309 Wildflower Falls Way Read online

  More than anything, though, I’m devastated that he didn’t turn out to be the man I thought he was.

  Chapter Twelve

  WELLS

  “What? You guys broke up?” Carter says, setting down his beer in shock. The three of us are at the diner, and I’ve just told them what happened.

  “I thought things were going really well,” says Miles.

  “I did, too.” I’m still feeling whiplash from the conversation Aspen and I had last night. I can’t believe that actually happened. Can’t believe we went from such a high to such a low.

  Were there warning signs I’d ignored?

  “So she showed up at the bar at one in the morning, and just…ended things?” says Carter.

  “I mean, it didn’t go exactly like that,” I say. “She showed up, started talking about how she wanted to take a break, needed some space…I told her I didn’t do breaks. That either we needed to work through whatever was bugging her or not bother being together. Obviously you know what option she went with.”

  Miles gives me a funny look. “Um, I’m still confused. Why did she need a break?”

  “I have no idea. She wouldn’t tell me.”

  “Isn’t that kind of important?”

  I scrub a hand over my face in frustration. “Yeah. Of course it’s important.”

  “Maybe if you talked to her about it…”

  “I tried.”

  “It doesn’t sound like you tried very hard,” says Carter. “It sounds like you forced her into an ultimatum.”

  I open my mouth to protest, but nothing comes out.

  Because he’s right. I acted like an asshole last night.

  I lean my elbows on the table and let my head fall into my hands. Damn it. I really fucked up.

  “Wells? You okay, man?”

  I take a second before answering, letting my mind go back to the place I’ve kept it from for so long. Pulling my head out of my hands, I say, “You guys remember the last relationship I was in, right? All those years back?”

  They both nod.

  “Well, I never told you the full story about why we broke up.”

  The guys look at me, waiting for me to go on.

  “We’d been fighting a lot. It was like we couldn’t hang out without getting into an argument. But neither of us wanted to break up. So she suggested that we put things on pause for a while…” I trail off for a second, the old anger rising in my chest. Once you’re betrayed by someone, that shit stays with you. “A couple days after that, I found out that she was sleeping with some other guy. She’d been talking to him for weeks. Our ‘break’ was just a way for her to have a guilt-free fling with him.”

  “Fuck, dude,” says Miles.

  “That sucks,” says Carter. “Why didn’t you tell us before?”

  I shake my head. “I dunno. Because it was embarrassing? I felt like such a fool. Anyway, as soon as I found out, I officially broke up with her. Then I focused on getting over her as quickly as I could.”

  “So when Aspen suggested a break…you thought the same thing might happen?”

  “I realize how stupid it sounds now. Aspen isn’t my ex. Not even close. I know she wouldn’t do that to me. But last night, I wasn’t thinking logically. It was just an emotional reaction. A reaction I’d do anything to go back and change.” I shake my head, regret coursing through my veins.

  “Talk to her,” says Carter. “Tell her why you acted the way you did.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure she’ll understand,” says Miles.

  “I don’t know, guys. She was really pissed last night. I think I caused some damage that can’t be undone.”

  “You gotta at least try, dude,” says Carter. “At the risk of sounding cheesy, you two have something special.”

  I pick at the label on my beer. “Yeah. We really do.”

  “You aren’t seriously going to let her go, are you?”

  I shake my head and look up at them. “No. I never said that. I’m just not so sure she’ll take me back.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  ASPEN

  I stare at the text message on my phone and try to swallow away the knot in my throat.

  Aspen, please call me back. Please.

  I missed a call from Wells yesterday while I was in the shower. He left a short voicemail telling me that he was sorry about the other night and that he wanted to talk about it in person, but I didn’t return his call. Honestly, I just don’t feel level-headed enough yet to have a conversation with him.

  And every time I think back to how he snapped at me, I feel doubtful all over again about whether I really do want to work it out with him or not. Even if we meet up and talk things out, even if he says he won’t act like that ever again…well, it’s easy to make promises like that. It’s easy to apologize for things you’ve done.

  It won’t change the fact that it happened.

  I GO through the next couple of days as best as I can. I remind myself that I had a good routine before I got involved with Wells, and I can certainly return to it. And so I busy myself with the cafe: I do a deep clean of the place, and spend an entire evening shopping for new tablecloths online, and pass another evening experimenting with some new recipes.

  Later that week, I’m at the grocery store picking up a few things for dinner when I run into Carter and Miles.

  “Hey, guys,” I say. My eyes automatically look around for Wells.

  “He’s not with us,” says Miles.

  “Oh. Okay.” My shoulders relax. “How are you guys?”

  “We’re good,” says Carter. “Hey, it really sucks that things didn’t work out with you and Wells.”

  “Yeah, well…” I shrug. “He couldn’t handle the idea of a break, so…” I can’t help the anger that seeps into my words. I still can’t believe how he reacted. I mean, I get it, nobody wants to hear the word break, but for him to react the way he did…

  “You still haven’t talked to him?” says Miles.

  I shake my head, feeling guilt beneath my indignation. “No. I haven’t.”

  “You really should.”

  “I don’t know. It might be best if we just went our separate ways.”

  “Really?” Carter looks doubtfully at me.

  “I know you guys are his closest friends, and you want the best for him. But you weren’t there that night. You don’t know what he was like. I’ve never seen him like that before.”

  Carter and Miles exchange a look. “You should really talk to him, Aspen.”

  Okay, now I’m getting irritated at them for being so pushy.

  “Why?” I say. “So he can apologize and make himself feel better?”

  “It’s not like that.”

  “Then what is it like?”

  Both of them hesitate.

  “I don’t think we should be the ones to tell you,” says Carter. “Just talk to Wells. Give him a chance to explain.”

  I look down at my hands, which are gripping the handle of my shopping basket too tightly. Okay, fine. I’m being stubborn. I’m doing exactly what I shouldn’t be doing: putting my walls back up.

  The guys are right—I owe Wells at least a chance to explain.

  “Okay,” I finally say. “I’ll return his call.”

  THAT NIGHT, my hand shakes as I call Wells. As I press the phone to my ear, I listen to the first ring, then the second, then—

  “Hey, Aspen,” he says, his voice filling my ear.

  “Hi, Wells.” I clear my throat. “Is now a good time to talk?”

  “Yeah. It is.” I hear him moving around on his end—finding a place to sit down, probably—and then it goes quiet. “Thanks for calling me back.”

  “I’m sorry it took so long. I just…” I look out my living room window and shake my head. “This is hard for me.”

  “I know. It’s hard for me, too.” He lets out a breath. “I owe you a huge apology, Aspen. I was an asshole for giving you an ultimatum. You didn’t deserve that, and I’m so sorry that I acted tha
t way. What I should have done is just been there for you, in whatever way you needed. Not force you to make a decision about the two of us.”

  It feels good to hear him say that. It truly does. But I remind myself that it’s easy to apologize for something. Actions speak louder than words. Of course, my own actions weren’t exactly perfect…

  “Thank you for saying that,” I say. “I owe you an apology, too. I’m sorry I suggested that we take a break. I know it came out of nowhere, and it must have been a shock. I should have talked to you about how I was feeling instead of just pulling away.”

  “Why did you feel like we needed a break?”

  I watch a bird fly by outside my window. “It felt like we went from zero to a hundred so quickly, Wells. It was great…but also intense. I found myself missing you when I wasn’t with you. And that scared me. I started worrying that I was turning into a different person—someone who depended on someone else for her happiness. I know that probably sounds stupid, but…”

  “It doesn’t. Really, it doesn’t.” He pauses. “It’s scary as hell, letting someone into your life.”

  He gets it. He understands me. And the fact that he doesn’t judge me for it makes all the difference.

  Well, almost all the difference.

  “Look, Wells…I appreciate you apologizing about the ultimatum thing. But I need to be honest with you. I really didn’t like that side of you. I’m worried it will come out again.”

  “Can I explain myself?”

  “Okay.”

  I listen, trying to stay as open-minded as I can, as he tells me about the ex-girlfriend he’d only previously mentioned in passing. When he gets to the part about her manipulating him so she could be with another guy, my heart drops.

  No wonder he had such a strong reaction to my suggestion that night.

  “I’m really sorry that happened to you,” I say.

  “It was a long time ago.”

  “But it’s obviously still a wound for you.”

  “Yeah. I was pretty messed up after it. It’s why I never really dated anyone after that until you. I didn’t trust anyone. But I was too stubborn to admit it. I acted like I just didn’t want to get serious with anyone, but that was really me not wanting to get hurt.”

  “But you took a chance on me.”

  “I couldn’t not, Aspen.”

  God, I wish we were having this conversation face-to-face. I wish I’d been brave enough to do that. I just want to wrap my arms around him.

  And I want him to wrap his arms around me.

  “There’s something I need to tell you, Wells,” I say. “It’s about my mom.”

  “Okay.”

  “You know how I told you that she died a long time ago? Well, the whole truth is, she died giving birth to me.”

  “Oh, Aspen. Fuck. I’m so sorry. I can only imagine how hard that’s been to live with.”

  “Yeah, and…I’ve been in denial about this for a long time, but I think the real reason I keep people at arm’s length is because, deep down, I don’t feel like I deserve to be happy with other people. I mean, it’s because of me that my mother died. It’s because of me that my father has a broken heart.”

  “It’s not your fault, Aspen. It’s not.”

  “But if I hadn’t—”

  “No. Aspen, listen to me. It was out of your control. It was just something horrible that happened. There was nothing you could have done.” His voice is strong. Unwavering. “But you can do something now. You can live the life your mom would have wanted for you. You can be there for your dad. You can let yourself be happy.”

  I swallow, emotion gathering in my throat. He’s right. He’s completely right. My mom wouldn’t want me to punish myself. My dad wouldn’t want that either. They would want me to run toward love, not away from it.

  “Wells?” I say.

  “Yeah, Aspen?”

  “Can you meet me at the falls?”

  Chapter Fourteen

  WELLS

  The sun is setting as I drive to Wildflower Falls. I smile when I think of how much the sky reminds me of the day I met Aspen.

  So damn much has happened between those two sunsets.

  Aspen is getting out of her car when I pull into the parking lot. Looking over her shoulder, she smiles and holds up a hand to wave at me.

  We’re the only two people here. We have the place to ourselves.

  I get out of my truck and rush over to her, pulling her into my arms, the two of us embracing each other without hesitation. The sweet, floral smell of her fills my nose as I bury my face into her hair.

  “I’m so sorry, Aspen,” I say, pulling back so I can look at her.

  “I am, too.” She gazes up at me with soft eyes. “I think we’ve both said sorry enough, though. I think we should move on. Move past that little…blip.”

  “Nothing would make me happier. You don’t know how awful I’ve felt since that night. It’s never fair to give someone an ultimatum. Especially not someone you love.”

  The admission slips out before I realize what I’m saying. Well, shit. I had planned on telling her, but not exactly like this.

  I watch her eyes widen and her lips part in surprise.

  “What did you just say?”

  A broad smile spreads across my face. “I love you, Aspen. I’ve been falling in love with you since the day I met you. You’re the most amazing, resilient, beautiful person I’ve ever met, and I can’t imagine my life without you.”

  Her eyes have been growing damp as I speak, and by the time I finish, a few tears are streaming down her cheeks.

  “I’m in love with you too, Wells,” she says.

  Then my hands are cupping her face and my lips are on hers. The kiss we share is long and unrushed. It’s a kiss that seals our future. A kiss full of unending love.

  Afterward, I wipe the tears from her face. She laughs and takes my hand in hers.

  “Come on,” she says, and pulls me toward the path that leads to the falls.

  A short hike later, we’re at the water’s edge. As Aspen pulls her top up over her head and throws it aside, I watch in awe. God, she’s so gorgeous. I’ve thought she was gorgeous since the second I laid eyes on her, but now, after everything we’ve been through, her beauty is infinite.

  “What are you waiting for?” she says, grinning at me over her shoulder. “You’re coming in too.”

  “I am, huh?”

  “Yes.” She comes over and tugs at my shirt. “You are.”

  I start to shuck off my clothes. Meanwhile, in her bra and panties, Aspen gets up onto one of the large rocks, the golden light of the sunset setting her hair aglow. I’m stepping out of my jeans as she dives into the water.

  When she comes up, wiping wet strands of hair off her face, she’s laughing.

  I dive in after her, sending water flying everywhere.

  Chapter Fifteen

  EPILOGUE — ASPEN

  One Year Later

  “O kay, Dad,” I say, stepping into the living room of his cabin. I’m wearing a simple, flowy white dress and a few wildflowers in my hair. “What do you think?”

  My dad looks up and immediately his face softens with emotion.

  “You look stunning, sweetheart. Absolutely stunning.” He holds out his elbow. “Ready?”

  I grin. “Completely.”

  Birds are flitting from branch to branch above us as my dad and I walk out of his cabin and make our way to the clearing in the woods where everyone else is waiting. Wells and I don’t have a huge number of guests here today—it’s pretty much just Wells’s mom and dad, Carter and Miles, the folks I bring soup to, and a handful of other locals who we’ve gotten closer to over the past year—but it’s the perfect size of wedding for us.

  Wells is standing up in front of everyone with our officiant, looking as hot as ever in his tux. My stomach flutters when I see him. Not with nerves—this is pure excitement.

  Excitement for our future.

  Excitement for the l
ife we’re going to build together.

  This last year of our relationship hasn’t been perfect—like any couple, we’ve had our share of disagreements. But we’ve always been good about talking things through, and the longer we’ve been together, the deeper and stronger our relationship has become.

  Six months into our relationship, when Wells asked me to marry him, my yes nearly burst out of my mouth before he finished the question.

  My dad, being the protective guy he is, took a while to fully warm up to Wells at first, but now he loves him like a son. I’m so glad they get along well, and I can’t wait to see what my dad is like as a grandpa.

  And, of course, I can’t wait to see what Wells is like as a dad.

  We’ve talked about kids a lot, and I’ve made it clear that while I want our kids to be independent and strong individuals, I also want them to understand how good it is to let people into your life. Because that’s what really makes life meaningful.

  My dad gives my arm a squeeze; it’s time for him to give me away. I give him a kiss on the cheek, slip my arm out of his, and then step into place across from Wells.

  “Hi, beautiful,” Wells mouths to me as our officiant begins the ceremony.

  “Hi, handsome,” I mouth back.

  The smile on my face is uncontainable.

  OUR WEDDING CEREMONY and the small reception afterward fills my heart with love, but if I’m being honest, the best part of the day is that night, when it’s finally just the two of us. I’m laughing with joy as Wells carries me over the threshold of our hotel room—we’re staying at the Cedar Spring Lodge for the night—and still laughing as, minutes later, he performs a ridiculous little striptease for me while I lay back on the bed.

  Soon, though, the laughing melts into kissing, and then the kissing into moaning. It doesn’t take long for my wedding dress to become a crumpled pile of fabric on the floor, and for my incredible husband to be naked over me, his strong body caging me in, each one of his kisses on my neck sending sparks across my body.