Page 70 of Homesick

“You’re right,” is all I say while I stare blankly at the pasture ahead. “There’s a small part of me that thinks it’ll be easier just to let Blake go. I want him to go to school and become the man I always knew he could be. I just don’t know if that’s possible if I’m still in the picture.”

Chris laughs to himself before taking another swig.

“Wren, you’ve spent your entire life watching Blake grow up. If you’re not one hundred percent in now, then I don’t think you ever will be. If that’s the case, then I’m sure Ashley wouldn’t have stuck by my side all these years,” Chris chuckles to himself. “You don’t have to go through this life alone and you shouldn’t have to.”

Chris’ words echo through the air, and I begin to wonder if his flask contains more than whiskey.

My brother has grown up a lot since I’ve been away, but I’m still waiting for a joke or quirky line to lighten the mood. Still, I can’t ignore the fact that he’s right.

I want to be with Blake, and I couldn’t care less if he still has a lot of growing to do. Hell, I still have a lot to do myself. It’s going to be hard, but this time I’m not turning my back on him. And I’m not going to let him turn his back on me.

“I’ve got to go,” I say as I hoist myself off the fence.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to take your advice,” I smile.

* * *

I whip Blake’s truck door open and scramble for his glovebox. The small drawer is filled to the brim with discarded receipts, tools, and other junk that I sift through. Suddenly my eye catches on the glimmer of a silver chain and I pull it. There at the end is a simple yet elegant diamond sitting on the edge of a gold band.

My pulse quickens and a sob threatens to unleash itself from my throat. I quickly undo the chain and drop the ring in my hand. Before I know what I’m doing, the ring slips effortlessly on my ring finger. It fits perfectly.

The sound of a throat clearing pulls me from my daze and I turn around to see Blake standing in the driveway with his arms crossed. I blink away the water that’s beading up in my tear ducts.

I wasn’t planning to look for the ring, but my emotions guided my feet to Blake’s truck and soon I was digging through his glovebox. Part of me was hoping the night I’d seen the ring for the first time was a hallucination. I couldn’t believe he’d kept it all these years.

“Emma told you about the ring,” Blake says bluntly.

“Yeah,” I answer as Blake’s eyes drop to the diamond perched on my finger. I yank the ring off, feeling the red-hot laser beams of his gaze. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have snooped.”

“It’s fine. I should’ve told you about it at the diner. Honestly, I was worried you’d think I was crazy for keeping it all these years,” he says while he shuffles side-to-side nervously. “It’s always been a symbol of hope though. Hope that you’d forgive me, and we could be together again.”

I swallow hard and clench the gold band in my hand. “I don’t think you’re crazy.”

Blake smiles at my response. “Well, I was crazy for thinking a ring would solve all our problems. I’m kind of glad Emma stopped me.”

“I would’ve said yes,” I blurt out without thinking.

It’s true. Eighteen-year-old Wren would’ve done anything to be with Blake. Whenever I pictured myself walking down the aisle, he was always the face I saw at the end. I still do, but the aisle has more obstacles now.

“I know,” he says bowing his head. “It’s weird to think how different things could’ve turned out, but I wouldn’t change a thing. We found our way back to each other in the end.”

He’s so damn sweet, I think to myself as my heart begins to hum to life.

“Blake, I can’t move with you to Wisconsin,” I force out in one single breath.

His entire face sinks to the ground with a few simple words and I squeeze the ring in my hand, hoping to shield myself from his disappointment.

“I know you can’t, Wren. It just doesn’t make sense and I would never ask you to give up your new business. You’re creating a home for yourself here and you can’t leave all that behind.”

A weird pang begins to echo in my gut, and I can’t help but feel a longing when he says the word home. Honey Grove will always be my home, but will it feel the same without him here? I slip the ring in my back pocket where it can safely sit for now.

“And I would never ask you to stay,” I practically whisper in response.

I search for an answer to where this leaves us in Blake’s face, but it’s almost unreadable. For once in my life, I keep my feet planted to the ground. I’m not leaving until we figure this thing out.

“Blake, I’m not going to lie. I’m scared,” I admit as I take a step forward. “I’m scared of setting ourselves up for failure again and most importantly, I’m scared of losing you for good.”

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