Page 70 of Wine and Research
Jeremy wasn’t sure what to do with that information, but his heart swelled anyway.
“Elle is stubborn,” the guy stated.
Jeremy snorted his agreement. “With a capital S.”
“But I’m guessing you are too, so don’t give up on her. Don’t discount her fears. They’re deep-rooted, and the fact we are divorced and I survived my military career only deepens her belief. She actually pointed that out today.” He smiled ruefully.
“She’s really going to leave?”
Hudson nodded. “I’d bet on it. Elle told me she packed during the night. She’s running scared. Running away, thinking you’ll be better off without her. Safer.”
“That’s bullshit,” he muttered, shoving a hand through his hair.
“You and I both know it, but she doesn’t.” Hudson shrugged. “So don’t go after her all half-cocked. Get yourself grounded, and above all, you need to open up to her.”
Well shit. Even if he wanted to, Jeremy had no idea how or where to even start. It wasn’t his thing.
Hudson’s gaze narrowed again. “You love her, right?”
Love?
Jeremy’s chest squeezed and the tightening didn’t let up. Did he? Is that why it hurt to breathe? And why he couldn’t think straight?
“Does the thought of her leaving hurt like hell?” Hudson asked, quietly.
Jeremy exhaled. “Like someone’s carving into my chest with a dull spoon.”
The guy nodded. “That’s love. So don’t blow it like I did. Open up to her. You have to go in with your A-game and tell her how you feel. It’s all or nothing. She deserves one hundred percent from you. Time to fight for Elle. Otherwise, she’s leaving.”
Not going to happen. Jeremy refused to lose her. He didn’t know how, but he had to convince her to stay. If it meant opening up, then by God, he would. The thought of living a life of safety, never feeling, never giving, never getting, was no longer appealing.
Jeremy thrust his hand out to her ex-husband, seeing the guy in a completely different light. “Thanks for straightening my ass out and opening my eyes to her concerns.”
Hudson shook his hand. “Roger that. Now, go get her.” He released Jeremy and stepped out of the way.
He’d experienced life with Elle. Hell, he’d experiencedlovewith Elle. As far as he was concerned, there was no going back.
With a nod to the guy, he hurried down the path, having no idea where Elle had been going, but counting on fate to lead the way. After all, it had brought them together.
Jeremy knew in his gut that they’d had help from above, and he wasn’t about to blow it.
Chapter Twenty-One
Elle sat on a bench, gazing out at the lake, hearing the soft rustling of leaves from the light wind blowing through the trees behind her. All those things were her go-to for peace. The tranquility never failed to settle her nerves or quiet her fears…until now.
Not even the beauty of the vista before her could take away her pain. She knew what she had to do, and it was her own fault, too.
Why’d you have to go and fall in love with the guy?she wondered for the millionth time since yesterday.
How was it even possible? They’d only been seeing each other a little over six weeks. That was enough time to fall into lust, not love.
And yet…
A heavy sadness weighed upon her heart as she grappled with the harsh reality of the situation. Elle inhaled, and the motion sent a stray tear down her face from her watery eyes. She didn’t have a choice now. She had to leave. Jeremy’s life depended on it.
No, it didn’t, her conscience argued.
Too bad she knew it to be wrong. Callum was living proof. Literally. Bumping into him here in the Poconos was insane, but it’d cemented her beliefs. By divorcing him, he’d survived being a SEAL. She’d loved him, but found the strength to let him go, and he’d lived.
