Page 33 of Winter Memories

“I don’t really want to talk about it,” I try and deflect.

By the look Fletcher’s giving me, I know I won’t be able to get away with not answering him. Like I ever had the hope of it with how distracted and moody I’ve been.

“Yeah, that’s not going to work for me Shooting Star,” there’s a warning in his voice, one I know I need to heed.

I let out a heavy sigh and give him my most apologetic look. “I took Macklin to the market today. I wanted to show him the town and get him comfortable here since we’re not goinganywhere. After our date, I knew I was being silly about people being mad at me and treating me like an outcast.”

Fletcher narrows his eyes at me, a growl in his voice, “Was someone rude to you? Was there a pitchfork involved?”

I give him a small smile and shake my head, appreciating how he’s trying to lighten the mood. Still, I can tell he’s pissed at the thought of someone being mean to me. If I wasn’t already in love with this man, if I hadn’t loved him most of my life, his reaction would do it.

“I saw Brandy.”

My words hang between us, but there’s no recognition on Fletcher’s face. He doesn’t flinch at her name or react in any way. I’m not entirely sure what to make of it.

“You know,” I try again, “the Brandy we went to high school with? She’s a flight attendant now?”

“Okay?” His eyebrows pull together and he tilts his head to the side slightly like he’s doing upper-level math in his head. “I’m sorry, Eden, but I don’t get it. She was always a bitch, and you never got along, but you never let her get to you.”

“She said something that got under my skin,” I whisper, “and I haven’t been able to shake it.”

“What did she say?” There’s a hard edge to his voice and I almost hate that I have to answer his question.

“She said that you two were together for a while after we broke up, but it didn’t work out because of how much traveling she did for her job,” the words start to tumble from my mouth, and I don’t look at him while they do. My throat threatens to close up as I admit, “She called your relationship torrid and romantic.” I almost throw up a little in my mouth, but I swallowit down and then shake my head. “I know I don’t have any right to be upset about it. We weren’t together, you were allowed to be with anyone, but Brandy was always trying to touch you and get with you in high school. It just rubbed me the wrong way,” I admit.

There’s a heartbeat of silence and then Fletcher starts laughing. It’s not a low chuckle, it’s a full-on belly laugh. My head snaps up and I glare at him. When I try and stand up to put some distance between us, his hands tighten on my body and hold me in place.

“She’s a liar,” he gasps out as he laughs. When he gets himself under control and all I can do is stare at him incredulously, he clarifies, “I was never with Brandy. I wouldn’t touch her even if someone paid me.”

I blink at him a few times and even though he could just be saying it to soothe my hurt feelings, I believe him. He has no reason to lie because what I said is true—he could be with anyone while we were apart. I have no right to hold it against him.

Look at me—I have a child fathered by another man. Even though we weren’t together, there is still a little bit of guilt in my heart over the whole thing. Not everything has to make sense when it comes to the heart.

“I’m not sure how I feel about you thinking this is so funny,” I pout while trying to ignore the other things Brandy said.

Fletcher’s laughter dies as he studies me and it’s like he can see right through me. “What else did she say?”

I roll my eyes and huff, “She said something about Macklin and how he probably pisses you off and you’ll be calling heragain soon. That’s when I laughed in her face because I know you adore Macklin.”

The silence between us is tense and I can’t look him in the eyes as the anger pulses around him. He grits out through his teeth, “She said what?”

“You heard me,” I whisper.

He grips my chin, his touch possessive and firm, and tilts my head back so I’m looking into his dark eyes. I can see the anger and the threat of violence there, but it’s not directed at me. “What did she say about Macklin?”

Uh-oh. “It doesn’t matter. She’s a bitch and a liar.”

“You believed her,” he murmurs. When I shrug my shoulders, hating that she got to me with her bullshit, Fletcher lays me out on the bed. “Strip,” he demands.

My body moves on autopilot and moments later I’m naked and laid out for him. The moment he’s just as naked as I am, he kneels between my legs while his hand wraps around his cock and pumps slowly. My mouth waters with the thought of tasting him.

“Eden,” he rasps, “if there was anyone specific that I needed to tell you about, I would have. I didn’t mention anything because no one was important enough to mention. No one was you. You’re the only woman who has ever held my heart. You’re the only woman for me.”

“I’m sorry,” I whimper, feeling badly about doubting him even for a moment.

“It’ll take time for us to find our footing.” His eyes bore into mine, but it’s difficult for me to focus on anything beyond the way he’s stroking his length. “But there is one thing you shouldnever doubt, Shooting Star,” he pauses until I look back up and meet his eyes, “I love you.”

My heart starts to pound in my chest because I can feel the sincerity in his words. The truth of it wraps around me and caresses me down to my soul. “I love you, Fletcher. I always have and I always will.”

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