Page 102 of Beneath the Blue Moon
“Hello, Casey.”
His voice is like Heaven.I let it flow through me,breathing life into my dying soul.When his gaze drops to my ankle, anger blazesin his eyes.
“Hello.”
He walks up the steps, removes his hat, and leans on thesupport post.
“For you,” he says, handing me the flowers and the cup.
I place the flowers on the swing next to me and suck on thestraw sticking out of the cup.Yup, I was right.
“Thank you.”
“Are you in pain?”
Yes.There’s a hole in my heart, and it’s killing meslowly.“A little.I’m hopped up on painkillers, though.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“No, but thank you.”
“I’m here for you… if you need me.”
I need you.I need you more than I need air to breathe!Just hold me and tell me that everything’s going to be okay.“Thanks,” Isay instead.
“Do you want to file a report?”
“I didn’t really get a good look at him.I don’t see whatgood that would do.”
He nods then focuses on my eyes.I look away, unable towithstand the intensity of his stare.
“How’ve you been, Casey?”
Horrible.I miss you so much I don’t even want to get outof bed.“Good.Rusty wants to promote me to manager.”
“That’s good.Isn’t it?”He raises a brow.
“I don’t know.I’ve been working part-time so I could behere with Daddy most of the day.Management means full-time hours.”
“But your dad’s been doing well, and you have Clara.”
“Yeah, and Clara’s great, but she was meant to help, notreplace me.”
“No one can replace you.”
I hold his stare, knowing he’s not talking about my father.The hurt I find in his chocolate eyes forces me to look away again.In the nextinstant, he’s on his knees next to me.He takes my hand, his eyes imploring.
“Casey, stop this.”
“Stop what?”
“Torturing me.Come back to me.”
Oh, God.Don’t cry.Don’t cry.Don’t cry!“No.Look, Itold you in the beginning I wasn’t looking for a relationship.”
“What do you call what we had?”
“It’s my fault.I let it go too far but… I’m not right foryou.”
