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ashley
34 YEARS OLD
Itighten my fingers around the steering wheel. She still cares for my dipshit little brother. He’s not worth her time. He wasn’t eight years ago, and sure as hell isn’t now.
God. Look at her. I honestly didn’t think she could get more gorgeous, but damn, she’s grown into a stunning woman.
And asking about my shithead of a brother.
Could he get lucky twice? With my luck, he damn sure could. I’ll never forget how she looked like something out of a fairy tale or like a mythological siren when I pulled her out of Ruby Lake. Her long hair seemed to take on a life of its own, as did her dress, the pale pink material dancing around her.
It didn’t matter that I’d spotted her days before Adam had. She’d come into the bakery, looking sweeter than anything in there. I knew she’d be the time of woman to consume me if I ever got a taste. The second time I saw her was when Adam did. I’d been working on a boat for Old Man Brown and had noticed her immediately by the sound of her laugh. Everyone knew Fran and had heard about her niece coming to visit. Fran was a knockout of a woman, so seeing the attractive girl next to her was no surprise. What stopped my breath was how innocent she looked. Fran was known for being a bit of a wild card, so her niece looking like a vision of virginal innocence was a complete shocker to everyone.
I promised myself in that moment that Serenity was off-limits. I knew I needed to get my eyes off her. I had work, goals, and more responsibilities than I could handle, so a relationship and all the drama that it would entail was a hard pass. And again, she was only eighteen—way too young for me.
As my eyes veer off the road and back to her, it’s clear she’s no longer a young girl, but a woman now. But she’s here to grieve, and I need to allow her that.
It’s just… everything went so wrong last time she was here.
Our age difference had prevented me from making a move. Then I had to stand by and watch as Adam had shown up. Jealousy had hit me hard as I’d watched my brother, who was closer to her age, charm her and persuade her to hop on a jet ski, which wasn’t ours since we could barely afford a sandwich then.
Even wet, her body had weighed nothing as I’d pulled her out onto the shore. I couldn’t help but take in how beautiful she was with no makeup and her dress clinging to her curves. But her eyes were closed, and she wasn’t breathing. I’d placed my lips to hers, silently praying to God to breathe life back into her.
That entire summer, I was tortured by the sight of her, by the sound of her gentle laugh, and by the knowledge that my brother’s lips were where mine had once been.
Now she’s sitting here next to me in my truck and asking about him. I debate how much I should tell her, wondering if it’s better to get it over with all at once. I knew if I picked her up I’d be faced with this exact question, but foolishly, I hoped she wouldn’t ask. In the end, I go with honesty.
“How can you even ask about him after… what they did?”
That was clearly the wrong thing to say because the tension that fills the truck is suffocating. Her doe eyes turn to slits of pure rage, and her cold voice is barely above a whisper. “That’s in the past.”
Regardless of how much it doesn’t sound like it’s ancient history, I’m smart enough not to point that out to her. Her eyes continue to bore into mine, and I hate that I’m still so hypnotized by them, even if at the present moment they look like they could slice me in two. I want to ask her if everything, everyone, is also “in the past.” And those of us who are, is there a possibility in the future for us? No longer able to keep my eyes on her, I break contact to focus on the road.
“Don’t pretend like you were innocent in all of it. I’m sure you got a kick out of what an idiot kid I was.”
“Hardly.” I always thought she was too good for the likes of any of us. But I know what she means.
She’s referring to the night after Adam had humiliated her. I tried to swoop in and save her again, but that time, it backfired. She was so hurt, and the look in her eyes still haunts me to this day. I could’ve killed my asshole of a brother.
“I beat his dumb ass. I could’ve lost everything, or worse, lost Zuri for losing my temper the way I did.”
“What? You beat him up?”
“Yes! After what he did!” I regret yelling, so I repeat my answer, but with a softer tone. “Yes. After you left, I went to Adam and gave him something he’d had coming for a long time. Still didn’t knock any sense into him. But it did stir drama and got people whispering.”
She shakes her head. “Don’t act like that was my fault. I didn’t ask you to go all macho man,” she sneers. “You didn’t have to defend my honor.” She releases a tired sigh. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. It’s been years, and I’m here to bury that part of my past for good.”
I don’t blame her. Not at all. I’ve tried to bury my feelings for her, to leave them in the past, but here I am. I rushed to the port, ready to sweep her up and be there for her, giving her whatever she needs. Once again, I’m sitting here trying to be her hero and wishing so badly I could be the one who appeals to her. What would it take to allure Serenity?
