Page 105 of Wrecked
Ash walks back over to me and takes me in his arms. He hugs me close to his body, bending his head to whisper in my ear. “He loved you, Katie. So damn much. I promise, he never wanted to hurt you.” He kisses the side of my head. “And I love you too, doll. So yes, you’ll still see me. Sometimes…all the time…whenever you want. I’m here. Always.”
I can’t stop the sob I release as I clutch the best friend of the man I love. A man who is no longer alive. A man who died in the most terrifyingly tragic way. What was he thinking when the plane went down? Did he hold Ellie’s hand? Did they have a chance to say goodbye to each other? Was it quick? Did they know it was coming?
God, it hurts. It hurts so fucking bad. My shoulders shake as I sob against Asher’s shoulder, drenching his white shirt withmy tears. I can’t breathe. My nose is clogged and my eyes are swollen, and I just wish I could goddamn breathe. Ash rubs his hand up and down my back, letting me break apart in his arms.
Several minutes pass before I finally pull back.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice raspy with tears.
“I’ve got you. Always.” He leans forward, kissing my forehead and squeezing my hand before he walks back into the house.
I’m not ready to go back inside yet, so I walk around the yard over to where the old swing set sits. There’s a man sitting on one of the swings, but I couldn’t care less at this point. I walk up to the swing next to him and take a seat, getting a whiff of something strong.
He’s smoking a joint.
He takes one look at my face and hands it over to me without a word. I take it from him, my fingers buzzing when they connect with his. He feels familiar…but new. Our eyes lock, and I feel an inexplicable connection as goosebumps trail up my arm. I can’t begin to explain what is happening, but I sever the connection, looking away and bringing the joint to my lips. I inhale deeply…
Then cough. A lot.
He takes the joint from my hand, tucking his face into his shoulder to hide his laughter. “First time?” he asks in a deep, raspy voice.
“I’ve…yeah. I’ve never smoked before.”
“Oh yeah? So why now?” he asks sarcastically. Clearly, we are both at a reception for two young people that died tragically.
“Could have something to do with my sister and my fiancé dying on the same day.”
“Ah, so you’re the infamous Katie.”
“And you are?” I ask, curiosity getting the best of me.
“Someone who should have already met you,” he answersregrettably. “Someone who should have been around a lot more.”
“Are you…are you family?”
“That’s one way to put it. Not sure if Nathan would agree. We hardly know…knew each other, anymore.”
“His headstone says Nate,” I blurt out. He looks over at me, his blue eyes bright despite the darkening skies. He raises his brow and tilts his head in question. “I…um, I made sure it said Nate. It’s what he preferred to be called. It’s what my sister called him. I guess it turns out I didn’t know him all that well either.”
“Why would your sister know what he preferred to be called?” he asks, confused by my rambling.
“Because he loved her,” I say, emotionless. His eyebrows shoot up his forehead.
“Your fiancé loved your sister?” he asks incredulously.
My eyes start to burn as unshed tears blur my vision. “Yes,” I whisper, letting the pain of that statement seep into my words. “He loved her his whole life, and he was never going to marry me,” I finally admit out loud.
To a complete stranger.
“Jesus. That…that’s a lot.”
I shrug, letting the tears fall from my eyes.
“Listen…I, um…I have a plane to catch. Are you going to be okay? Do you need me to get someone?” he asks, worried about leaving me here alone.
“I’ll be fine. I think I’d rather be alone right now anyway,” I whisper back, swiping at the tears that are now streaming down my face.
He stands up from the swing, and I can feel his eyes are on me, but don’t look his way. He waits a few seconds before leaning over to trace one of the tears trailing down my cheek, wiping it away. I shudder at the contact.
