Page 48 of A Touch of Heaven

He shrugs.

“Maybe, maybe not, but you know I would rock your world.”

He gives me a wink, and for the first day in a while, I feel a little like old times.

Suddenly, I spot Asher as he walks over, pulling me into a hug and lifting me off the ground.

“Thank you,” he says to me, his eyes a little less melancholy than before.

“For what?” I ask him, confused.

He pushes his hair out of his eyes as he contemplates, “For a lot of things, Brooke.”

“Okay…no problem, I guess?”

I look up, and Harper stands on the porch, looking over at us.

“Harper told me what happened at the party. Asher, did you do what she thinks you did?”

He nods, looking directly at me. Surprisingly, I’m not as bothered by him admitting what he did as I thought I would be.

“Then I guess I should thank you for saving my best friend. But you need to be honest with her or figure out a better lie than she was just high because it’s tearing her apart.”

He sighs, “I know.” He rubs his jaw as he ponders what I just said.

Jax pipes up. “What happened at the party?”

Asher shoots him a glance and sighs loudly, “Something we need to discuss, but not here and not near Harper. I don’t want to bring it up around her. She’s been through enough.”

He turns away from us and walks toward the house. I watch him stand in front of her awkwardly, and before I know it, he’s wrapping his arms around her. I know they will end up together one day. I just hope he can pack all this away beforehand because there’s no way he can be with Harper right now, doing what he’s doing and her not getting hurt.

My gaze moves slightly to the left after watching him solidly hold her longer than I thought he would, and I see Chase staring at me intensely. Those gorgeous eyes trying to see into my soul.

“It’s up to you, Brooke. But whenever you’re ready, he’s ready to talk,” Jax whispers to me.

I see Nate walk out and look between me and Chase. His eyes land on mine, and I see him smile, but this one is sad like he’s giving up. He walks back inside, and I follow him to talk to him. I need to do this before I hear Chase out.

CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

BROOKE

Ifollow Nate into his bedroom, closing the door behind me. My eyes lock with his, and before I know it, he’s striding toward me. His hands cup my face as he presses my back to the door, kissing me desperately, deeply.

I can feel what this kiss is. It’s his way of telling me not to decide now. Not to walk away from this. I can’t bring myself to kiss him back how he wants me to, and his hands drop from my face. He pulls away from me, walking back a couple of steps.

“Don’t do this, Brooke. Don’t end this before it has a chance to start. Please.”

His voice is pleading with me. I can see it on his face. I shake my head slowly.

“I’m so sorry, Nate. I just don’t feel it. You asked me to take time, and I have. I tried, I’m sorry, but I don’t.”

He takes my hands in his, pulling them up between us.

“But you could, Brooke, you could love me, I know it. You just have to not give up on it yet. We were so close on that beach. You know it. Don’t give up. Fight for me.”

His eyes scan mine, searching for something to hold on to. I know what he’s looking for. I also know it’s not there.

“I can’t give up on something that’s not there, Nate. You’re right. Over time, I probably could fall in love with you, but you don’t deserve that. You deserve a girl that loves you like that now.”

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