Page 244 of There's No Us Without You
My mouth waters, the burn of the whiskey sending my salivary glands into overdrive. I repeat the action a few more times until my body is buzzing, alcohol replacing the blood in my veins.
It’s a welcome distraction.
“You know,” Wren says, nudging me with his elbow, his hand paused halfway to his mouth as he lifts his beer, “you can always call her, let her know how you feel about her.”
I sniff and wipe my nose with the back of my hand. “What are you talking about?”
I know exactly what he’s talking about, but fuck that.
“I’m talking about Eden. I know you’re hurting over Tyler, but pushing her away isn’t going to help.” He sighs, shaking his head. “Trust me, I know.”
“It’s not the same as you and Matilda,” I say. “I blamed Eden for Tyler’s death. I doubt she wants anything to do with me.”
Wren lifts a shoulder. “Won’t know unless you try, dude. You know,” he says, smirking, “use that mouth of yours to speak actual words. Maybe drop the ‘I love you’ bomb.”
I huff a laugh. “Not happening.”
“Well”—Wren stands and grabs his black leather jacket from the chair next to him—“you’re going to need her now more than ever. Love like that doesn’t just go away. Eden doesn’tseem pushy the way Matilda is—that woman wouldn’t take no for an answer. So maybe you’re the one who has to make the first move.” He shrugs into the jacket and pats me on the back. “Anyway, just think about it. You right to close up?”
“Yeah, thanks man.” I stand and grab Wren, pulling him in for a hug.
With a quick nod, he heads towards the exit and disappears into the night.
“Fuck.” I throw the bottle of whiskey at the wall, the glass smashing, the liquor inside splattering over the wall and onto the floor.
I sway forward, letting my forehead smash against the bar, my shoulders shaking, my chest barely containing the pain coursing through my body.
I’ve never cried so much in my life. Maybe because I’ve never allowed myself to be so vulnerable.
I press the palms of my hands into my eyes.
You know what? Fuck it.
If I’m going to have any chance of making things right with Eden, I need to suck it up. Emerson is fucking miserable without her.
Jesus. I’m fucking miserable without her.
I grab my car keys from my office and lock the front door behind me, then make my way to my car in the back car park. Probably shouldn’t be driving in my state, but if Eden isn’t coming back, I need to do what Wren suggested and tell her how I feel.
Or attempt to.
Who knows what the hell is going to come spilling out?
Why is it so hard for me to say three little words when they mean so much?
I didn’t have a problem saying them to Emerson. Or at least not really. Once they were out, though, I felt almost... calm.
So, I’m done being a coward.
I make it to Eden’s mum’s house half an hour later, pulling up out the front. I snatch my phone from my pocket and text her.
A few minutes pass before the front door opens, and Eden steps out onto the front porch, wearing a light-blue pair of silk pyjamas and a frown on her face.
All the air gets sucked from my lungs. She’s just as beautiful as the first time I laid eyes on her—crashing through the front door of my bar.
My hands shake as I climb from the car and meet her halfway.
“Will? What are you doing here?” Her voice is soft, unsure.
