Page 39 of Coming Home Country
Her brown eyes grew glassy. “I wish it were that easy.”
“It can be,” I vowed.
A shake of her head had my hand falling away. Pushing too hard, too fast would scare her away, and I couldn’t have that, so I let it go. For now.
Silently, she spread pizza sauce on the slices of bread, layered mozzarella cheese and pepperoni on top, then closed and latched the iron. I thanked her before walking to the fire and setting it inside to cook.
But while I waited, I peeked back every so often to check on Bex, to make sure she was okay. I couldn’t turn off my need to protect her, even if I was the one who’d hurt her deeply.
Aspen sat down beside me. I spared her a glance, and in the firelight, her blue eyes were full of sadness. They spoke volumes about the regrets both of us had surrounding the events of the past.
“I know,” I whispered.
I about damn near fell out of my chair when her head dropped onto my shoulder, and she blew out a heavy breath. “I wish there was a way to fix this. The two of you deserve so much better than the hand you’ve been dealt.”
“She’s gotta let me in, Aspen. I can’t do anything if she keeps shutting me out.” I huffed out a wry laugh. “And she’s had a decade of practice, so she’s gotten really good at it.”
“You can’t blame her for being scared. She barely survived the first time you broke her heart.”
My chest caved in, and a low groan born from agony sounded.
“It’s no secret I’m not your biggest fan, but I am hers. And I’ve never seen Bex happier than when the two of you were together. So that means I’m rooting for you, but so help me God, if you hurt her ever again . . .”
“You can save the death threats. I would lay my own life on the line before I caused her another ounce of pain.”
“I’m gonna hold you to that. She deserves the world.”
I hummed. “We’re in agreement on that.”
The weight on my shoulder lifted. “If you need any help, I’m your girl.”
Arching an eyebrow, I challenged, “No love lost for the new boyfriend?”
She scoffed at the mention of Bex’s new beau. “He’s not good enough for her.”
“But I am?” I was genuinely curious to hear her answer.
Aspen shrugged. “Maybe not, but at least you don’t treat her like she’s some box to check off on a list.”
Interesting.
I might have my work cut out for me when it came to winning back Bex, but the number of people on my side was growing, and I was no longer worried about the competition.
Chapter 10
Bex
Pennywaspassedoutin the sleeping bag next to mine, but I couldn’t shut my brain off enough to fall asleep.
After rolling over for the hundredth time, I’d had enough and decided to get some fresh air. Unzipping the front of the tent, I slipped on my shoes before crawling out.
I was still rising to my feet when a familiar voice spoke softly. “Couldn’t sleep?”
Head whipping up, I found Tucker propped against a tree trunk not too far from the fire that had died to embers, casting a soft glow over him in the dark.
When I merely offered him a shrug in response, he asked, “Wrist still bothering you?”
My gaze dipped to my right arm. Things had been so hectic the past few days that I’d practically forgotten about my injury. Almost as if my body needed Tucker’s reminder that I’d been hurt, a dull throb came to life beneath the plaster, similar to the ache filling my chest.
