Page 118 of Ash Storm

Reka

“Come,” Ash said, grabbing her hand. “I think we need a bit of fresh air.”

He surprised her by heading up the stairs rather than down. Reka followed, enjoying the feel of his hand around hers.

At the top of the stairs, Ash pushed an emergency door open, leading her out onto a rooftop terrace. In the distance, the lake shimmered with the last rays of the setting sun.

“Wow. Is that Lake Zurich?” she asked, pointing at the glassy surface.

Ash nodded.

“I’d like to go there,” she said. It was one of the things she’d decided in the last couple of days. She was going to travel more. She was going to see more things and do more things. She’d always excelled at planning for the future, but the last weeks had made her realize how fragile everything was, and that it was okay to want more from life, and to want it now.

“I could take you to see it,” he began tentatively. “If you stay.”

“What makes you think I’m not staying?”

“I know Pascale is arranging Chloe’s flight back to Chicago.”

“She’s going back. But I’m not going with her.”

“You’re not?” He was looking at her like he barely dared to believe her.

“I’m not. And you’d know that, if you’d bothered to spend any time with me in the last days.”

“You were at the hospital with Chloe. I didn’t want to intrude.”

“And then?”

“I thought you needed time.”

“I don’t need time. Please don’t act like my uncle. What I need is for us to talk about what’s going on between us.”

“You know how much you mean to me, Reka,” he said, sounding almost wistful. He licked his dry lips. “You know how much I … how much I appreciate you,” he said, wincing slightly at the last words.

“Appreciate me?” she cackled. “Ash, people appreciate a well-grilled steak, a cold beer on a hot summer’s day. What the hell do you mean? A few days ago, you said you loved me. Am I crazy?”

He sighed. “You’re not crazy. Of course I love you. I just …”

“You just didn’t think you were going to survive,” she said bitterly.

He didn’t bother denying it. His hands shook against the balcony railing. In fact, the whole railing looked like it was moving, he was gripping it so tight.

“Well, here we are. We’re both alive. So ask me why I’m not flying home with Chloe,” she requested, her voice softer.

“Why are you staying, Re?” He asked.

“Didn’t you hear what I told my uncle? I love you, Ash. I’m in love with you.”

He winced as if in pain. “You can’t be in love with me.”

“I love you, Ash. I’ll say it as many times as I need to, until you believe me.”

“What if,” he began, his voice lower and deeper than ever. “What if your uncle was right? What if what you’re feeling is not—“

“I’m going to stop you right there, Ash. I’m not going to let you or anybody else second-guess my feelings. It’s demeaning.”

“Reka, that’s not what I … God … You know how much I admire and respect you. But you’ve been through a lot.”