Page 44 of One Merciful Moment

"Boone... you already survived everything else. You can survive being loved." She swallowed. "You deserve to be loved."

For a moment, he let himself lean into her. She wrapped her arm around him, slow and gentle, giving him time to pull away if he needed to.

He didn't.

And in that fragile moment, Ashley understood the truth Copper had been trying to tell her.

To fix the garden, to stabilize Everstill, to open the veil safely, she had to heal Boone's heart.

And she would.

Ashley picked up Boone's hand and twined her fingers with his. She squeezed, and when he didn't pull away, she took a slow breath.

"Come walk with me." She stood and pulled him to his feet. "Just you and me. Let's not think or worry or talk. I only want to be with you."

Boone's gaze flicked toward her, uncertain, wounded, but wanting. She saw it. A quiet ache of need filtered through layers of fear, and he tried to smother the hope building inside him. She wouldn't allow him to stop hoping.

She led him away from the courthouse steps. The mower sat forgotten on the sidewalk, its metal cooling in the shade, but Boone didn't look back. He followed her down the street, their hands linked tightly together.

Everstill was quiet. The stress over their food source weighed on everyone now that emotions had returned. She wouldn't let that invade her and Boone today.

He needed to learn to accept the silence and breathe. She had a feeling there were few times in his life when he could look out and see beauty. His childhood was hell. The years after were torment. Everstill might've given him the numbness he sought to bring relief from his past, but no one had ever allowed him to be angry, sad, confused, heartbroken.

No one told him it was okay to feel all those things.

And it was okay to be happy. It was okay to love.

She wasn't delusional. Her talk hadn't broken down all his walls today. But it was a start. She also understood she wasn't qualified to fix every broken piece in him. His addiction would be part of his life forever.

But what she had was love.

She could love him hard when he needed someone to fight for him. And she could love him softly when he needed reassurance.

He had no idea yet how loved she felt being with him. But he had time to learn that too.

They walked past the old library, past the row of empty storefronts, past the feed store. The longer they walked, the more tension left her body. She rubbed her thumb against his hand, hoping he felt it too.

He rubbed his thumb in small, careful circles against hers in response, as if testing whether he was allowed to relax.

They reached the edge of town, where the trees pressed close, and the air smelled like pine and damp earth. Boone slowed, tugging her gently to a stop. He looked at her. The rawness in his eyes made her hold her breath.

"I'm afraid of fucking this up," he said. "I don't know how to stay for someone."

She stepped closer, her free hand lifting to rest on his arm. "You don't have to know. We can learn together. Just let me be here with you and don't shut me out."

His gaze dropped to their joined hands. She inhaled swiftly. This was the direction they needed to go.

"I needed you today." She worked her lips together. "And you needed me. That's all this moment has to be."

He let go of her hand and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to his chest, closing the last inch of space between them. She lifted her chin.

Boone lowered his head and kissed her softly. It was the opposite of his usual fierce, claiming kisses. This one trembled and deepened. It was a kiss from someone who had spent his whole life believing he wasn't meant to exist, let alone be loved.

She cupped his cheek, steadying him.

When he finally pulled back, his eyes were wet.

Instead of warmth, a chill swept over her. She startled, clutching him as she whipped her gaze over her shoulder.