Page 134 of Even After This
“It’s okay.” He uses a gentle tone and takes a slow step toward me.
Concern washes over me. “Is Alex all right?”
“She’s doing great.” Another step.
My chest tightens at his third movement forward. I’m blindsided by the pain of his nearness. “I-I’m so sorry. I should go.” I make a move to squeeze by him.
But he takes my arm. He leans in and says in my ear in a low plea, “Meredith.”
I turn into him, half-heartedly pushing him away with the fingertips of one hand while grabbing his shirt and pulling him to me with the other. He places his hands on my waist to steady me while I war with myself, but also so he can gently pull me closer to him. I rest my forehead on his strong chest, and we stand in thick silence. With a final exhale, I raise my head.
His eyes fill with tenderness and concern. “Can we sit down for a minute? Would that be okay?”
My forehead hits his chest again, and I shake my head no. He slides his hands from my waist up my back and runs his fingers through my hair.
“You aren’t supposed to be here. I can’t see you. I can’t say goodbye to anything else today.” My body melts into his, and I place my hands on his chest.
He wraps his arms around my back, presses me closer to him, and kisses the top of my head.
“You aren’t supposed to be here,” I say in a broken whisper.
I want to leave and never come back.
I want to sit and stay forever.
“I know.” He softens his voice. “But I found out you were going to be at the ranch.”
I pull back, searching his face for an answer. “Why? Why would you come?”
With one hand still holding me to him, he cups my face and uses his thumb to wipe a tear from my cheek. “I’m sorry, Meredith. I shouldn’t have surprised you.”
“Why are you here?”
“Well...” Eyes glittering, he looks around the room, then back to me, and shrugs. “I’m supposed to be here. You’re the one trespassing on my property.”
Blowing out a sigh, I nod. Sure. There is the breaking-the-law thing. I glance down at the dusty floor. “I have to go,” I say more to myself than to him.
“Before you do, would it be all right for me to show you something?” He swings his hand toward the door. “It won’t take long.”
Stupid handsome actor with a masked face. I can’t work out in my head how he knew I’d be here. I’ll figure it out after the long and expensive therapy session I’m about to schedule.
I bite my lower lip and nod. “But then I have to go.”
“Fair enough.” He offers me his hand.
Onelast time, I tell myself as I take hold. One last time I will hold his hand.
Harlan leads me across the small field in the direction of Prissy’s car. We stop at the fence I jumped earlier and gaze out over Twelve Bluebells Ranch.
Gripping the top rail, he takes a breath. “Prissy called me the other day.”
Confused, I shift my attention to him. Why wouldn’t she mention she talked to him?
Because she’s Prissy. She probably sells houses to the president and doesn’t tell anyone.
“She told me about this real estate deal.” His eyes remain focused on Twelve Bluebells. “Properties don’t typically interest me. But this particular one was different.”
A nervous energy fills me.
