Page 19 (1/2)

"Nope Not a wink"

I hadn’t been able to closethe escape, even for the briefest of moments, but I couldn’t, not when all I sahen I closed ht the urge to go find Steel and beat the shit out of hiht He was looking for you"

I’d ignored all their texts and calls My phone was on silent, wanting to sit here alone and think, knowing I wouldn’t find peace They wanted to ht because they worried about ht

"I was mad at you yesterday I hated you for ait frohit froh the eht about it all last night I understand, I do," she said, then her hand touched

"Just wanted to protect you," I replied, needing Dixie to know that I never ain

"I know that noweverythingI let myself remember it all Stuff I’d blocked out because it was too painful, I reht How you used to be with etherhow sure I was you would love me forever Then you just turned aithout a word I never understood how you could do that to me It haunted me I loved youI loved you so muchbut you also loved et it I understand now"

Fuck, this was hard, it was past time we did this, but still, it was brutal The familiar smell of coconut and honey filled the cab of the truck It had been so long since I’d been close enough to Dixie to sood she’d felt in my arms, how soft her skin was, like satin, warm satin And hohen I sank into her,had been that perfect The pleasure on her face had made my heart pound just to possess her She was mine Back then, all mine

"I can’t do thisyouI need you to leave Please Being this close to youI’m not ready for that I don’t think I’ll ever be My heart doesn’t see impossible Please, Dixie" I sounded desperate I couldn’t look at her I needed her to go

Dixie moved, but she didn’t open the door Instead, she scooted closer to et out

"Dix," I warned, gripping the steering wheel

"I’ll leave, but first, would you hold o if I allowed ain?

"Please, Ash? Hold o that I would do anything, sell irl if needed Now she was a worip on the steering wheel and rested ainsther waroodbye I didn’t give us one She was right, this was the end, the one we’d needed back then, but I hadn’t been ready to give it to her

"I think I’ll always love you I can’t help that," she said quietly

I knew I’d always love her, but telling her that right noould only hurt her more Dixie had to move on and find that ray of sunshine in her life, the one I knew she belonged in A ive her a home, happiness and children He’d make her dreams come true He’d treat her like a princess and if he didn’t, I’d make him wish he was never born