Page 4 of All I Want Is Love
“Listen.” Aspen halts, putting his hand on my shoulder and stopping me as well. “You had your own dreams, and nothing about that is wrong. It’s okay that you preferred life in a city and a corporate job. There are zero hard feelings from my side. I never expected you to follow my path.”
“Maybe I should have,” I mutter.
“You did you,” he says with finality in his voice. “And the things that happened while you were chasing your dreams were not your fault. No matter what anyone tells you, nothing was your fault. Also,”—he glances at me with a frown—“you need a warmer jacket. Didn’t you bring one?”
“I have one, but left it in the apartment. It was sunny today.”
He furrows his brows further.
“Fine,” I say, not able to hide my smile. “Next time I will bring a jacket.”
Aspen smiles. “It’s good to see you laugh,” he says before continuing his walk.
I follow him. “I was thinking about our parents,” I admit, not sure if I should have told him. “You were asking…”
“Oh.” Aspen sighs. “I can see why thinking of them would silence you. They have that special ability to suck the fun and lightness out of every situation.”
“But they are right, I let them down.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“I failed them and any expectation they had in me.”
“Leo…”
I don’t know what else Aspen is saying. My ears are starting to ring, my surroundings getting blurred. I swallow, feeling the tightening lump in my throat again. I failed them. I failed everyone. I couldn’t do one single thing right. My hand moves to my face. It’s like I can still feel how Dad punched me.
“… here you are…”
Aspen squeezes my arm, making me realize that he has never let go of it. “Look, Leo! Isn’t he a good boy?”
I blink, confusion chasing me away from my downward spiral. Returning to the present again, I notice that we are in front of a marketplace with Christmas trees. We passed the place earlier when Aspen showed me around. He said we definitely need to return and buy a tree for the holidays.
It doesn’t seem like he is here for the tree, though. Aspen is still steadying me with his grip while talking to a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark curly hair. He is sporting a typical three-day stubble, glasses that make him look even better and a composed and calm expression. God help me, he is good-looking!
Only remotely aware that I am staring, I turn my attention to my brother. “I am sorry, I… did you say something?”
“Yes.” Aspen smiles, pretending I didn’t just almost slip into a panic attack. “This is my best friend. Well, he and Robin both are.”
“I am Soren,” the man says; his voice is smooth and low. He reaches out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Leo. Aspen has been talking nonstop about you.”
I awkwardly shake his hand. “Thank you, I am very thankful to be here,” I say quietly, feeling an urge in me to look at the man, to talk to him and hear his voice a bit longer, but the same urge gets replaced by a wave of guilt, almost forcing me to recoil.
A loud bark startles me, making me look downwards.
“You ignored him for too long,” Aspen explains. “Look at that good boy!”
“He is gigantic,” I gasp, completely drawn in by the massive dog in front of me. I have always loved dogs, but Mom and Dad were strictly against pets. “But so adorable.”
“You can pet him,” Soren says in his warm, honey-toned, smooth voice. “He is very friendly.”
“Friendly is an understatement,” Aspen chuckles. “He adopts everyone in a minute.”
He is right because the moment I get down on my knees to pet the massive pup, I have slobber and fur all over me. I chuckle. “Such a sweet boy.”
“It’s a Bernese Mountain Dog,” Aspen says. “His name is Barkley.”
“You named him Barkley?” I blink at him.
