CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE #2
Bee stepped in immediately, placing herself between them. The sharpness in Wes’s voice had already changed the room.
“Don’t talk to her like that,” Bee said.
Wes looked back at Bee. “I’m trying to talk to you.”
“She is my cousin,” Bee replied.
“I know who she is,” Wes said, sharper now.
“Then don’t be rude to her,” Bee shot back.
Wes let out a frustrated breath. “This is exactly why I wanted to talk alone.”
Bee stared at him. “She was here when I couldn’t breathe last night because I was crying so hard.”
Wes went quiet, and the irritation disappeared from his expression. Bee felt her throat tighten, but she refused to look away from him.
“She sat with me while I tried to figure out if we were even still together,” Bee continued. “So no, I’m not kicking her out because you decided you were ready to talk.”
“I never said we broke up,” Wes said.
“You told me maybe you shouldn’t be with anybody,” Bee shot back.
“I was upset,” Wes said, rubbing his good hand against his thigh.
“You said we needed space,” Bee reminded him.
“I said maybe,” Wes replied.
“I said fine,” Bee said, her voice tightening.
“That doesn’t mean we broke up,” Wes replied.
“Then what did it mean?” Bee asked.
“I don’t know,” Wes admitted.
“There it is again,” Bee said immediately.
Wes’s jaw tightened. “What?”
“You don’t know,” Bee said.
“I was angry, Bee,” Wes replied.
“I was hurt,” Bee said, her voice cracking slightly.
“I know,” Wes said.
“No, you keep saying you know,” Bee said, stepping closer. “Then you show up here four hours after I asked for space because what you want suddenly matters more.”
“That’s not fair,” Wes said, shaking his head.
Bee’s eyes filled. “You keep telling me things aren’t fair.”
“Because they aren’t,” Wes said, sharper than he meant to.
“You think this has been fair to me?” Bee asked, her voice breaking.
“I never said that,” Wes replied, quieter now.
Wes’s voice had risen enough for Grandma to look over from the counter. She did not interrupt, but her attention stayed on him.
Wes took a breath and lowered his voice. His frustration remained, but something more vulnerable appeared beneath it.
“I came here because I don’t want to lose you,” Wes said.
Bee’s anger faltered. For one second, that was all she had wanted to hear.
“Then why did you push me away?” Bee asked.
“I don’t know,” Wes admitted.
Bee shook her head and looked down. “I can’t keep doing this.”
Wes moved a step closer. “Doing what?”
“Trying to convince you that I want you,” Bee said, her voice breaking as she stared at him.
Wes shook his head immediately. “I know you care about me.”
“No, Wes,” Bee said, her breath hitching as she looked up at him again. Tears were already filling her eyes. “You don’t know.”
His expression softened. “Then tell me.”
Maya watched Bee but did not interfere. The confession from the hospital sat in Bee’s chest again. She had only managed to say those words because she believed Wes might never wake up to hear them. She had not planned to tell him like this. Nothing between them had happened the way she planned.
“I told you I loved you,” Bee said.
Wes went completely still. His expression emptied as he stared at her.
“What?” Wes asked.
Bee wiped beneath one eye. “At the hospital.”
Wes frowned. “When?”
Bee swallowed. “When you were unconscious.”
Wes stared at her without speaking. Bee’s voice started shaking as she forced herself to continue.
“I sat beside you and told you I loved you because I thought I was too late,” Bee said.
“Bee,” Wes said quietly.
“I told you I was scared to get attached to you,” Bee continued.
Wes did not move. He kept his eyes on her as the confession settled between them.
Bee’s voice shook as she continued. “I told you I already was. I told you there were all these things I thought we’d have more time for.”
Wes’s expression shifted completely. He stared at her as though everything else in the room had disappeared.
“You love me?” Wes asked.
Bee let out a wet laugh through her tears. “That’s what you heard?”
“I didn’t know,” Wes said quietly.
Bee exhaled shakily. “Of course you didn’t know. You were unconscious.”
Wes swallowed. “Why didn’t you tell me when I woke up?”
Bee stared at him, her voice breaking. “Because the first real conversation we had turned into you blaming yourself for the accident.”
“I was trying to understand what happened,” Wes said, frustration creeping into his voice.
“Then I came to your house,” Bee said.
“I know,” Wes replied.
“I came because I wanted to fix it,” Bee said.
“I know,” Wes repeated, softer now.
“You told me maybe you shouldn’t be with anybody,” Bee said.
Wes looked away, his jaw tightening. His good hand curled slightly at his side.
“I was angry,” Wes said.
Bee wiped her face with the back of her hand. “You keep using that like it makes everything disappear.”
“I’m not,” Wes said quickly.
“You are,” Bee replied.
Wes exhaled and shook his head. “I’m telling you I’m not okay.”
“I know you’re not okay,” Bee said, her voice cracking.
“Then why are you acting like I should know exactly how to handle this?” Wes asked.
“I’m not asking you to know how to handle it,” Bee said, stepping closer without meaning to.
“Then what are you asking me to do?” Wes asked, louder now.
Bee looked up at him through her tears. Her answer came out quieter than his question, but every word carried through the room.
“Stop hurting me because you’re hurt,” Bee said.
The room went still. Wes stared at her as though the words had finally landed somewhere deep. For a moment, he looked like he understood, but then his expression tightened again anyway.
“I never wanted to hurt you,” Wes said quietly.
Bee’s breath shook. “You did.”
“So what, that’s it?” Wes asked.
Bee frowned. “What?”
“I mess up while my entire life is falling apart, and now you’re done with me?” Wes asked.
“That is not what I said,” Bee replied.
“You told me you love me, but now you won’t even talk to me without Maya sitting here,” Wes said.
Maya’s expression shifted, but Bee spoke before she could. She kept her attention on Wes.
“Don’t make this about her,” Bee said.
“I’m not,” Wes replied.
“You keep looking at Maya like she put this in my head,” Bee said.
“I didn’t say that,” Wes replied.
“You don’t have to,” Bee said.
Wes shook his head, frustrated. “I came here to fix this.”
“You can’t force me to be ready just because you decided today is the day you want to fix it,” Bee said.
Wes dragged his good hand through his hair. His frustration showed in every movement.
“Then what am I supposed to do, Bee?” Wes asked.
“Give me the time I asked for,” Bee said, quieter now.
“Then what?” Wes asked.
Bee hesitated, and her voice broke when she answered. “I don’t know.”
Wes laughed bitterly. “So you get to say you don’t know?”
Bee stared at him. “Seriously?”
“You’ve been mad at me because I keep saying I don’t know,” Wes said.
“Because you said things that hurt me and then used that as the explanation,” Bee replied.
“Now you’re doing the same thing,” Wes said.
Maya stood beside Bee, not touching her but close enough that Bee could feel her presence. Wes noticed the movement and shook his head.
“There,” Wes said. “That.”
Bee frowned. “What?”
“She moves, and suddenly you’re stronger,” Wes said.
Bee’s face fell, and Maya looked sharply at Wes. The accusation settled over the room before either of them responded.
“Wes,” Maya said.
“No,” Bee said, holding up a hand toward Maya.
Maya stopped. Bee looked directly at Wes and forced herself not to look away.
“Say what you mean,” Bee said.
Wes looked frustrated. “I mean I don’t know if you’d be doing this if she wasn’t here.”
Bee felt something inside her crack. “You think Maya is making me do this?”
“I think she’s angry at me,” Wes said.
“She watched me cry for hours,” Bee replied.
“I’m sure she did,” Wes said.
Bee stared at him. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Wes rubbed his good hand across his face. “Nothing.”
“No,” Bee said. “You wanted to come here and talk, so talk.”
“I’m saying she only heard your side,” Wes said.
“My side?” Bee asked.
“Yes,” Wes replied.
Bee shook her head slowly. “There shouldn’t be sides.”
“I know that,” Wes said.
“Then why are you making one?” Bee asked.
“I’m not,” Wes replied.
“You just did,” Bee said.
Wes’s voice rose as his frustration broke through again. “Because I feel like I walked into a room where both of you already decided I’m the bad guy.”
Grandma set down the cup she was holding. The sound was quiet but sharp enough that everyone heard it.
Bee stared at Wes. “Nobody said you were the bad guy.”
“It feels like it,” Wes said.
“I spent half the night defending you,” Bee said.
Wes looked confused. “What?”
Bee’s tears came faster now. She wiped at them, but more replaced them almost immediately.
“I told Maya you were scared. I told her you were angry. I told her you lost your truck, your work, your independence, and that you felt useless,” Bee said.
Wes went quiet and looked away. His expression tightened as he struggled to respond.
“I defended you while I was crying because you broke my heart,” Bee said. “So don’t stand there and act as if Maya convinced me you’re some horrible person.”
“I didn’t say horrible,” Wes replied.
“You didn’t have to,” Bee said.
“Bee, stop twisting everything I say,” Wes said.
The words came out louder than anything he had said yet, and Bee flinched at the sudden sharpness in his voice. Grandma stepped away from the counter, her attention fully shifting toward them.
“That is enough,” Grandma said.
Wes looked toward her. “I’m sorry. We’re just talking.”
“No,” Grandma said calmly. “You are not talking anymore.”
Bee wiped her face and looked toward Grandma. “Grandma, it’s okay.”
Grandma looked at her. “No. It is not.”
Wes took a breath and tried to calm himself. His voice was quieter when he spoke again.
“I just need to finish talking to her,” Wes said.
Grandma looked at him. “Not today.”
“Please,” Wes said.
“She asked you for time,” Grandma reminded him.
Wes glanced at Bee. “I know.”
“Then give it to her,” Grandma said.