Weston (Broken Falls #6)

Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

Melanie

T his is a special kind of torture, being snuggled into Weston’s bed, smelling the scent that has remained the same since I left him. It reminds me I tucked tail and ran a few days after we got married. I don’t know why I came back here after so long, like I feel as if I have a spot in his life anymore. But the fact of the matter is, I’ve always felt safe with him. No matter what’s going on in our lives, he’s always been the person I could count on. And after what happened in Montana, I need a place where I feel safe and where I can rest my head without looking over my shoulder.

God, Montana was such a shit show. At first, I loved it, but I'd gone out with a guy from a dating app, and it'd turned dangerous. He'd started to message me, even when I asked him not to, and then he'd showed up at the job I had. It'd taken me years to feel as if I could date again. When I finally did, he was a fucking plant from my parents, who still think they have a say so over my life.

Because I’m in Weston’s bed, my mind goes back to the last time we were together before I left. Little had either of us known it'd be the last time we saw each other. It's completely my fault, and I'm still kicking myself in the ass for it.

Flashback

I grin as I bring myself over to where he’s standing. Fisting my fingers in his shirt, I pull up so that we’re even with one another and drop a teasing kiss on his lips.

“I made you something special for lunch today,” I grin, loving that I can take care of him this way now.

“Oh, yeah?” He grins back, the one that goes straight to my heart. It’s the cutest one he has; it’s as if he’s a little boy opening a gift that he’s wanted for so long.

“What did you make me?" He asks, full of enthusiasm.

"That million-dollar spaghetti you love." I'm so proud I can't keep the inflection out of my voice. “I made that last night after you went to bed, and there is plenty left over after I had a serving, so obviously you’re getting it for lunch today.” I don't mention to him I did it because I was up thinking about the predicament I find myself in.

“Fuck yeah! You know that’s my favorite recipe of my mom’s. I can’t believe you figured out how to make it.”

There’s a blush across my cheeks at his appreciation. I’ve always loved to do things for people that I care about; it’s my love language. And I love for people to tell me they appreciate it and that I’m a good girl who does things right; it’s what I live for, especially with Weston.

“I know,” I smile, running my hands down his shirt, pressing the wrinkles out. “I wanted to make sure you’re fed well because it’s just cold today. Who knows? Maybe we’ll get this winter storm everyone’s been talking about.”

“Maybe so,” he sighs. “But you know I’m still new on the road crew, so I have no idea what to do if they call people in. Maybe I’ll be the last one they call and we can spend the storm cuddled up together.”

My thighs burn as I clench them together, thinking about what we could do while everyone else is out working. For so long, we had to be quiet, or hide what we were doing in my room. The freedom we've had over the past few days has been exhilarating. “Sounds good to me. Now get to work so that you can get home quicker.”

I watch as he puts on all the clothes that will keep him safe from the elements. Then, as he puts on the last part, his beanie, he turns to me and grabs me around the waist, pulling me in for a kiss.

“I love you, Mel. I’ll see you when I get home from work.”

My brain is already trying to think about what I’m going to do to make the time go faster. I don’t have a job yet and the days get long - even though there have only been three of them since he started this job - while he’s at work.

I can’t wait for school to start again so that I don’t have to sit here and do nothing. “Hurry home, Weston; I can’t wait to see you.”

He tips my chin with his rough finger. “Maybe you’ll be waiting for me with no clothes on.”

I giggle excitedly that he wants me this much. Since we never had time alone when we were dating, this freedom is enough to make me drunk on it. “Yeah, maybe we could work that out.”

He leaves, and I watch as his truck disappears from my sight. Little did I know later on that afternoon everything would change.

When my eyes open, it’s much darker inside his room, it must have turned into nighttime. Rolling over, I see a clock on his nightstand: it reads seven o’clock.

I slept for almost eight hours! Did he come in here and try to wake me up? Was he worried because I slept so long? The old Weston would have been, but this one...I don’t know.

He greeted me not like I’d imagined he would; for some reason, I’d built it up in my mind that he’d be excited to see me, even though I was the one who left. Of course, he doesn’t know everything I’ve been through or what all I’ve had to deal with; he knows none of that because I chose not to tell him, and that’s my fault, but I’m sincerely hoping he’ll be open to listening to it all.

I get up and look around the room for the door to leave before realizing there’s a bathroom attached. Going in, I turn on the light and look around. Relief floods my chest as I see that it’s only male products on the counter, it doesn’t appear that he has a woman in his life. I’m glad because that would have killed me, even though I really have no right anymore to claim him as mine.

I do my business and then head out into the living room where Weston is sitting on a chair, a microphone resting against his cheek, playing some sort of video game. He didn't do this back when we were together, so it's interesting to see how involved he gets.

“Oh, fuck you, Abel,” he grumbles. “You only win this shit because you cheat!”

I can’t hear the other end of the conversation, but whatever it is makes Weston laugh. The sound rolls through my chest, and I reach forward, grabbing it with my fingers, and hold it close. I've almost forgotten what it sounds like. I never want that to happen again. He catches a glimpse of me and that smile disappears from his face.

“Hey y’all,” he says into the headset. “I’m done for the night; I need to do a few things.” He logs off quickly.

I hate that he gave up playing with his friends because I'm here. He gets up, and walks toward me. We stand together staring at one another, this is fucking awkward. “I didn’t mean to make you stop playing with your friends.”

He waves a hand dismissively. “No, it was time.” He pauses before adding, “Do you want some of that lunch you were talking about? Guess it will be dinner now.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him everything. But, returning after so long to burden him with my problems isn’t fair. “Yeah, Weston,” I say softly. “I’d love dinner. I can help you; I’ve turned into a really good cook.”

“I wouldn’t know,” he shrugs offhandedly, a reminder of another thing he doesn’t know about me anymore. “What you don’t know is I have, too.”

“So why don’t you take a seat in the living room,” he continues more firmly now, almost as a command. “Find something to watch and I’ll grab us some dinner...and then…I want a couple of answers.”

I feel small as I shrink back into myself; he was never this mean before, never made me feel as if I didn’t matter. But right now? Right now...I feel like the smallest woman who ever lived.