Page 38 of From This Moment (After We Fall 4)
“What did you ask him?”
“If he could walk to school with us tomorrow.”
“What did he say?”
“He said he wasn’t sure he could. He’s going to see.”
“Okay.”
“Sing me a song. The one about the trembling trees.”
I sang to her, and she was asleep by the time I finished. I kissed her forehead and left her room, wondering if Wes was waiting for me downstairs or not. I hoped he wasn’t.
Liar.
I walked down the steps slowly, my hand on the bannister. When I reached the bottom, I glanced out the screen door. His car was still there, and he wasn’t in the living room. Taking a deep breath, I walked down the hall into the kitchen.
He was leaning back against the counter. “Hey.”
“Hey.” I twisted my ring.
“I wanted to make sure you were okay. You seemed a little upset earlier.”
“I’m fine.”
“Fine?” One brow cocked up. It was fucking sexy and adorable. “I’m on to you, pal.”
“I don’t know what to say. I guess I’m just…not feeling like myself tonight.”
“What are you feeling?” he asked quietly.
“Like I wish things were different right now.” I shrugged helplessly, giving in to it. “For us. Do you ever wish that things were different?”
He didn’t even hesitate. “All the fucking time.”
It was all I needed to hear. I threw myself at him, crushing my lips to his and wrapping my arms around his neck. He embraced me immediately, his arms warm and strong around my back, his mouth slanting over mine. He tasted like chocolate and desire. Yes, I thought. Yes, yes, yes. This is the answer.
I reached for his belt.
Eight
WES
This couldn’t be real.
I didn’t care.
Even if it was a dream, it was the best damn dream I’d ever had. She wanted me. She wanted me. One second she was standing across from me, looking at me like a frightened little bird, and the next she was crashing into me, her lips seeking mine.
I didn’t even think—I just pulled her closer and kissed her back like I’d always wanted to. It was almost like a moment out of time, a moment that was supposed to happen long ago, but didn’t, and was happening now instead, as if the relentless arrow of time had unexpectedly looped back on itself to explore another possibility.
A terrifying, transcendent possibility.
How far could we let this go?
She reached for my belt.
“Hannah.”
