“He’s attacking you with your favorite food?” He huffs. “That’s low. And I should point out that you two do belong together.”
“That’s nonsense,” I retort. “He should be with someone beautiful, smart, and easy going.”
“You just described yourself,” he fights back. “What is it that he sent? If he sent candy, I want some of that.”
It’s a dreamcatcher with a note and a letter.
To protect you while you’re sleeping.
He used to be the one protecting me most nights. It wasn’t long ago that we shared everything and yet, it feels like we’ve been apart for centuries. I open the letter. My hands shake as I get a waft of his scent when I pull out the paper from the envelope.
Abby,
These past years I discovered many things about myself. The way I think and act are the same, yet different.
I believe that only I can chase my dreams and make them happen. No one can break me; I broke myself. Thankfully, I wasn’t alone to carry the pieces. Sterling helped me, and it was so much easier to let him be there for me than try to do this on my own.
Finding myself, following my dreams and happiness is a journey that will last a lifetime, and I hope one day you’ll join me and be the one carrying some of those pieces while I help you with carrying your own.
Seeing you again reminded me how slowly I started falling, madly, desperately, hopelessly in love with you. I never stopped loving you. Maybe I’m not in love, but I still feel strongly about you. Thinking about you leaves me breathless. You’re always on my mind before I go to sleep and just as I wake up.
I once told you that you own me, and none of that has changed. You hold my heart, my soul.
All of me.
I’ve no idea what our future will look like, but my dream is to have you by my side.
Please, give me another chance to become your friend and fall in love with you all over again. I ask you for ten dates to show you that I’m right. We belong together. You own me. Let me show you who I really am.
Yours forever,
Wes
I touch the pendant he gave me three years ago when we were together. “I belong to you,” he said once. Actually, he repeated it several times.
“Is it that easy to just jump into what we had?” It doesn’t seem right to just give in to his words and accept that we’re back together.
“No, I think you guys need to adjust to each other. He travels a lot. And you need to find your place.” Sterling voices just what I’m thinking.
Nothing has been easy, but I’ve loved every challenge I’ve faced. This could be one of those rewarding challenges. I can’t deny that I’m afraid to find out we have nothing in common and Wes talks out of nostalgia. Not love.
Abby: Thank you for the dreamcatcher.
Wes: What are you doing this weekend?
Abby: I said thank you, not let’s get together.
Wes: We’re taking a leap, aren’t we?
Abby: Maybe …
Wes: Come to Tahoe this weekend.
Abby: I’m going to be busy. Sorry. Why don’t you come by?
Wes: Sunday. Save me the day.
Abby: For what?
Wes: A date.
Abby: Will it count as one of ten?
Wes: You accept my ten date challenge?
Abby: Ten dates for what?
Wes: To make you fall for me. To allow me to fall madly in love with you.
Abby: This Sunday would be the first if I accept?
Wes: Yes. Each of them will be unique, like you.
I stare at the phone. My entire body vibrates with excitement. Ten dates with Wes Ahern.
Abby: Okay.
Wes: I’ll call you tonight. I can’t wait to hear your voice.
Abby: Talk to you soon, Ahern.
Wes:
Back to You (Chaotic Love Book 2) Page 12