’s just a lot of stress, you know. And losing Mrs. Whitley really threw me for a loop,” I explain.
Westin offers me comfort with his touch. “I know, believe me, I know.”
“Can we talk about anything else?” I request.
Today has been such a great day, I just want to enjoy it a little more.
“Sure thing,” Wes smiles.
We fall silent, but it’s not awkward. We just are. For the next twenty minutes, Westin and I hold hands and I close my eyes, enjoying the peace that cocoons us. There’s something about being comfortable with someone in the silence.
The car stops in front of my apartment, and I sigh. “Thank you for today.”
He cups my cheek and leans forward. “There’s not much I wouldn’t do for you, Serenity.”
I rest my forehead on his. “I know, and I don’t deserve you.”
Westin tilts his head back so we’re eye to eye. “You deserve to be happy. I want to make you happy.”
I touch the prickly hair on his cheek. Westin has no idea, but before we went on this trip, I realized my feelings for him are far deeper than I wanted to admit. I’d been lying to myself, protecting my heart by saying it was just sex.
But it’s not.
When I think about my normal day to day, I realize he’s always been a part of it. When good things happen to me, I share with him.
