Page 77 of Love Me Gently

Everyone hated me and knew I was as worthless as I’d become.

“I need a second,” I told him and wiped tears away.

“If you need more time, I’ll call Robbie right now and let him know. They’ll understand.”

Please. That’d make them hate me more.

“It’s fine,” I mumbled.

Soon. He’d see the truth soon enough, and then maybe he’d finally stop his foolish hope I was something better than he believed me to be.

Maybe I was wrong.

Ashley’s arms were around me, and I was crushed against her. She looked different but the same. Older but happy. As soon as she and Robbie entered Cole’s house, Ashley ran up the stairs and threw her arms around me. Her purse slammed against my hip, and her tight embrace shot pain to my ribs, but she held on.

It took a while before I hugged her back, so shocked by the smile I’d glimpsed on her face right before tears poured from her eyes.

“Hi,” I finally managed to mumble, getting her hair stuck on my lip gloss.

She squeezed me tighter and cried. “You’re here,” was all she mumbled, hiccupping over her tears, and somehow, I found myself needing to comforther. When I’d been so sure she’d want nothing to do with me.

There was only one explanation.

Cole told her why I was there.

I opened my eyes and found him and Robbie setting pizza boxes on the kitchen counter.

I’d recognize the green, red, and white boxes anywhere. Scalecki’s was a local favorite, and where I’d had my first part-time job one summer.

One glance at the boxes and not only did my stomach rumble, but I could envision the kitchen and all the homemade spices and Louie Scalecki’s boisterous Italian voice.

It smelled likehomeand heaven and peace and happiness and now, darn it… my own eyes were leaking tears.

I squeezed Ashley back and held on. “I thought you hated me.”

She nodded against my shoulder. “I did. For a long time,” she admitted, and I was thankful to hear the truth of it. “But that was a long time ago,” she whispered, her voice nothing more than a rasp.

“Any chance you’re going to let her go tonight so I can say hi?” Robbie’s voice was a laugh, but there was a warning tone in it too, and when I glanced back at him, he was watching both me and his wife with a wary expression.

“I don’t think so,” Ashley said and then she pulled back. Her hands pressed to my cheeks and it was sosweet, so kind, I almost collapsed to my knees.

There was no anger at all in her eyes, just concern, and it didn’t skip my attention that her eyes lingered too long on my yellowing bruises I’d tried so hard to hide. “I’m glad you’re here,” she finally said. “So glad to see you again.”

“Me too,” I mumbled, and maybe for the first time since I’d been back, I truly meant it.

“All right, all right,” Robbie said and gently guided his wife to his side. “My turn.”

He held out an arm, and I went to him, fell against his chest as he one-armed hugged me. Robbie was larger than he’d been in school and definitely stronger. His arm, draped across my back, holding me against his side, felt like a steel bar.

“Good to see you, kid. Good to see you.” He held me tight, kissed the top of my head and then stepped back.

For once, I hadn’t flinched at a touch or an embrace, and I’d let myself think of all that later.

“I’m a mess!” Ashley cried. She half-laughed and sobbed and headed down the hall. “I’ll be back. Give me a second to get my face put back together.”

She vanished into the hall bathroom and Robbie chuckled, watching his wife go. He smiled down at me. “Don’t know what she’s so worried about. Makeup, no makeup, smeared makeup, she’s always beautiful.”

What a lovely thing to say. “You’re a good man, Robbie.”

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