Page 194 of His White Moonlight
The flowers are yours.Peonies symbolize prosperity.I hope your life is rich with love, laughter, and family every day.Thank you for being you, Wrenly.You’re perfect the way you are, even if it drives me crazy at times.
The next clue is your choice.You can find your running shoes, or you can check the swing outside.
Choice?What did he mean by that?Was he acknowledging I still wanted to leave?No, the tone of the notes had been playful.This choice wasn’t about anything big then.
Since the door to the swing was closer, I went that direction.
The swing swayed gently in the early morning breeze as I walked to it.There was nothing on or under the seat.Unsure what to do, I sat on it and started to swing, knowing that Bennett would show up eventually.
He did.
From behind, he started to push the swing for me.
“I thought you’d choose to run,” he said.
“The swing was closer.”
He was silent for a second.“I wanted to do this for you for so many years.”
“You should have.”
“It’s not too late, is it?”
I glanced back at him.He was dressed for running.
“Are you going to tell me what this game was about?”
“I wanted to show you that, while I might not be good at it, I can learn to be fun too.”
My heart tried to trip over itself, and I didn’t know how to deal with what I was feeling because of him.Anger was safe.Denial was safer.But I couldn’t do either of those anymore.We were so past that.
“Thank you for the flowers,” I said instead.“What would have happened if I’d picked the running shoes?We would have gone for a run?”
“Why don’t you go check them?”
He stopped the swing for me and followed me through the house to the garage door, where we kept the shoes.I took the note from mine.
If you’d rather skip tonight’s pack run, we can go for one now instead.The choice is yours.
“It’s still your choice,” he said.
“Is this your way of backing out of our deal?”I asked.
“No.Miranda mentioned that you didn’t feel safe going.She said it was her duty as your friend to promise me bodily harm if anything does happen to you.”
I snorted, not doubting that was exactly how the threat had been delivered.
“If you don’t feel safe, you don’t have to go.”
“Whether I’m there or not, your words will have the same impact.I’d rather go.”
“Because of the deal?”
I nodded, seeing no reason to try to lie at this point.
He brushed back my hair.
“I won’t let anything happen to you, Wrenly.”
