Chapter 48
Elli
What’s left of my heart is beating faster than a hummingbird's as I wait for Wes to get back. I’m still processing the fact that he thinks I’d choose my mom over him.
I know some people say “blood is thicker than water” but the blood that I share with my mom is so toxic that it’s tainting the first good thing I’ve ever had for myself.
I would never choose someone who thinks Wes is unworthy, dirty, a loser, or a junkie. I would never choose someone who thinks his dreams are silly and achievable.
But he didn’t give me a chance to tell him that.
Instead, he jumped to conclusions. Conclusions that hurt both of us.
He’s been gone for about thirty minutes, and the longer he’s gone, the more my anxiety about the situation grows. I don’t know how I’m supposed to share a bed and spend two days in a car with the love of my life who no longer wants to be with me.
I hear the beep of the door unlocking and Wes comes in holding a brown bag with grease stains on it, and two cups.
He sets the things down on the little desk in the corner of our room, then digs through the bags and brings me my burger, fries, a container of fry sauce, a container of ranch, and a cup with a partially melted cookie dough shake.
I didn’t ask for a shake, and I never mentioned the fact that I wanted fry sauce. It’s a Utah thing, so most places outside of the state don’t have fry sauce. I usually just settle for ranch instead. I unwrap my burger and go to open the bun to take off the onions and tomatoes, but Wes interrupts.
“I ordered yours without onions and tomatoes. I also added an extra slice of cheese, and extra pickles because I know you like them on your burgers.”
My lip wobbles and I try to stop it by taking a bite of my burger. We’ve only been dating for a little over a month, and he’s already memorized my burger order? We’ve only had burgers twice together. He even remembered how I like my fries and what my favorite shake is.
The bed dips and Wes’s calloused fingers swipe away the few tears that escaped. “Why are you crying? Did I get your order wrong? I’m sorry, I’ll go back and get a different one if you want.”
That just makes me cry harder. I set the burger down on the paper and turn to look at him.
“The burger is perfect. The shake is perfect. The fry sauce is perfect.”
His brows furrow, “Then why are you crying?”
“Because!” I throw my hands up in exasperation.
“Because you want to break up! How am I supposed to date anyone else after you’ve treated me like a damn queen the entire time we’ve been together?
How am I supposed to move on from the love of my life, especially when you’re going to become a big star, and you’ll be everywhere. ”
“I don’t want to break up.” He whispers, looking a little sheepish.
“What?”
He grabs my hands and stares into my eyes deeply.
“I don’t want to break up. I was an idiot who got scared and I thought you were breaking up with me.
But let me be clear about something: I’m yours.
You’re mine. Can you forgive me for trying to sabotage this?
Because I don’t think my heart can handle not being with you.
You’re the air I breathe, my heartbeat, the blood that flows through my veins.
” He says, placing my hand on his heart so I can feel the rhythmic beat.
“I don’t want to live without you. Without you, there’s no music. No sunshine.”
My lip wobbles and now I’m crying because I’m relieved.
“I wasn’t trying to break up with you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
If my mom can’t see that, then that’s her issue.
It’s not going to be easy to deal with the fact that Izzy’s the only family I’ve got now, unless Spencer or the twins come around, so I’ll need some time to work through that.
But I never, not for one second, considered ending things with you. ”
“I’m with you every step of the way, baby. I love you, Elliana Louise Monson.”
“I love you too, Westley Ray Jones.”
Then, Wes kisses me. My burger and fries forgotten in favor of making up for the last few hours.