Page 78 of An Unexpected Everything
“Bella. Please.” Thunder cracked, and the rain fell in earnest. In an instant we were both drenched, and I cursed again. “Let’s go inside. I’ve got a key if you don’t.”
She shook her head, staring at me as if I’d lost my mind. She wasn’t wrong. “Of course I have a key. This is my best friend’s home. Where I’ve been staying when I wasn’t with you. And of course it’s raining now. My dress is going to look ridiculous soon.”
It already clung to her, and I could see every single angle of her. But I tore my gaze from her body, and up to her face.
“I’m sorry. I was so damn scared that I was going to mess it up, that I made up a scenario where you were messing it up.”
“I wasn’t leaving for good, you asshole. You wouldn’t let me finish my sentence. My dad used to do that and I hated it. Don’t you ever do that to me again, okay? I don’t like fighting about things like that.”
“So are you going to give me another chance to be an idiot?”
“I told you I love you and you didn’t say anything back. You told me to leave.”
“I love you so fucking much, Bella. I’ve loved you for eight years.” The wind billowed, throwing more rain in our faces. But I didn’t care how drenched we were, or the fact that we were both probably going to catch a cold, I just needed to tell her what I felt.
“I’m sorry. I’ve spent the past few weeks trying to figure out how I was going to live my life in Denver, to maybe franchise the business or start over in some way. Because the kids are going to be fine on their own, and I can start over there.”
“And you didn’t even ask?” She shook her head. “But then again, I didn’t either. I love this town, Weston. I love the way that everybody seems to care about one another and talk about one another at the same time. I love the fact that I feel more connected to my entire family here than I did when surrounded by them in Denver. I know that it makes no sense and it’s far too fast, but I love it here. And I know you just said you love me, but if you’re still telling me to go, I will. But across the lake. I’ll stay in one of the many homes my family owns, and figure something out. I’ll figure out how to breathe and walk next to you in this small town when I can’t have you.”
“I want you. I want you by my side. I want to walk down Main Street and have Ms. Patty guess what we’re thinking. I want the whole town to talk behind our backs about what the hell we’re doing. I want Sam and Sydney to tell me they told me so. I’m sorry.”
“You can’t get scared again. I’m so used to doing everything by myself. From making sure that Phoebe and Emily and Sophia had what they needed. To making sure Kyler didn’t go off the deep end because our parents didn’t understand what he wanted to do with his life. I’ve been so worried about trying to make sure that we keep the will the way that it needs to be so we don’t lose this town, or my family doesn’t lose everything that they’ve worked for in these past years. But with you I’m not thatperson. I can just be me. Figuring out what I want, and finally breathing.”
“I love you,” I whispered as I cupped her face in my hands, the rain slicking down our bodies. “I don’t know how to just be Weston. I’ve been the pseudo dad for so long. And I hate myself for having to leave that first time.”
“So you tried to push me away this time. It’s not going to work, Weston Caldwell. I’m much bitchier than you.”
I threw my head back and laughed before leaning forward and taking her mouth with mine.
She wrapped her arms around my waist, deepened the kiss, and I knew I was a damn fool.
“I don’t know what happens next, but I swear, I’m going to tell you things from now on.”
“You better. Because I can’t read your mind,” Bella said with a laugh.
“And I can’t even pretend to read yours.”
I brushed my lips against hers, needing her, when lightning cracked again.
Only, the sound of thunder didn’t echo, instead it was a car engine.
I wrenched my mouth from hers, headlights nearly blinding me, and in the next moments, it was all I could do to shove Bella out of the way.
And then, there was only pain as the car clipped me at the side, and I rolled up to the windshield, then down again. The sound of brakes grinding filled my ears even as I tried to cough, my lungs seemingly not wanting to work.
I lay there underneath the beam of the headlights, trying to crawl toward Bella where I had shoved her to the ground.
Only my gaze and focus went in and out.
Blink. Bella trying to stand.
Blink. A stranger moving forward.
Blink. A scream.
And then nothing.
Chapter Eighteen
